Tracings revisited

by Tonia di risio

On View Sept 6 - 30, 2023
Opening Reception: Saturday, Sept 9, 2 - 4pm

The artist will be present on Saturday September 9, 16, and 30 from 12-5pm.
The exhibition will be part of Nuit Blanche on Saturday, September 23

 The Red Head Gallery is pleased to present Tracings Revisited an exhibition of new work by artist Tonia Di Risio.

 As part of an ongoing exploration of collage, Di Risio’s most recent installation revisits work which began as tracings of objects found in her grandmother’s house. Guided by her memory of these domestic spaces, and offered in grateful remembrance of a familial home, Di Risio combines ornate patterns and textures with thrifted and personal objects to compose wall-based works. Tracings Revisited presents scaled-up drawings of period furniture cut from vintage wallpaper, both reminiscent of Italianate décor. These mingle with fragments of furniture, collected silver trays and crystal dishes which extend into the gallery space and serve as both personal tribute and interpretation of a former place.  Accompanying the larger collages is a series of black marker silhouettes overlaid on pages of popular North American cookbooks, continuing the artist’s evolving interest in the custom of passing down and sharing recipes. With Tracings Revisited, Di Risio extends a decorative vernacular into a broader understanding of how one’s experiences with objects, patterns and textures serve to shape memory and personal narrative.

An exhibition essay by artist and curator Fausta Facciponte accompanies this exhibition; read the full essay here

View Tonia Di Risio’s Past Exhibits

Tonia Di Risio is a multimedia artist who often makes use of photography, video, collage and installation in her practice. Her work has developed through an ongoing engagement with domestic spaces, food preparation and interior design. She received a BA in Art and Art History from the University of Toronto and Sheridan College and an MFA from the University of Windsor. She has exhibited across Canada and has been the recipient of Canada Council, Nova Scotia, and Ontario arts grants. Along with founder Claire Tallarico, Di Risio helped to establish the Alchemy artist residency program. Alchemy is devoted to the exploration and synergy between artistic practices, cooking and the sharing of locally cultivated food. She has been a Red Head Gallery member since 2012. 

For more information visit: www.toniadirisio.com | @toniadirisio

Red Head Gallery is situated on Treaty 13 lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations and the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat and the Haudenosaunee. Toronto is currently home to many different First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. The artist acknowledges that her home and studio is located on Treaty 14 and Treaty 22 lands and she thanks the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations, the Treaty holders, for being stewards of this land.