Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Varley Art Gallery Hosts Opening Reception for 2025 Fall Exhibitions

MARKHAM, ON – September 16, 2025 – Join the City of Markham and the Varley Art Gallery of Markham on Saturday, September 20 for the opening reception of new fall exhibitions, Kejie Lin: A Garden of My Own, featuring works by Kejie Lin, and Sights of Convergence, featuring works by Jess Riva Cooper, Gabriela García-Luna, and Stanzie Tooth.

Event Details:

Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 2 to 4 PM
Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 216 Main Street Unionville
Admission is free

Event Highlights:

A guided tour by guest curator Yuluo Wei
Family-friendly hands-on activities
Light refreshments
Exhibiting artists Kejie Lin, Jess Riva Cooper, and Stanzie Tooth will be present

RSVP by Friday, Sept. 19 if you wish to attend the opening reception.

Kejie Lin: A Garden of My Own

Red Mandragora by Kejie Lin. — **Image:** Kejie Lin, **Red Mandragora**, 2022, ink and mineral pigments on rice paper, 120 cm diameter. Courtesy of the artist.

Kejie Lin’s garden is both her subject and her studio. A former landscape architect who immigrated to Canada in her late forties, Lin brings a rare fluency to her work, blending scientific observation with intuitive care. Drawing on the centuries-old tradition of Chinese ink painting (gongbi 工笔) — a meticulous realist style demanding precision and patience — she turns her brush to the irises, roses, and hydrangea outside her own door. Each painting is born from slow devotion, defying a culture of speed and disposability. Lin’s art transforms the garden into a layered living medium, where memories of one homeland take root in another. Her work invites us to pause, to look closely, and to find the universe in a single leaf.

This exhibition, curated by Yuluo Wei, will be on view at the Varley Art Gallery of Markham from September 20, 2025 to January 11, 2026.

Kejie Lin's Crane Courtyard - Fall, Night under the moon, and Blue Ydrangea. — Image: (left) Kejie Lin, **Crane Courtyard · Fall**, 2024, ink and mineral pigments on silk, 200 cm x 120 cm. Courtesy of the artist. (middle) Kejie Lin, **Night under the Moon**, 2022, ink and mineral pigments on rice paper, 120 cm diameter. Courtesy of the artist. (right) Kejie Lin, **Blue Hydrangea**, 2022, ink and mineral pigments on rice paper, 146 cm x 103 cm. Courtesy of the artist.

Sights of Convergence

Jess Riva Cooper's I failed to notice, the golden light of dusk. — **Image:** Jess Riva Cooper, **I failed to notice, the golden light of dusk** (detail), 2024. Photo: Black Vine photography. Courtesy of the artist.

Sights of Convergence features work by Jess Riva Cooper (Toronto, ON), Gabriela García-Luna (Saskatoon, SK), and Stanzie Tooth (Toronto, ON). Each artist brings a distinct material practice and set of concerns to their work, yet all explore the intimate entanglement of human and natural worlds. Rather than treating nature as a passive backdrop, their works invite us to consider a more nuanced, reciprocal exchange, one shaped by perception, memory, and lived experience. Beneath the surface, unsettling realities emerge: anxiety, tension, loss, and the shadow of ecological catastrophe. In this shared space, the gallery becomes a meeting ground, where diverse expressions converge and conversations between works and ideas can take root, grow, and expand.

Curated in response to Kejie Lin’s solo project in the adjacent gallery, the exhibition extends its inquiry, bringing together a plurality of voices and artistic approaches that reflect on the complexities of the environment we inhabit. Across the exhibition, the natural world is not merely observed—it is felt, remembered, and critically questioned.

This exhibition, curated by Anik Glaude and Yuluo Wei, will be on view at the Varley Art Gallery of Markham from September 20, 2025 to January 11, 2026.

Associated Programs

Fall Exhibitions Opening Reception

Saturday, September 20 | 2 to 4 PM | Free | Registration not required

Join us to celebrate the launch of our new fall exhibitions. Enjoy a guided tour with guest curator Yuluo Wei, meet the artists, and take part in a hands-on art activity for all ages. Light refreshments will be served. This free public event offers a fun and inspiring way to engage with art and community.

Lunch and Learn Series with Exhibiting Artists

Take your lunch break with us and join a series of free online talks with featured artists from Sights of Convergence. These sessions offer insight into their creative process and current work.

Curator’s Corner

Saturday, October 18 | 2 PM | Free | Registration required

Get an insider’s perspective on the Varley's collections exhibition during this engaging talk and tour led by the gallery curator, Anik Glaude. Learn about the curatorial vision, behind-the-scenes stories, and the themes that shaped the show. Perfect for anyone curious about how exhibitions come together.

Panel Discussion

Sunday, November 9 | 2 to 4 PM | Free | Registration not required

This fall, across two exhibitions, the Varley delves into the complex relationships artists forge with the natural world. Presenting diverse perspectives, join exhibiting artists Kejie Lin, Stanzie Tooth, and Jess Riva Cooper, alongside curators Yuluo Wei and Anik Glaude, for an insightful and engaging discussion.

Gallery Tour in Mandarin with Kejie Lin

Sunday, December 7 | 2 to 4 PM | Free | Registration not required

Join exhibiting artist Kejie Lin for a Mandarin-language guided tour in her exhibition. This tour is perfect for Mandarin-speaking visitors interested in engaging with contemporary art.

Quotes:

“The Varley Art Gallery’s fall exhibitions beautifully reflect the rich cultural fabric of Markham,” says Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “These works of art invite us to connect more deeply with our surroundings and with each other. Kejie Lin’s blend of Canadian flora and traditional Chinese painting, alongside the diverse perspectives of Canadian artists in Sights of Convergence, combine to reflect the inclusive, global spirit of our city. We are proud to showcase such meaningful exhibitions that engage both local and national voices, strengthening Markham’s reputation as a hub for creativity with a vibrant arts and culture scene.”

“At the Varley Art Gallery, we pride ourselves on presenting exhibitions and programs that bring meaningful conversations about Canadian art and society to the forefront,” says Niamh O’Laoghaire, Varley Art Gallery of Markham Director. “Through thought-provoking experiences, we invite audiences to see the world in new ways. The nature that artists conjure can appear beautiful and luxuriant, a rich kaleidoscope of colour and organic shape. But the nature they present is just as frequently strange, mysterious, even threatening. By bringing these contrasts to life, the Varley offers visitors not only a chance to encounter art, but also to reflect on the complexity of our times — a role we are proud to fulfill.”

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Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti's Office:
At mayorscarpitti@markham.ca.

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media@markham.ca.

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