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 2SLGBTQAI+ 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 2SLGBTQAI+ 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 — Canada-wide & International.
Selected Works
2014 — Present
Since 2014, Paddy Leung has designed and produced installations, window displays, and large-scale sculptures for public spaces and events. They are deeply committed to creating inclusive and accessible art programs and community gatherings that serve diverse communities. Recently, their practice has evolved, exploring new digital approaches to sustain and expand their community-based work. Leung’s mission remains rooted in breaking down barriers and fostering meaningful connections through art.
Yue Moon 完滿: Tiger With Wings 如虎添翼
︎ Chinatown BIA & STEPS Public Art
︎ Community-engaged Arts & Multimedia Public Art Program
︎ Toronto, ON
︎ December - March 2022
完滿 (Yue Moon) translates to "full circle," "completion," or "full moon." Starting in 2020, the Chinatown BIA and lead artists developed a unique multimedia public art program to connect the community and raise awareness of local businesses in Toronto’s Chinatown. This initiative led to the creation of Yue Moon 2020 and two distinct projects for Yue Moon 2021: Yue Moon II / 圓滿：貳 and the award-winning Yue Moon: Animated Light / 圓滿：舞動 with animation led by Winnie Troung.
In its third year, Yue Moon 完滿 continues to bring people together for a bright, uplifting public art experience—a creative escape from the winter's darkness and cold. Led by artists Paddy Leung and Meegan Lim during challenging times, the program culminated in a multimedia public art exhibit that brought the streets of Toronto’s Chinatown to life throughout February 2022, coinciding with Lunar New Year celebrations.
- Paddy Leung - Lead Artist & Designer
- Winnie Troung - Animation Lead
- Meegan Lim - Artist Assistant & Technical Designer Assistant
- Edan Maxam - Onsite Installation Assistant
- Aysia Tse - Artist Assistant
- Lily Ya Xaun Li - Artist Assistant
- Vincy Lim - Production Assembler
- Kathrine Cheng - Production Assembler
- Hot Pop Factory - Laser Cutting Services
- CV Studio - Printing Services
- Stellar Art Services - Professional Installers
Installation Locations: Downtown, Toronto
🏮️ 20 Lanterns designed by Paddy Leung
🏮️ 188 artworks made by the community members
👥 146 Community Participants
Artist Statement
Yue Moon II was inspired by traditional palace lanterns, which are created by assembling multiple panels into a single, cohesive structure. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I reimagined the project to engage participants online, making it accessible while maintaining the spirit of collaboration and creativity.
Participants were invited to design artwork for the lantern panels from home, using materials they could easily gather. Meegan and I demonstrated simple art techniques through online workshops, guiding participants to create designs inspired by the zodiac signs while learning about East Asian arts and cultural traditions. Submissions were collected digitally, and each piece was carefully printed and affixed to its own panel.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, I worked with a small team to construct the lanterns and assemble the panels into a unified installation. This process balanced technical care with artistic vision, allowing the lanterns to shine as both a collaborative artwork and a symbol of connection.
Yue Moon II celebrates creativity, cultural heritage, and resilience, offering a shared space for reflection, learning, and joy even in times of physical separation.
In Partnership with
Project Partnerships
Generously funded by
Food For Thought
︎ Visual Arts of Mississauga
︎ Community-engaged Arts & Special Exhibition
︎ Toronto, ON
︎ November 2021
Food For Thought emerged from a period of collective pause and uncertainty as communities began to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, Paddy Leung became deeply interested in how care, connection, and belonging are practiced in everyday life—particularly through food. Food holds emotional, social, and cultural significance; it carries memory, identity, and love, and often becomes a site where care is both expressed and received.
This project was developed as a community-based workshop in collaboration with Visual Arts Mississauga, inviting participants of all ages to reimagine their favourite dishes using art-making, craft processes, and recycled materials. Through hands-on creation, participants were encouraged to reflect on their personal relationships with food, share cultural traditions and stories, and translate these experiences into playful, sculptural forms.
By centering making as a shared experience, Food For Thought positions food as a language of connection and care. The project culminated in a public exhibition at VAM Gallery on November 21, 2021, bringing individual narratives together into a collective table—one that celebrates creativity, community, and the quiet power of gathering.
Community Rock Garden: Kindness Rocks
︎ The Betway - Community Incubation Program
︎ Community-engaged Arts & Multimedia Public Art Program
︎ Toronto, ON
︎ October 2021
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became especially important to create art programming that was accessible, safe, and inviting for community participation. As part of The Bentway’s Community Incubation Program in October 2021, Paddy Leung developed a series of public and hybrid initiatives that activated the grounds through creative engagement.
Kindness Rocks was a temporary public art project designed to foster gentle connection, joy, and play. The project encouraged people of all ages to interact with a growing rock garden by painting, trading, or contributing rocks over the course of a month-long display. Leung designed a circular bench as part of the installation, providing a space for visitors to gather, rest, and reflect while engaging with the artwork.
