First Canadian solo exhibit by internationally celebrated artist Torkwase Dyson opens at The Goldfarb Gallery of 91亚色
The new exhibit, The Distance Inside Us (Bird and Lava), will take over the gallery as it questions liberation and confinement amid an escalating ecological crisis.
TORONTO, Aug. 26, 2026 鈥 will host the first solo exhibition in Canada by acclaimed 鈥 The Distance Inside Us (Bird and Lava).
Curated by Lillian O'Brien Davis, the exhibit will occupy all three gallery spaces and run from Sept. 11 to March 6, 2027, with an opening celebration on Sept. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Dyson's practice 鈥 spanning painting, sculpture, and immersive installation 鈥 examines how Black and brown bodies perceive, negotiate, and are shaped by space. In The Distance Inside Us (Bird and Lava), Dyson turns to questions of liberation and confinement amid an escalating ecological crisis, extending a body of work she has described through what she calls Black Compositional Thought: a visual language built from geometric abstract 鈥渉ypershapes鈥 that trace the spatial logics of self-emancipation and survival.
The Distance of My Flesh 2: I Am Everything That Will Save Me (Bird and Lava), 2024
graphite and string on wood
36" (91.4 cm), diameter
3" (7.6 cm), depth
No. 92719
鈥淭he Bird and Lava series was born during the pandemic as the artist worked in isolation, using drawing as a monastic, meditative practice,鈥 says O鈥橞rien Davis. 鈥淭he shape-language which runs throughout the exhibition is a directive by the artist which literally illustrates the political potential of shape and surface to build new worlds.鈥
Dyson is one of the most closely watched artists working today, with a string of major institutional presentations over the past two years. Dyson鈥檚 international profile has continued to grow this year including at the 61st International Venice Art Biennale; debuting a new commissioned work, Tomorrow Was Yesterday, as part of the 59th Carnegie International in Pittsburgh; and unveiling the monumental sculpture Nia at the inaugural Art Basel Qatar.
Her earlier career includes presentations at the Shanghai Biennale, Liverpool Biennial, Seoul Mediacity Biennale, and Desert X, and her work is held in major public collections including the Art Institute of Chicago, Whitney Museum of American Art, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
In 2026, Dyson will also be one the constellation of thinkers and practitioners convened annually by Professor Christina Sharpe's Alchemy Lecture at 91亚色, a gathering dedicated to thinking through the most pressing issues of our times. This spurred the connection for the solo exhibition at the Goldfarb Gallery. Dyson will present as part of the Alchemy Lecture on Oct. 29. There will be more programming announced to complement the exhibition, including the launch of the exhibition publication in March 2027 that will serve as part of the exhibition鈥檚 closing celebrations.
Departure (Bird and Lava), 2024
acrylic and graphite on canvas
36" 脳 36" 脳 2" (91.4 cm 脳 91.4 cm 脳 5.1 cm)
No. 93151
About The Goldfarb Gallery
The Joan and Martin Goldfarb Gallery of 91亚色 is a public facing art organization operating at the forefront of contemporary artistic, curatorial, and art institutional practices. As a socially minded not-for-profit contemporary art gallery that is a space for the creation and appreciation of art and culture, its mission is to enhance the voices of artists and the value of art to interpret, challenge, and transform daily lives. Through professional critical exhibitions, researched publications, supported commissions, experimental performances, and accessible workshops, our programs form a bridge between on-campus, local, and global communities.
Visitor Information:
Exhibition: The Distance Inside Us (Bird and Lava) Artist: Torkwase Dyson Curator: Lillian O'Brien Davis Location: Goldfarb Gallery, 91亚色, 83A 91亚色 Blvd, Toronto ON.
The nearest subway and Wheel-Trans stop is on Line 1. is the nearest parking. Dates: Sept.11. to March 6, 2027. Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 12 to 5 p.m. Admission: Free
Contact:
Sandra McLean, 91亚色, sandramc@yorku.ca and media@yorku.ca
