About Maya

For more than twenty-five years, visual artist Maya Foltyn has been devoted to the fine arts of painting, drawing and photography. She has earned two bachelors of Fine Art, one in interior and industrial product design in 1979 and the second in painting in 1982 from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk, Poland. She studied painting and drawing at the Academy of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria before moving and exhibiting in New Zealand. She now lives and works in Toronto, Canada.

Maya has a passion for painting and drawing and a fusion of both. She blurs the line between traditional categorization in her creative and innovative use of classical methods and new technologies. Through her characteristic use of the line, Maya has developed a recognizable style. Her artwork reflects her sources of inspiration: the cultural richness of Europe, the exotic beauty of New Zealand, her second homeland, and the majestic scale of Canada. When not painting or drawing, Maya can often be seen carrying her camera, ready to capture moments of people, city scenes and nature. 

Maya’s works have been exhibited internationally and can be found in private collections in Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States

Curriculum Vitae

Education

Academy of Applied Arts, Vienna, AUT
Drawing program
1982-84

Academy of Fine Arts, Gdansk PL
Bachelor of Fine Art – Painting and Drawing
 1982

Academy of Fine Arts, Gdansk PL
Bachelor of Fine Art – Interior Design and Industrial Product Design
1980

Solo and Duo Selected Exhibitions

2020 The Bonds Between Us, Trondheim Open Art Biennale, Tempe , Trondheim NOR
2020 Circular Dimensions, Carnegie Gallery, Dundas CAN
2019 MomentuM, Take Note, Toronto CAN
2017 Looking Up, MarchFifteen, Toronto CAN
2016 Ode to the Naked Structure, Take Note, Toronto CAN
2015 Nests & Moons, The Pilot, Toronto CAN
2014 Galaxies, ULA SHE, Toronto CAN
2012 1 & 1, Artscape Triangle Gallery, Toronto CAN
2009 All RED, PI Gallery, Toronto CAN
Nuit Blanche: Red on Red, Dance/Distillery District, Toronto CAN
2008 Heat and Fire, Dance/Distillery District, Toronto CAN
Universal Imagination: Six Exhibitions Celebrating the 40th Anniversay of Stong College and the 50th Anniversary of York University, Samuel J. Zacks Gallery, Stong College, York University. Curated by Tadeusz Jaworski, Toronto CAN
2007 Warm Embrace, Dance/Distillery District, Toronto CAN
2003 Gaba Art Gallery, Port Credit CAN
1984 Waikato Art Gallery, Hamilton NZL
1984 Künstkörper Club, Vienna AUT
1983 Phoenix Gallery, Ternitz AUT

