Curator on the Go, Toronto, ON (2026)

10/09/2026

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU! 👀❤️

After more than a decade in the art world, I’m taking some time to reflect on my personal brand, how people perceive me, and what makes my approach to the art world unique.

I’m currently working with a PR strategist to take Curator on the Go to the next level.
And apparently, part of this process involves homework! 😅

My strategist gave me an interesting assignment: to ask people who know me, have worked with me, or have followed my journey one simple question: “If you had to compare me to a famous person or a fictional character, who would it be and why?”

I’ve already received some fascinating (and unexpected!) answers. People have compared me to Elizabeth I, Catherine the Great, Meryl Streep, and even the mysterious detective Carmen Sandiego! 😊Quite the lineup, right? I never imagined I’d find myself somewhere between a queen, a Hollywood legend, and an international detective!

The idea behind this exercise is to see myself through other people’s eyes and discover qualities or characteristics I might not even recognize in myself. And since this community has been such an important part of my professional journey, I thought, why not ask you too?

So, who do I remind you of, and WHY? 👀 It could be a historical figure, a movie character, or someone completely unexpected. Don’t overthink it! I’m genuinely curious to hear your answers, and I promise I won’t be offended. 😂

Drop your answers in the comments! ❤️

10/08/2026

Where does textile design end and sculpture begin? ✨

Meet Valia Kapeletzi Valia Kap Studio, an Athens-based textile artist and designer whose fascinating practice challenges our perception of materials, form, and space.

A graduate of the London College of Fashion, Valia previously worked as a textile developer with renowned fashion designer Iris van Herpen, whose visionary creations blur the boundaries between fashion, art, and technology. Drawing inspiration from nature, organic structures, and intricate textures, Valia transforms textiles into sculptural forms that feel almost otherworldly.

Through experimentation and meticulous handcraftsmanship, she explores the relationship between light, transparency, movement, and materiality, creating works that invite us to reconsider what textiles can become. What I find particularly compelling about her practice is how she elevates a material traditionally associated with fashion and functionality into something architectural, immersive, and deeply artistic.

10/07/2026

Another art-related scam… oh boy 🫣

Last night, I received a text from an unknown number with a photo of a painting from KEFI ART GALLERY 🇨🇦 website and a simple question: “What is the price?” And in moments like this, of course, you get excited. A potential collector found a piece they love. You don’t necessarily question it right away. Although one thing immediately crossed my mind. How did they get my personal number? It isn’t listed on my website or social media.

We exchanged a few messages. They asked where the artwork would be shipped from, provided a delivery address, and asked me to calculate the total price including shipping. Everything sounded fairly normal. Then they asked what payment methods I accept. I offered wire transfer details. They asked if they could pay through Cash App or Zelle instead. I explained that we don’t accept either. And… silence. 👻

That’s when I decided to look into the information they had provided. I checked the delivery address, and the house is currently listed for sale. 🚩🚩🚩

Maybe I’ve become extra suspicious after everything that has happened lately, but this is another reminder for artists and galleries: a potential sale can be exciting, but don’t let that excitement stop you from doing your due diligence. Check the information you’re given. Pay attention when someone insists on a particular payment method. And if something feels unusual, investigate before sending artwork, issuing refunds, clicking links, or sharing sensitive financial information.

🧐Artists, art advisors and galleries: have you received similar messages?

Please share your recent scam examples or stories in the comments. 👇 The more we talk about what these scams actually look like, the easier it becomes for our community to recognize them before someone loses artwork or money. And please share this post with another artist. We all need to be aware. 🤍

P.S. A little bit of good news: it looks like the scam Gmail account that was impersonating me has now been taken down! 🎉 Messages sent to that address are bouncing back. Thank you again to everyone who reported it, reached out to me, and helped spread the word.

10/06/2026

A little life + art update🤍

As many of you already know, I’m currently dealing with a scammer who created a Gmail account using my name and has been contacting artists pretending to be me and offering to purchase their work.

First, I want to say a huge THANK YOU to my community. So many of you messaged me, forwarded emails, sent screenshots, and made sure I knew what was happening. It truly means a lot to know that people are looking out for me and for one another. I’ve reported the account to Google and submitted a formal complaint, so hopefully it will be taken down soon.

