PADDY LEUNG
Artist, Educator & Cultural Worker
I create participatory art projects and learning experiences that centre care, equity, and collective storytelling. My practice brings together art, education, and community engagement to support 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, racialized youth, and intergenerational connections.
Paddy Leung is a Toronto-based artist and arts educator working at the intersection of community care, cultural production, and social justice.
Their practice is rooted in collaboration, accessibility, and relationship-building, with a strong focus on 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion, youth engagement, and public participation.
Through workshops, exhibitions, and large-scale community projects, Leung creates spaces where people can connect, share knowledge, and imagine more caring futures together. Their work has been presented in galleries, schools, and public spaces in partnership with arts organizations, school boards, and community groups.
Available for Projects, Workshops & Commissions — across Canada & Internationally.
Free After Three
︎ Art Gallery of Ontario | AGO: Free After Three
︎Guest Lead Artist Facilitator, Installation
︎ Toronto, ON
︎ 2015 - 2018
From 2015 to 2018, Paddy Leung was invited to develop and facilitate programming for the Art Gallery of Ontario’s FREE After Three initiative, a youth-focused program serving participants aged 14 to 25. Designed to provide free access to the Gallery and creative opportunities after school hours, FREE After Three offered an important platform for experimentation, engagement, and learning within the Weston Family Learning Centre.
Through this program, Leung developed and delivered a range of hands-on, process-based art activities including tie dye, sticker making, giant bubble experiments, paper mache, and other accessible creative projects. Program development was guided by the needs, interests, and energy of youth participants, emphasizing flexibility, play, and openness rather than predetermined outcomes. These projects prioritized accessibility, low-barrier materials, and joyful participation, allowing youth to engage creatively regardless of prior art experience.
This period was foundational to Leung’s artistic and facilitation practice. Working closely with youth in an institutional setting deepened their understanding of how care, inclusion, and responsiveness can be embedded into program design. The experience strengthened their commitment to youth-centered approaches and reinforced the importance of creating spaces where young people feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to express themselves.
The lessons learned through AGO FREE After Three continue to shape how Leung approaches youth programming today. Leung’s practice remains rooted in inclusive, care-driven, and community-engaged art-making, informed by the belief that creative spaces can foster confidence, connection, and meaningful self-expression for young people.
Photograph by Gabriel Li