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.
The Butterfly Effect
︎ BIG on Bloor Festival of Arts & Culture - Curated by Darren Leu
︎ Window Display, Exhibition
︎ Toronto, ON
︎ August 2020
The Butterfly Effect was a commissioned window display created for the BIG on Bloor Festival, exploring themes of transformation, resilience, and collective care during times of uncertainty. The butterfly serves as a symbol of growth, hope, and the power of small gestures to create meaningful change.
The work draws inspiration from monarch butterfly imagery used on protest signs by communities advocating for the protection of DACA recipients, also known as Dreamers. The butterfly represents solidarity, endurance, and hope, and the piece focuses on its emotional and symbolic power as a visual message of care and possibility.
The sculpture was built through a layered, hands-on process. The wings were constructed by stacking sheets of bristol board to create depth and movement, then overlaid with orange cellophane to make them translucent and delicate like real butterfly wings. The body was hand carved, painted, and decorated with rhinestone gems to add shimmer and reflect light. Using accessible materials, the installation celebrates patience, transformation, and the quiet strength found in hope and solidarity.
The work draws inspiration from monarch butterfly imagery used on protest signs by communities advocating for the protection of DACA recipients, also known as Dreamers. The butterfly represents solidarity, endurance, and hope, and the piece focuses on its emotional and symbolic power as a visual message of care and possibility.
The sculpture was built through a layered, hands-on process. The wings were constructed by stacking sheets of bristol board to create depth and movement, then overlaid with orange cellophane to make them translucent and delicate like real butterfly wings. The body was hand carved, painted, and decorated with rhinestone gems to add shimmer and reflect light. Using accessible materials, the installation celebrates patience, transformation, and the quiet strength found in hope and solidarity.
