Theme: Evidence
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION NOWAbout A Black Art Fair
Recognizing the vital role that selling artwork plays in advancing the careers and economic sustainability of Black artists, A Black Art Fair (ABAF) returns as a leading platform for the discovery, purchase and long-term investment in Black art in Canada. Presented by Nia Centre, ABAF creates a high-impact, culturally grounded space where your work is not only seen, but collected.
2026 Theme: Evidence
What remains after we have lived, loved, built, imagined, remembered, and created? This year’s Black Art Fair explores Evidence—the traces we leave behind and the worlds we make visible. Every work of art leaves a trace. It records a way of seeing, a relationship, a question, a memory, a material gesture, or an imagined future. As individual works come together, they form a collective record: not a singular history, but a constellation of lived experiences, ideas, and possibilities. Artists are invited to respond to this theme in ways that are personal, conceptual, material, or abstract. We welcome work that considers evidence as history or future, as presence or absence, as documentation or imagination, and as the enduring imprint of Black life in all its complexity.
What We Offer Exhibiting Artists
- Dedicated Marketplace: Exhibit and sell your work directly to collectors, curators, and institutional buyers in Canada’s premier marketplace for Black art.
- Artist Support: Access professional development opportunities and out-of-province shipping support for selected artists.
- Professional Installation: Full installation led by the Nia Centre gallery team.
Submission Guidelines & Criteria
- Eligibility: Open to Black Canadian artists working across visual disciplines (painting, photography, sculpture, textiles, mixed media, and more). Individual and collaborative works are welcome.
- Artwork Count: Applicants may submit 1 to 5 original artworks created within the last 5 years (2021–2026).
- Dimensions: Minimum 16″ x 20″ | Maximum 48″ x 48″ (Width x Height).
- Installation Specs: All works must arrive exhibition-ready (framed, wired, or mounted with secure D-rings). Priority may be given to wall-based works due to exhibition constraints.
- Availability: Submitted and accepted works must remain available for purchase and display for the full duration of ABAF.
Key Dates & ABAF Schedule
| Key Date/Event | Date & Time | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Call for Submissions Open | Tuesday, August 11, 2026 | Online applications open. |
| Submission Deadline | Thursday, September 3, 2026 | Applications close at 11:59 PM EST. |
| Private Opening (VIP/Collectors) | Friday, October 30, 2026 | TBA |
| Public Fair Days | Saturday October 31 & Sunday November 1, 2026 | TBA |
FAQ’s
Can I submit if I don’t live in Toronto?
Yes! This call is open to any Black-Canadian artist, aged 18 and older, who is based across all provinces and territories within Canada.
Is my artwork required to be for sale?
Yes. All artwork submitted to A Black Art Fair must be available for purchase. Please include the sale price for each artwork in your submission.
A small commission fee will be applied to artwork sold during the Fair. If you’re unsure how to price your work, connect with Nia Centre, info@niacentre.org before submitting your application
Can I submit more than one artwork?
We welcome up to five artwork submissions.
When will I hear back from about my submission
Due to the high volume of submissions we receive for A Black Art Fair, we ask for your patience as our curatorial team carefully reviews and deliberates your submissions.
The application review process may take anywhere from 3 to 4 weeks, and we ask that you do not send any emails to follow up on the status. When we have made our selections, we’ll reach out to you!
What’s the submission deadline?
The submission portal for A Black Art Fair 2026 will close on Thursday September 3rd, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Due to the high volume of submissions and the time required for our curatorial review process, late submissions cannot be accepted after the portal closes. We strongly encourage artists to submit their applications before the deadline to avoid any last-minute technical issues.
Do I need a Certificate of Authenticity for my artwork?
Yes, if selected, please be sure to provide a signed copy of a Certificate of Authenticity for each piece of artwork you plan to sell. These documents will be used to prove that the work is original and to provide documentation and details on the value of the artwork to buyers. Consult CARFAC’s Certificate of Authenticity Template or other similar copies for examples.
What is the shipping process for A Black Art Fair 2026?
If selected, Nia Centre will coordinate shipping for all selected artists based outside of Toronto/GTA.
Artists based in Toronto are responsible for dropping off and picking up their artwork at Nia Centre for the Arts, located at 524 Oakwood Avenue, Toronto, ON
Is my attendance at the fair mandatory?
