Tuesday night marked the 100th event of Art Battle, a live painting competition in which chosen artists, armed with paint and canvas, wage creative war in a three round artistic prize fight. Rounds last 30 minutes each, in which each artist must complete a painting onstage in front of a live audience who chooses the top competitor via a ballot voting system after each round. All paintings are put in a silent auction in the intermission between rounds, giving audience members a one-time chance to collect the spontaneous work of young up-and-comers in the art community. The event is held coast to coast in Canada’s largest cities, with participating artists fighting for the chance to compete in the National Championship held at the tail end of each season.
Art Battle began in Toronto 5 years ago, so it only seems fitting that the 100th show would be celebrated in its city of birth. The battle took place at The Great Hall, a century venue located in the trendy culture haven of Toronto’s Queen Street West neighbourhood. The initiative began in 2009 by founders Chris Pemberton and Simon Plashkes. Starting with the humble beginning of about 70 attendees, the competition has since grown to draw the attention of collectors and artists alike. Tuesday night’s event drew a crowd of an upwards of 500 people.
A cool and collected DJ spilled calm grooves over the surging crowd as they circled the stage like a school of fish hungry for paint and passion. A corner bar and a small fleet of bartenders helped to fuel the night’s energy, a little bit of alcohol allowing the inexperienced to explore unhindered avenues of artistic interpretation.
Art Battle 100 Stage at The Great Hall, Toronto. Photography
Giving back to the community that nursed it, the proceeds of Art Battle 100’s auctions went to Project Sunshine, a non-profit organization that provides free educational and recreational services to families currently coping with medical challenges. Lauren Bryson, Program and Events Coordinator for Project Sunshine comments, “Art Battle is using the unifying power of Art to really impact the community in a positive way.”
Providing a platform for relatively unknown artists to showcase and actually sell their work, Art Battle is steadily working to change the connotation of an occupation that has largely been stigmatized as “hobbyist” rather than “professional.” The winner of Art Battle 100 was Lavinia Ungureanu, wowing audience voters with two visually gripping portraits with a new-age neon aesthetic. Lavinia states, “Art Battle really got me involved in the Art world. Participating in the competitions has helped me to gain an artistic confidence I never thought I had in me.”
Lavinia’s first round painting auctioned for $400, the final title-earning painting auctioning for an impressive $500.
Art Battle continues to grow in event size and reputation, now hosting 10 events a month across the country. It is inspiring to see such a community conscious entrepreneurship making waves in the Canadian Art scene and helping to make art and entertainment once again synonymous in the public eye. As co-founder Chris Pemberton eloquently puts it, “We are bringing painting to the people and people to the painting.”
