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.
RESHAPE: The Butterfly Effect
︎ That’s So Gay: Eleventeen - Curated by Syrus Marcus Ware
︎ Multimedia: Stop Animation & Paper Cuts
︎ Toronto, ON
︎ December 2020 - March 2021
“For 11 years, TSG has celebrated Queer and Trans artist magic through a 2 month in person exhibition with accompanying public programs and an opening event held at the Gladstone Hotel between June and August. TSG aims to showcase art by, for, and about LGBTTI2QQ creators, with a particular focus on artists on the margins of these communities — QTBIPOC artists, crip/disabled artists, Mad artists, migrant artists, youth artists and so forth. These artist projects interrupt the idea of a homogeneous queer community and re-imagines what it means to talk about our lived experiences as artists from a diversity of backgrounds.” - Syrus Marcus Ware
In 2016 Paddy Leung was selected to be part of the TSG 7th: Come Together. At the time, Leung was newly emerging in the art scene and still searching for their place within it. Being part of this exhibition became a pivotal moment in their career, offering renewed confidence and opening doors to future exhibition opportunities.
In 2021, the exhibition transitioned to an online format in order to continue amplifying the vital work of Queer and Trans artists across Canada. Leung was invited to return as an alumnus for TSG 11th: Eleventeen, celebrating over a decade of community, creativity, and collective resilience.
To learn more about the exhibition and view the stop-motion animation created by Paddy Leung, visit: www.tsgexhibition.com
Participating Artists:
- Christopher Rodrigues
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Darryl Deangelo Terrell
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Elizabeth Sweeney
- Hannah Jickling & Helen Reed
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Ifetayo Alabi
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Jenna Reid
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Kyisha Williams
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Paddy Leung
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Raven Davis
- Rojelio Palacios
Artist Statement
Like a butterfly, my art is always evolving toward greater creativity, self-expression, and vitality. When I cut paper, I feel like I am peeling back the layers to reveal a secret safe space - a place of change, hope, and life. I often dismantle my art and re-create new life for the pieces I make. Looking back and going through my archives of materials, I found a collection of coffee filters from a previous work that had been tie-dyed with washable markers and airbrushed with stencils. Drawing inspiration from Chinese paper art, I experimented with different ways to fold and cut out this magnificent, delicate creature that holds so much symbolic meaning. I believe strongly that art has the power to transform uncertainty into deeper creativity and innovation. This has always been the case in my life and I’ve dedicated my art practice to bringing more love and kindness in a world where that’s often lacking. I hope that my work will continue to engage people and bring more awareness and action to social justice and equality. Reshape: The Butterfly Effect - conveys a powerful message of strength and hope to all dreamers and believers. The fight is not over!
Generously Funded By
