JOANNE TOD "THE RITZ, MONTREAL" 2024

Joanne Tod (b. 1953) is a renowned Canadian artist known for her unwavering approach to realism, technical precision, and critical wit. She is also one of the country's most celebrated living portrait artists. "The Ritz" is a paradigm of Tod’s appreciation of interiors. Depicted with passion and precision, this elevator lobby is elevated to an almost theatrical setting. While the hanging lamps, gilded moulding and black marble trim are captivating in their own luminescent right, the reflections off of these and other surfaces add a little uncertainty to the otherwise pristine facade. Reflected in the polished brass elevators are some chairs, and ambient natural lighting. There is also a floating head, an artwork reflected through the elevator doors, which stares hauntingly ahead. While the decorative elements evoke a presence in their own right, Tod has added a hint of human with this particular reflection. For Tod, deep space is an entity as much as a subject sitting for a portrait. With a restrained handling of perspective and light, she creates environments that draw the gaze past surface detail into recesses full of mystery. These spaces carry a weight of presence, reminding us that emptiness itself can be inhabited. Joanne Tod's works can be found in most major public institutions across Canada, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), and the Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal. Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto gallery. "The Ritz, Montreal" Canada, 2024 Oil on canvas 48"H 30"W Signed, titled, and dated, verso Very good condition Note: The price is $36,000 CAD