Art-based pop-up shop set to hit Square One in Mississauga

An art-based pop-up shop and business incubator for Black artists will be coming to Square One in Mississauga.

The pop-up shop, called “The Gift Shop,” is set to hit Square One on Mar. 25 and will provide emerging and mid-career Black artists with an opportunity to sell their artwork as well as incubate their businesses.

“The Gift Shop” will be curated by Imani Dominique and will bring together four multi-faceted Black artists including Laneigh Ramirez, Percy Eriamiator, Shaza Tarig Elnour and Isabelle Loobie.

The four artists have participated in business development workshops including Art Of The Sale, Intellectual Property and Artist Legal Rights, Sustainable Content Creation and Accounting 101 which will give them multi-disciplinary business skills in preparation for the upcoming pop-up shop at Square One.

“The art industry is notorious for its anti-Black racism towards Black artists, curators, and gallerists. Black creatives have been systematically marginalized by the industry resulting in a lack of access, education, and business opportunities,” said Imani Dominique, the Curator and Project Manager.

“Through this program, I hope to uncover ways in which we can build sustainable support systems that empower artists towards economic self-sufficiency while also increasing access to the art industry for the Black community.”

This exhibition will be located at Square One in the “Black-Owned Toronto” storefront outside the Simons near Entrance 8.

It will be accessible both physically and digitally through a virtual space walkthrough, seating, image descriptions and ASL interpretation upon request.

The pop-up shop will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and the virtual walkthrough will be available after Mar. 25 at imanidominique.com.