Someone joked with me today, “Well, I guess you’re kind of famous now if people are stealing your identity.” Funny… and also very much not funny. I definitely could have done without this particular milestone.

The unexpected positive? I’ve discovered some incredible artists through the messages people have been forwarding to me. So apparently even scams can accidentally lead to art discoveries.

This is all happening while my family is super sick. I’ve already taken Emily to the doctor twice, and my husband has completely lost his voice and is dealing with a bad fever and infection. Somewhere between taking care of everyone, dealing with impersonation emails, answering messages, and trying to keep work moving… Instagram has understandably moved pretty far down the priority list. And apparently Instagram has been “punishing” me for not posting consistently. But these days, being a mom takes over and I’m okay with that.

If you’re an artist, introduce yourself in the comments and share an image of a recent artwork you’re proud of. Tell us where you’re based and what you’re currently working on. If you’re a collector, curator, designer, or simply someone who loves art, have a look through the comments, discover someone new, and show them some love.

Maybe we can turn this strange week into an opportunity to support each other and discover some amazing talent. 🤍

10/03/2026

Sometimes finding the right artwork starts with simply knowing how you want your home to feel.✨🏠

A few weeks ago, I received a message from a new collector: “I recently retired and received a gift card from your gallery KEFI ART GALLERY 🇨🇦 as a gift from my company. I look forward to selecting a special piece I can enjoy for years to come.” And so our art search began.

She sent me photos and videos of her home, a beautiful rural property surrounded by forest. Her interior is casual, leaning mid-century modern, and much of the art she already owned was landscape. This time, she wanted something different. More colour, more abstraction and more energy. But still something that belonged in the space.

I reached out to artists for available works and created a curated proposal with mock-ups so the client could actually visualize the options in her home. One painting stood out immediately: Darlene Winfield’s “Life Swirling Around” but there was some back and forth. We explored other works and other artists, we talked again about size, budget, delivery, framing and even how the artwork could eventually be lit. And then we came back to the piece that had caught her attention in the first place.

My client decided to acquire “Life Swirling Around” unframed, allowing the painting to have a strong presence on its own while leaving the option of framing it later. And now it is installed in its forever home. ❤️

“Thank you so much for your guidance and patience through this process. We are so happy with the painting.”

I love this part of what I do because collecting art doesn’t have to mean knowing exactly what you want.

You can change your mind.
You can compare.
You can ask to see more.
You can think about your budget.
You can view the mock-ups before making a decision.

A good art acquisition isn’t about being talked into a piece. It’s about discovering the one you keep coming back to. And sometimes, that’s exactly how you know…

If you’re looking for artwork for your home but don’t know where to begin, that’s what an art advisor is there for.

Contact me at [email protected] or send a DM to start your art collecting journey.

10/02/2026

Born in Dublin and now based in Germany, Fintan Whelan Fintan Whelan creates atmospheric abstractions where colour, movement, light, and texture take centre stage.

What draws me to his work is the balance between control and unpredictability, the sense that the painting is evolving in real time while still feeling intentional and resolved.

His distinctive process brings together pigments, oils, varnishes, and mixed media in a spontaneous, fluid approach grounded in constant experimentation and careful consideration. Rather than attempting to imitate nature, Whelan draws from its rhythms and energy, allowing colour and form to move organically across the canvas. The result is work that feels almost suspended in motion: layered, luminous, and emotionally charged. His paintings invite us to experience abstraction rather than simply interpret it, leaving space for our own associations and responses.

Whelan’s work has gained an international presence. He is a resident artist at Chelsea Harbour Design Centre in London, CICA Museum in Seoul, and the Pouch Cove Foundation in Newfoundland, Canada. His Water Dance Series was also presented as a large-scale installation at Palazzo Bembo during the 2022 Venice Art Biennale.

10/01/2026

I recently came across the work of Xianwei Zhu Xianwei Zhu, and was immediately drawn to the quiet tension between abstraction and figuration in his paintings.

Moving between Asia and Europe, China and Germany, Zhu brings Eastern and Western artistic traditions into conversation. His atmospheric landscapes emerge through expressive painterly gestures, where fragments of architecture, distant human figures, and recognizable forms seem to appear and disappear within fields of muted blues, whites, and blacks. There is a beautiful sense of melancholy in these works. They speak to something that feels particularly relevant today: our search for belonging in an increasingly technological and digital world.