While we understand that you may have constraints or responsibilities at the time of the fair, your attendance at A Black Art Fair would help support your professional development by exposing you to new audiences, allowing them to hear about your work from your perspective.
We encourage all selected artists to attend at least one day of the fair.
If I am based outside of Toronto, will Nia Centre support my travel and lodging expenses?
It is the artist’s responsibility to cover their travel and lodging expenses.
How will my artwork be stored?
Your artwork will be stored in our secure and temperature-controlled storage facilities at Nia Centre for the Arts.
Do I have to be an experienced artist for my work to be considered for A Black Art Fair?
Not at all! Our curatorial team will primarily be looking into your artwork’s artistic merit so we encourage artists of all levels to submit their best pieces!
We’ll be developing professional development activities to support any particular areas you are looking for support in but feel free to let us know which areas that might be of interest in your submission.
Do experienced artists need to submit their work?
Yes. All artists who wish to be considered for A Black Art Fair 2026 must submit their artwork through the application portal.
Our curatorial team will select participating artists from the submitted works. If you would like your work to be considered- including for any Featured Artist opportunities- you must submit your work through the application process.
Want to Volunteer for ABAF 2026
Apply HereA Black Art Fair is an annual, multidisciplinary, 3-day exhibition dedicated to the promotion and sale of artworks by Black-Canadian artists from across the country.
We founded A Black Art Fair to bridge gaps in access, representation, and community for Black artists. Today, it’s a rare national event that showcases diverse Black perspectives, launches emerging talent, and connects artists, collectors, and art lovers through exhibitions, panels, and workshops.
Discover Previous Editions
2025
Curated by Alica Hall and Anthony Gebrehiwot, it was held October 25–26 at Nia Centre. We celebrated contemporary Black art and culture through exhibitions, panels, and workshops, showcasing the creativity of over 25 artists and highlighting the richness of the Black diasporic experience.
Featured Artists
Alicia Reid
Asabe Mamza
Bernice Udeogu
Boloebi Okah
Brandon Baghaee
Chawntay Barrett
Chiedza Pasipanodya
Chisom Chiwete
Dahlia Baasher
Daniel Maluka
Destinie Adélakun
Eelise N’Dri
Elicser Elliott
Emmanuel Udeh
Eric Opoku
Heritier Bilaka
Jair Castillo
Jamera DaCosta
Joel Lukombo
Julien Kandolo
Kalmplex
Kamorudeen Aruna
Kioni Sasaki-Picou
Lana Denina Cohen
Mark Stoddart
Miles Clarke
Odera Igbokwe
Oluseye Ogunlesi
Pixel Heller
Shope Awarun
Tone Bailey
2024
Curated by Alica Hall and Anthony Gebrehiwot, it was held November 23–24 at Nia Centre. As the second edition of the event, it featured more than 27 artists and over 50 works spanning painting, photography, textiles, and sculpture. The fair highlighted themes of beauty, surrealism, home, and Afrofuturism, offering a rare platform for Black Canadian and diasporic artists to showcase and sell their work.
Featured Artists
Ayan Muse
Boloebi Okah
Diana Ohiozebau
Heritier Bilaka
Adeyemi Adegbesan
Christiana Ceesay
Chawntay Barrett
Eric Opoku
Joanna Bakyaita
Isabelle “Ella” Loobie
Jamera Dacosta
Mya Salau
Wayne Hanson
Komi Olaf
Jasaña Alleyne
Kamorudeen Aruna
Lennox Roach
Niti Marcelle Mueth
Toba Coker
Odera Igbokwe
Reisha Felix
Roya DelSol
Tamar Ellah
Troydel Wallace
Betiel Ghirmay Araia
Brandon Baghaee
2019
The inaugural Black Art Fair was hosted by Nia Centre for the Arts on October 19, 2019, at 524 Oakwood Avenue in Toronto. Curated by Alica Hall, the event showcased over 40 works from more than 25 emerging Black artists, marking Toronto’s first-ever art fair dedicated entirely to Black creators. Alongside the exhibitions, the fair featured a seminar on the impact and value of buying Black art, led by Hall and visual artist Gordon Shadrach, offering audiences a more accessible entry point into supporting Black artistic careers.
A Black Art Fair is made possible through the support of our partners and funders!
We’d like to recognize the profound generosity and support of FedDev Ontario, The Print House, Globe Media Group, Tray Arts, and Kingston 12 Patties.
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