Growing up in Costa Rica, Alan Ganev was constantly expressing himself through art. Whether it was his love of music — specifically the rock band Incubus — writing poetry, or painting, his creative side has always shone through.
And it continues to shine right here in Toronto. Now, he’s a partner at a renowned gallery in the city and the founder of a captivating festival that transforms part of Toronto each year with its dynamic art.
But Toronto wasn’t where Ganev first landed when he moved to Canada, that would be Montreal at the age of 19.
He studied art at Concordia University before making the move to Toronto to direct the city’s Taglialatella Galleries, 99 Yorkville Ave., that opened in July of 2018.
The following year, he started his “passion project,” Yorkville Murals, that has since grown to be a staple in the city. And as they say, the rest is history, although still in the making, as Ganev continues to stamp his artistic footprint on the city.
“Art is just part of my DNA,” Ganev, 39, tells Toronto.com from Taglialatella’s Toronto location. “Whether it’s me creating it or conceptualizing an idea that another artist will execute, I feel the same satisfaction with both approaches.”
Taglialatella Galleries
Although Ganev got his start with the gallery in 2018 here in Toronto, it was actually established in 1978 in New York City.
Taglialatella has a “legacy that started with dealing very established blue chip American art,” said Ganev. This includes pieces from iconic names like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Taglialatella has since expanded to Paris, Palm Beach and, of course, Toronto — where you’ll find it nestled in the city’s Yorkville neighbourhood.
Since his tenure began, Ganev has been part of numerous achievements — ones that would make his younger self proud. The gallery recently held an Andy Warhol exhibit with about 50 original pieces.
“It was almost like a museum show or the type of thing you would see at the Art Gallery of Ontario, but it’s free and everyone can come see it,” Ganev said. “I think putting together an exhibition like this is quite an accomplishment.”
Toronto’s Taglialatella Galleries is located at 99 Yorkville Ave.
And speaking of his younger self, he also recently collaborated with Brandon Boyd — the lead singer of Incubus — through the gallery’s New York location in Chelsea. As one of his favourite bands, Ganev remembers being gifted his first Incubus CD by a friend while riding the bus in high school, adding the band is a big reason why he pursued an art career.
On June 30, Incubus played a concert at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage, and Boyd was set to visit Yorkville’s Taglialatella. This visit comes ahead of an exhibition Boyd and the gallery will host in November, said Ganev.
But aside from famous artists and rock stars, the Toronto Taglialatella location is also about promoting Canadian and emerging art, Ganev said. And with free admission, you can visit this spot to check out some of its exhibits for yourself.
It featured Canadian artist and muralist Ben Johnson in May. Last month, the gallery brought together 40 artists from the city to draw on napkins at Cry Baby Gallery — a speakeasy and art gallery on Dundas Street West.
Their art was then framed and displayed at Taglialatella, where proceeds went to Feed It Forward, a Toronto-based non-profit organization dedicated to helping those living with food insecurities.
“I’m very proud of this path that we’re taking,” says Ganev. “I always try to remind myself of the essence of it all, which is doing something that makes you proud and that you’re passionate about.”
And just as he’s evolved throughout his career, Ganev has also watched Toronto’s art scene continue to emerge.
“It’s like a wild west of opportunity,” Ganev says. “You’re starting to see bigger brands coming in and there’s an appetite for culture. It allows for the hungry ones to grab some cool opportunities.”
Yorkville Murals
Ganev is definitely the type of person who grabs cool opportunities. The year after he assumed his position at Taglialatella, he decided to immerse himself even further into Toronto’s art scene by creating his labour of love, Yorkville Murals.
To put it simply, the festival has “been a journey” for Ganev as the founder of the project. Part of the reason he started the initiative was to “try and create stronger connections within the community.”
Described as “Toronto’s most dynamic art and muralism festival,” this will be the third edition and its theme is No Empty Spaces.
What once originated in a small courtyard, has now grown to shut down Yorkville Avenue and turn it into a “vibrant, interactive cultural playground” throughout the celebration.
For Ganev, the festival is still a small project, but he has noticed the attention it’s garnered.
“I would be in a bar and say ‘I started Yorkville Murals’ and for the first time people would be like, ‘I know what that is.’”
Presented by Taglialatella Galleries and INK Entertainment, this year, the festival will create an “inflatable world,” Ganev said. There will be art talks, dance battles, pop-up shops and a block party.
Yorkville Murals will run on Aug. 23 and 24.
Yorkville Murals is even bringing the legendary American DJ, producer and remixer Kaskade to the Cumberland Parkade for a rooftop party during the celebration. Tickets went on sale June 20 and sold out the same day.
Looking to the future of the festival, Ganev hopes to include more musical headliners as the celebration continues to expand. Yorkville Murals will run on Aug. 23 and 24 this year and stretch from Bellair Street to Hazelton Avenue.
And though it probably seems like Ganev doesn’t have a lot of time outside of his artistic endeavours, he is big on self-care. He often frequents areas like the Ossington strip to eat at local favourites like Bernhardt’s.
“I work in Yorkville, so I try to get out of Yorkville whenever I can,” he said.
But whether he’s helping curate the latest exhibit for the art gallery or doing yoga at the studio he patronizes, his appreciation for Toronto always runs deep.
“I really love to celebrate the city.”