This project reflected my commitment to creating inclusive and care-driven programming. By inviting participants to slow down, be kind, and have fun, Kindness Rocks offered a safe outdoor environment for community connection and creative expression during a time of physical distancing. The project emphasized the collective power of play, participation, and hope in public space, demonstrating how art can bring people together while nurturing both individual and shared experiences.
- Paddy Leung - Lead Artist & Designer
- The Bentway: Program Coordinator - Vicki Clough
- Gridblock - Wooden Bench
- To. B & Thor Creative Services - Print Signage
- Meegan Lim - Graphic Designer Assistant
- Alia Knowles - Program Assistant
-
Latasha Lennox - ASL Interpreter.
Yue Moon II
︎ Chinatown BIA & STEPS Public Art
︎ Community-engaged Arts & Multimedia Public Art Program
︎ Toronto, ON
︎ January - March 2021
︎ Community-engaged Arts & Multimedia Public Art Program
︎ Toronto, ON
︎ January - March 2021
Photograph by Tessar Lo
Yue Moon II is a community-based, multimedia public art program as part of Chinatown's 2021 Lunar New Year celebration. This co-created public art project features original artwork developed by participants through a series of online workshops. In partnership with STEPS Public Art & Chinatown BIA, Paddy Leung served as the lead artist facilitator and designed 20 new sets of lanterns that showcased over 250 artworks created by community members.
For more information about Yue Moon II:
Yue Moon’s Team:
- Paddy Leung - Lead Artist & Designer
- Linda Zang - Technical Designer Advisor Role
- Meegan Lim - Artist Assistant Facilitator & Technical Designer Assistant
- Tessar Lo - Production Assembler
- Micah Adams - Production Assembler
- Amanda McCavour - Production Assembler
- Hot Pop Factory - Laser Cutting Services
- CV Studio - Printing Services
- Building Up - Professional Installers
Photograph by Mila Bright
Location Details:
︎Yummy Yummy Dumplings & Lait Night (79/81 Huron St.)
🏮️ 13 Lanterns designed by Paddy Leung
🏮️ 234 artworks made by the community members
︎Rosewood Chinese Cuisine (463 Dundas West Street
🏮️ 5 Lanterns designed by Paddy Leung
🏮️ 90 artwork made by the community members
︎Uncle Otis (329 Spadina Avenue)
🏮️ 2 Lanterns designed by Paddy Leung
🏮️ 36 artwork made by the community members
Artist Statement
Yue Moon II was inspired by traditional palace lanterns, which are created by assembling multiple panels into a single, cohesive structure. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I reimagined the project to engage participants online, making it accessible while maintaining the spirit of collaboration and creativity.
Participants were invited to design artwork for the lantern panels from home, using materials they could easily gather. Meegan and I demonstrated simple art techniques through online workshops, guiding participants to create designs inspired by the zodiac signs while learning about East Asian arts and cultural traditions. Submissions were collected digitally, and each piece was carefully printed and affixed to its own panel.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, I worked with a small team to construct the lanterns and assemble the panels into a unified installation. This process balanced technical care with artistic vision, allowing the lanterns to shine as both a collaborative artwork and a symbol of connection.
Yue Moon II celebrates creativity, cultural heritage, and resilience, offering a shared space for reflection, learning, and joy even in times of physical separation.
︎Yummy Yummy Dumplings & Lait Night (79/81 Huron St.)
🏮️ 13 Lanterns designed by Paddy Leung
🏮️ 234 artworks made by the community members
︎Rosewood Chinese Cuisine (463 Dundas West Street
🏮️ 5 Lanterns designed by Paddy Leung
🏮️ 90 artwork made by the community members
︎Uncle Otis (329 Spadina Avenue)
🏮️ 2 Lanterns designed by Paddy Leung
🏮️ 36 artwork made by the community members
Artist Statement
Yue Moon II was inspired by traditional palace lanterns, which are created by assembling multiple panels into a single, cohesive structure. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I reimagined the project to engage participants online, making it accessible while maintaining the spirit of collaboration and creativity.
Participants were invited to design artwork for the lantern panels from home, using materials they could easily gather. Meegan and I demonstrated simple art techniques through online workshops, guiding participants to create designs inspired by the zodiac signs while learning about East Asian arts and cultural traditions. Submissions were collected digitally, and each piece was carefully printed and affixed to its own panel.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, I worked with a small team to construct the lanterns and assemble the panels into a unified installation. This process balanced technical care with artistic vision, allowing the lanterns to shine as both a collaborative artwork and a symbol of connection.
Yue Moon II celebrates creativity, cultural heritage, and resilience, offering a shared space for reflection, learning, and joy even in times of physical separation.
In Partnership with
Project Partnerships
Generously funded by
