The Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF) is celebrating its 65th anniversary with a special off-site group exhibition titled "Don't Look Back" at Koffler Arts. The show features 18 participating artists including Stephanie Avery, Philip Cote, Yaw Tony, and others who have taken part in the fair in recent years. The exhibition's title, borrowed from the 1967 Bob Dylan documentary, deliberately avoids nostalgia, instead focusing on the fair's present moment while acknowledging its history and future.
This exhibition matters because it marks a milestone for one of Toronto's longest-running and most significant public art events, which has served as an open-access hub for art, culture, and community in the city's main public square for 65 years. The show honors the legacy of founders Murray and Marvelle Koffler, as well as current executive director anahita azrahimi, who has guided the fair's recent evolution. By bringing together diverse artists working across multiple media, the exhibition demonstrates the enduring vitality of this community-driven cultural institution.