“Ikebana VII (The Arrangement)” (2023), oil on canvas, 18 x 18 inches. All images © Toni Hamel, shared with permission
It may be human to err, but ’s characters take mistakes and futility to irrational conclusions. The artist () is known for her keen wit and observations of contemporary life, which she translates into oil paintings that place folly at the center: a woman paints red stripes onto a tulip’s petals, a man gestures toward a celestial Amazon logo, and a team numbers clouds suspended in the sky.
Many of Hamel’s works comment on inadequate responses to major issues like the climate crisis and social inequities, and she often paints scenes with figures undertaking unhelpful and unrelated actions to remedy the problem. Her “Activist” paintings, for example, depict a melting arctic and figures attempting to stop the loss of life and landscape through words alone. Laced with humor and satire, Hamel considers her work a form of protest and “a reflection of my general preoccupations as an artist.”
Currently living and working in Kingston, Ontario, Hamel will have many of the pieces shown here at in San Francisco in the coming weeks. You can find an archive of her works on and .
“The tally” (2023), oil on canvas, 18 x 18 inches
“To infinity and beyond” (2022), oil on canvas, 12 x 12 inches
“Ikebana VI (Final Touches)” (2023), oil on canvas, 16 x 20 inches
“Prototype I” (2019-2022), oil on canvas, 30 x 30 inches
“The Activist II (Stay)” (2022), oil on canvas, 24 x 24 inches
“Ikebana V (Spring Cleaning)” (2023), oil on canvas in artist’s frame, 14 x 18 inches
“The Activist I (Last Call)” (2022), oil on canvas, 24 x 24 inches
“The arrival” (2022), oil on panel, 12 x 12 inches
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