5th annual uptown pride art exhibition

Pride TorontoToronto ArtistArtistic JourneyGallery Artist
Written By Laura Beaton

As a new member of the Women’s Art Association of Canada (WAAC) I am honoured to be juried into this annual group exhibition celebrating and uplifting the 2SLGBTQI+ community through art, storytelling, and shared experience.

Presented at the Dignam Gallery as part of Pride Toronto 2026’s Affiliate Event programming, the exhibition brings together a diverse range of artists whose works explore identity, visibility, love, memory, resilience, joy, and community through a wide variety of mediums and perspectives.

Guided by Pride Toronto’s vision, “to create a world in which all people feel safer, valued, celebrated, and included, regardless of how they identify or who they love,” the exhibition highlights the power of artistic expression as a means of connection, reflection, and advocacy, while reflecting WAAC’s continued commitment to fostering accessible opportunities for artists and creating a welcoming space for community engagement and celebration.

See art, ‘Birth of an Inner Warrior’ This piece looks at how an individual may discover strength while  focusing on a deeply personal, solo journey. It starts in a place of confusion and uncertainty, but then cuts through to a sharp clarity. Ultimately, the painting captures that quiet transformation, where navigating life's trials rewires you into your own inner warrior.

Birth of an Inner Warrior, Mixed Media Acrylic on canvas, black floating frame

Laura Beaton

Laura Beaton is a Canadian visual fine artist working in Chinese Brush Painting, Sumi-e, mixed media, and Western contemporary abstraction. Her practice brings together Eastern brush traditions and expressive Western abstraction through colour, movement, atmosphere, and intuitive composition. Using earth tones, vibrant accents, organic forms, and layered gestures, she creates works that feel both grounded and expansive, inviting calm, reflection, and emotional connection.

 

Her abstract compositions often suggest natural rhythms, trees, landscapes, and structures of growth without relying on literal representation. Through a thoughtful balance of stillness and energy, soft tones and bold movement, Laura creates visual harmony across the surface. Her work reflects an ongoing interest in presence, coexistence, resilience, and the relationship between nature, culture, and personal experience.

Laura has exhibited in Canada and internationally, with work shown in galleries, museums, juried exhibitions, cultural institutions, and community arts initiatives. Her paintings are held in private, corporate, and public collections, including collections connected to Canada, China, and international patrons. In addition to her studio practice, she contributes as a speaker, juror, consultant supporting artists through mentorship, professional strategy, and community engagement.

https://LauraBeaton.com
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