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.
Pocky Box
︎ New Ho Queen & Royal Ontario Museum
︎ Sculpture, Installation, Exhibition
︎ Toronto, ON
︎ June 2018
New Ho Queen is a queer Asian collective founded by Diego Armand and John Thai, dedicated to increasing queer Asian visibility and creating spaces that celebrate diverse intersectional narratives through music, performance, art, and self-expression. In celebration of Pride month, Paddy Leung was invited to create a large-scale, interactive LED-lit Pocky installation for a dance party at the Royal Museum.
Inspired by the whimsical joy of childhood and the cultural significance of Pocky as a beloved snack in East Asian communities, the installation was a life-sized sculpture that transformed the familiar into the fantastical. Made from cardboard, decorative paper, and LED lights, the piece glowed and illuminated the dance floor, creating a playful, immersive environment. Giant Pocky sticks were incorporated into the sculpture, inviting attendees to hold, pose, and take photos with them, encouraging interaction, self-expression, and communal delight.
This project built on Leung’s ongoing practice of supporting DIY queer events and designing sculptural experiences that bring joy and connection to audiences. The work combined playful scale, hands-on interactivity, and cultural reference, evoking nostalgia and wonder while celebrating queer Asian identity. By creating a space where participants could engage physically and imaginatively with the installation, the project reflected Leung’s commitment to inclusive, care-driven, and community-focused art-making—spaces where everyone could feel seen, represented, and free to play.