Yet the paintings don’t feel hopeless. Instead, they suggest that perhaps we can still find a sense of place through nature, its beauty, stillness, and permanence. What I find especially compelling is that Zhu doesn’t fully explain the landscape to us. He leaves enough unresolved for us to explore it ourselves.

09/26/2026

Today was installation day! 🌸

“A World in Bloom” is a new exhibition curated by me at Skagen Gallery at Danish Pastry House, Shops at Don Mills.

The exhibition brings together the work of three incredible Canadian female artists (Nadia Lassman Nadia Lassman, Darlene Winfield Darlene J. Winfield, and Lara Provost Lara Provost), each exploring the natural world through a distinct visual language.

From luminous waterscapes and expressive abstraction to dramatic floral compositions, the exhibition celebrates colour, nature, and the enduring influence of art history. I especially loved bringing together works that reference both the light and atmosphere of Impressionism and the rich tradition of Dutch Golden Age floral painting, while feeling completely contemporary.

There’s always something so satisfying about seeing a show move from an idea in my head to the gallery walls. And yes, curating also means occasionally holding a painting in place while someone takes a photo. 😄

If you’re at Shops at Don Mills, stop by Danish Pastry House and see “A World in Bloom” in person!

09/23/2026

A little late with this post because between family time, packing, flying back to Canada, and trying to survive jet lag, I never actually got a chance to properly celebrate this milestone here.

Emily is ONE. 🤍

A whole year with the little person I’ve been dreaming of. She is smart, kind, curious, determined, and growing up way too fast. Somehow, an entire year flew by.

We had A LOT to learn as first-time parents. I don’t think I’ve ever been as exhausted, sleep-deprived, overwhelmed, and stretched in so many different directions as I have been this past year… but I would do it all over again.

And now we’re entering such a fun stage. Emily knows exactly what she wants and is definitely not afraid to let us know. 😂 She walks (although “runs” might be a more accurate description), explores absolutely everything, and has even started playing independently for short periods of time. It feels like every week there is a new little person emerging.

Coming back to Canada after spending four and a half months on the other side of the world has completely f…cked up our schedule. 😂 We are now 14 hours behind the place that became our home for the summer, and I’ve basically felt like a zombie since last Friday. But slowly, very slowly, we’re finding our routine again.

And while we’re celebrating one year of Emily, I also want to celebrate one year of being a mom. One year of learning as I go. One year of discovering a completely different version of myself. One year of trying to balance motherhood, work, travel, relationships, ambitions, and everything in between. It has been the most exhausting and transformative year of my life and also the one I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Sharing a few photos from Emily’s first birthday celebration back in Russia. 🇷🇺🎂

And if you’re wondering who the big furry guest is… meet Cheburashka! 🤎 He is a beloved cartoon character I grew up with, and now Emily loves him too. So, we had to “invite” him to her birthday.

Happy first birthday, my Emily. 🤍🐣

Thank you to фотограф владивосток for these beautiful photos 🤍

09/21/2026

Back in Canada, and Emily and I have already made our first art show visit. 🤍

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon at the Headwaters Arts Fall Festival HeadwatersArts 30th Anniversary Show as part of the Jurors’ Walk.

Together with fellow juror Julia Veenstra, we walked guests through the selection process and shared what we look for when jurying a show, answered questions, and offered constructive feedback and art critique to participating artists.

One of my favourite parts of being a juror is getting to see the work in person and, just as importantly, having conversations with artists about their work. There is so much that can be communicated through the experience of seeing a piece up close that simply doesn’t come through on a submission screen.

One artist shared: “Hearing their perspective and receiving constructive criticism firsthand was incredibly valuable. There’s always more to learn, and I’ll definitely be taking their feedback back to the easel with me.”

That’s what I love about these conversations. The goal isn’t simply to say yes or no to a work; it’s to help artists understand how their work is being received and give them something they can take back to the studio. And, of course, we also had the chance to explore the outdoor sculptures after the event.

Congratulation to all. What a great show!👏🏻

Still exhausted, still waking up at 4 AM… but very happy we made the little trip. What a lovely way to return to the Canadian art scene. 🎨

Alton Mill Arts Centre

Curator on the Go

10/09/2026

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10/07/2026

10/06/2026

10/03/2026

10/02/2026

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