Students, faculty and alums lauded with TOAF awards

Congratulations to the OCAD University students, faculty and alums who received awards at the 2025 Toronto Outdoor Art Festival (TOAF)! The TOAF, one of Canada’s largest and longest-running annual contemporary art fairs, was on view at Nathan Phillips Square from July 11 to 13.

Since 1961, the fair has helped launch the careers of thousands of artists and designers. More than 400 artists and makers participate in the TOAF each year, including many from the OCAD U community.

Visitors to this year’s TOAF also had the opportunity to explore Interwoven Currents, a curated selection of work by five talented emerging artists whose unique visions and creativity were featured at GradEx 110, OCAD U’s annual graduate exhibition.

This year, the outstanding talent of several OCAD U students, faculty and alums were recognized with awards. The recipients include:

• Alex Hall (2025 Alum, Photography) – Best of Student Award
• Alicia Tian (Master of Fine Art candidate, Interdisciplinary Master’s in Art, Media and Design) – Student Purchase Award
• Brad Turner (Instructor, Faculty of Design) – Best of Craft and Design Award
• Diogo Pinheiro (2015 Alum, Drawing & Painting) - Honourable Mention Painting
• Jamie Rosario (2024 Alum, Material Art & Design) - Best of Jewerly Award
• Maureen O'Connor (1993 Alum, Graphic Design) - PhotoEd Magazine Award

Congratulations to the award recipients! Learn more about the TOAF awards.