Be Creative Pride 2025 Juried Exhibition
NPCC invites youth and adults who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ community members to submit up to two artworks to NPCC’s Pride Month Juried Exhibition. The theme for this year’s exhibition is “Be Creative”. Be Creative, Be You, Be All In!
On Friday, June 20, 2025, NPCC is hosting a fun-filled evening of events to celebrate Pride month including the exhibition awards ceremony. You’re invited to take part in the festivities of drag queen performances, workshops and more! All events are free of charge.
We graciously acknowledge our community partner, Toronto Pearson.
Participating Artists
Sameena Anis, Athena Bee, Timothy Campbell-Smith, Eric Chengyang, Mel Coleman, Cassandra Cunningham, Menaka De Silva, Sum Duff, Grace Eaton, Kola Edi, Claire Forsyth, Shelley Foster, Eli Hashemi, Sam Hoover, Imran Jatoi, Evan K, Shanika Lewis-Waddell, Po-Cheng Lin, Melodie Litwin, Natia Lomidze, Genesis Mejia, Ash Milne, Nayela Misquadis, Dennis Montford, Michelle Neilson, Amir Patros, Judith Polanco, Norina Poon, Alyssa Proctor, Michaela Purcell, Fraser Radford, Danik Renaud, Lennox Roach, Amiel Sandland, Cindy Seto, Srinidhi Shaw, Zed Sheikh, Cissy Shi, Safia Sodhi, Cindy Soler, Regis Souto-Fernando, J.B. Stefaniuk, Lennon Sykes, Andie Trepanier, Alicia Udvari, Kitlyn Sarah Yvonne Varnam, Channey Williams, and Morsal Yakuby.
Award Winners
Adult Category
First Prize, $500
Dennis Montford
Harmony in Diversity
“At first, this piece might seem to reinforce social structure and homogeneity – but upon closer inspection, it reveals both equality and individuality – subtle and marked – against a veiled backdrop of the myriad issues and ideas that must be grappled with to create a just and vibrant society.” – Juror, Kat Honey.
Adult Category
Second Prize, $300
Menaka De Silva
Seeing and Knowing
“A charged and achingly expressive meditation on the emotional toll of holding one’s queerness within conservative/traditional/religious environments. The tree of life or family is rendered barren and menacing, while the singular eye may represent a judgemental deity or an ideology deemed dangerous.” – Juror, Kat Honey.
Adult Category
Third Prize, $200
Eric Chengyang
Study of Equivalent Relations (A Split Peach): The Parting
“A brief, passionate encounter between individuals at once similar and divergent is delicately and enigmatically expressed – both symbolically through the parted peach and poetically through the partially decipherable text.” – Juror, Kat Honey.
Adult Category
Honourable Mention, $100
Cindy Soler
Who Are You?
“This well-orchestrated, vivid composition executes the perfect bait-and-switch between the candy-sweet kitsch colours and the doubt and dysfunction of the content.” – Juror, Kat Honey.
Adult Category
Honourable Mention, $100
Melodie Litwin
Butterfly Effect
“A beautifully designed and executed celebration of queer joy, inclusivity and interconnectedness.” – Juror, Kat Honey.
Youth Category
First Prize, $200
Safia Sodhi
Breath
“A personal and evocative image expressing the uncertainty of emerging identity.”- Juror, Kat Honey.
Youth Category
People’s Choice Award, $100
Nayela Misquadis
Watching the River
Winner of People’s Choice Award for Be Creative Pride 2025 exhibition.
Juror
Kat Honey
Artist
KAT HONEY is an award-winning graduate of OCAD. Often bold (but sometimes subtle), Kat’s work in collage, signage and painting is informed by her graphic design background.
Recent exhibitions include: The Red Head Gallery, Gladstone House’s Come Up to My Room, In Situ Multi-Arts Festival, Artist Project 2023 & 2024, 1 Adelaide East, Quest Art, Midland, and Fashion Art Toronto Fall/Winter 2023.
Kat designed and illustrated Bright Fish, a book of poetry by the late Lavell Ferris Baldock. She also designed a neon installation for Gladstone House (fabricated by FUSE Neon), has 3 collage prints in Newmarket’s Postmark Hotel, and has work in all suites and corridors of the newly-renovated Union Hotel in Toronto.
She has been a long-time instructor at Neilson Park Creative Centre, teaching collage (and other art subjects) – and hosts the popular Virtual Collage Jam on Youtube — featured in Kolag Magazine issue #34.
When she’s not in the studio or teaching, Kat can often be found in her gym or out riding one of her beloved bicycles…
For more information or questions, please email Cory at gallery@neilsonparkcreativecentre.com