Group Exhibitions

2016 Figure 8, Bradshaw Studios, Toronto CAN
Contact Photography Festival, Toronto CAN
Imprinted [3 artists ‰- 1 act], Walnut Contemporary, Toronto CAN
Wild About Washi, Japanese Paper Place, Toronto CAN
2015 Annual Strand Fine Art Services Show and Sale, Strand Fine Art, London CAN
Recall, Walnut Contemporary, curated by Iberina Raquel Vilhena, Toronto CAN
Interior Couture, Toronto CAN
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Philips Square, Toronto CAN
DELTA: The Difference, Project Gallery, Toronto CAN
Ontario Society of Artists Members‰ - Exhibition of Selected Works, Papermill Gallery, Todmorden Mills Museum, Toronto CAN
Art Gallery of Burlington Art Auction, Art Gallery of Burlington, Burlington CAN
Order in Disorder, 142nd Ontario Society of Artists‰ - Annual Open Juried Exhibition, juried by Jordana Franklin, Lila Irving and George Langbroek. John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto CAN
2014 Annual Strand Fine Art Services Show and Sale, Strand Fine Art, London CAN
The Final Development, Project Gallery, Toronto CAN
Shared Places, Shared Spaces, Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts, Toronto CAN
Salon Show, Project Gallery, Toronto CAN
Open Juried Exhibition, Ontario Society of Artists Juried Exhibition, juried by Elizabeth Petrova, Ashder Sadeh, and Agnieszka Foltyn. John B. Aird Gallery, Todmorden Mills Museum, Toronto CAN
Ontario Society of Artists Members‰ - Exhibition of Selected Works, Papermill Gallery, Toronto CAN
Black Water Art, White Water Gallery, North Bay CAN
2013 Ontario Society of Artists New Members Exhibition, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto CAN
Mistletoe Magic Silent Auction, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto CAN
Annual Strand Fine Art Services Show and Sale, Strand Fine Art, London CAN
2012 Off the Wall, Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts, Toronto CAN
OSA Members Exhibition, Jordan Art Gallery, Jordan Village CAN
Mistletoe Magic, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto CAN
Take 4, Strand Fine Art, London CAN
Vision and Devotion: The Connection Between the Ontario Society of Artists and the Cathedral Church of St. James, St. James Cathedral Gallery, Toronto CAN
Selected work, Gallery 133, Interior Design Show, Metro Convention Centre, Toronto CAN
Square Foot Show, AWOL Gallery, Twist Gallery, Toronto CA
Paper Works, Neilsen Park Creative Centre, Toronto CAN
Ontario Society of Artists Members Exhibition - OSA celebrates 140 years, curated by Clare Bolton. Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora CAN
Art in Miniature, III International Exhibition, Gallery of the Centre for Cultural Majdanpek, Majdanpek SRB
Darkness and Light, 140th Ontario Society of Artists‰ - Annual Open Juried Exhibition, juried by Brian Smith, Pat Fairhead, Judith Graham. John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto CAN
2011 Mistletoe Magic, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto CAN
Pergament Concertina, 11th Annual International Biennal of Illustration, curated by Lepa Milocevic-Sibinovic. The Fenix Gallery, Belgrade SRB
Pergament Concertina, 46th Golden Pen of Belgrade, curated by Lepa Milocevic-Sibinovic. Belgrade International Book Fair, Belgrade SRB.
OSA Members Exhibition of Selected Works, Papermill Gallery, Toronto CAN
Photographic Imprints - Art Polonica Three, Contact Photography Festival, curated by Kika Misztela. ArtSquare Gallery, Toronto CAN
Transatlantic, Artscape Triangle Gallery, Toronto CAN
Salon V, Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts, Toronto CAN
Square Foot Show, AWOL Gallery, Twist Gallery, Toronto CAN
2010 Washi Works 3, Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts, Toronto CAN
Whodunnit, OCAD art fundraiser and silent auction, Toronto CAN
In-Line-Out - Art Polonica Two, Nuit Blanche, curated by Kika Misztela. Art Square Gallery, Toronto CAN
Quietude, curated by Kika Misztela. Art Square Gallery, Toronto CAN
Artist in Residence and Guest Art Show, Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig IRL
Square Foot Show, AWOL Gallery, Twist Gallery, Toronto CAN
Being in Time, 138th Ontario Society of Artists‰ - Annual Open Juried Exhibition, curated by Carla Garnet. Gallery Stratford, Stratford CAN.
2009 New Members Show, Ontario Society of Artists, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto CAN
Square Foot Show, AWOL Gallery, Twist Gallery, Toronto CAN
Whodunnit, OCAD art fundraiser and silent auction, Toronto CAN
The Little Art Show, Mercedes-Benz, Hang Man Gallery, Artist Network auction, Toronto CAN
ArtPolonica One, curated by Kika Misztela. Art Square Gallery, Toronto CAN
Square Foot Show, All-Canadian Jazz Festival, Port Hope CAN
ArtPolonica One, ART 2009, International Art Fair, Metro Convention Center, Toronto CAN
Encore, curated by Adam Lodzinski and Morag Webster. Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts, Toronto CAN
2008 Square Foot Show, AWOL Gallery, Toronto CAN
r@ Gallery, Niagara Falls CAN
2007 INDEX Exhibition, Dubai, UAE. Curated by Grazyna Kabat.
2005 IDEX Interior Design Show, Denison Gallery, Toronto CAN
Assembly Hall, Toronto CAN
Arcadia Art Gallery, Toronto CAN
Upper Gallery, Toronto CAN
2004 Colour and Form ‰- Polish Art Exhibition, Rotunda Gallery, in cooperation with the Consul General of the Republic of Poland, Toronto City Council, and Van Arden Arts Production Inc. Metro Hall, Toronto CAN
1992 City Hall, Toronto CAN
1988 Pink Art Gallery, Auckland NZL

Bibliography

2013 Catalogue for Artist's Choice, Ontario Society of Artists Members Show of Selected Works, Papermill Gallery, Todmorden Mills Museum, Toronto CAN
2012 Catalogue for Ontario Society of Artists Members Exhibition, Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora CAN
Catalogue for Vision and Devotion: The Connection Between the Ontario Society of Artists and the Cathedral Church of St. James, St. James Cathedral Gallery, Toronto CAN
Catalogue for Art in Miniature, III International Exhibition, Gallery of the centre for Cultural Majdanpek, Majdanpek SRB
2011 Cover image – Ontario Society of Artists membership brochure
Catalogue for Pergament Concertina, 46th Golden Pen of Belgrade, 11th Annual International Biennal of Illustration, The Fenix Gallery and the Belgrade International Book Fair, Belgrade SRB. Curated by Leppa Milocevic-Sibinovic.

Collections and Commissions

2012 Government of Ontario Art Collection, Ontario Archives

Work can be found in private collections in Canada, USA, and Poland. 

Donations

2010-16 Mistletoe Magic, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto CA
2013 Hallmark Sponsor Appreciation, Artist's Choice, Ontario Society of Artists Members Show of Selected Works, Papermill Gallery, Toronto CAN
2012 Off the Wall, Propeller Centre for the Arts, Toronto CAN
2009-10 Whodunnit, OCAD art fundraiser and silent auction, Toronto CAN
2009 Gallery 918 in association with The LOFT Youth Centre for Social Enterprise and Innovation and Leave Out Violence Everywhere (LOVE), LOFT Youth Centre, Toronto CAN
The Little Art Show, Hang Man Gallery, Artist Network auction, Toronto CAN

Organizational and Curatorial Projects

2015 Chair – Members Exhibition of Selected Works, Ontario Society of Artists, Papermill Gallery, Todmorden Mills Museum, Toronto CAN
2013 Juror – Annual Open Juried Exhibition, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto CAN

Professional Associations

2010-16 Exhibition photographer – Ontario Society of Artists
2009-13 Officer on the Executive Council – Ontario Society of Artists
2011-12 Vice President – Ontario Society of Artists
2009 Member – Ontario Society of Artists

Residencies

2010 Parchment Project, International Fine Arts Colony, Rtanj SRB

Awards

2015 Aboveground Art Supplies Award – OSA Open Juried Exhibition, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto CAN
2014 Best in Show – OSA Open Juried Exhibition, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto CAN
2011 Best in Show – OSA Members Exhibition of Selected Works, Papermill Gallery, Todmorden Mills Museum, Toronto CAN