Joana Gomes, Director, She/Her

Joana Gomes is the new director of Art Works Studio. She is a graduate of Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, where she received a Diploma in Recreational and Leisure Services in 2016. She also holds a certificate in Media Fundamentals, majoring in Photography, from Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, obtained in 2011.

Joana's journey with Art Works began in 2010 as a Co-op Student. Over the years, she took on various roles, including Volunteer, Camp Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, Gallery Curator, Occasional Art Instructor, and most recently, Assistant Director. Her dedication spans 15 years with Art Works.

Her passion for both business and art led her to become an entrepreneur at the age of 24, creating paper flowers backdrops for special events and designing outdoor rugs for home decor. Throughout her career, Joana learned from her peers and colleagues about art program planning, staff management, and gained insights from Danica Loncar, the Director Emeritus of Art Works Art School. Together, they established strong connections with the Baby Point, Bloor West Village, Kingsway, and Junction Communities.

Joana's vision for Art Works Art School is to uphold its legacy as an inclusive art studio for all ages and to expand its reach to other communities in Toronto.
www.instagram.com/sisterflowers__

Anita Fowl (They/She)

is a multimedia illustrator from Toronto, currently in their thesis year at OCAD University where they have been studying Illustration. They enjoy creating comics that take place in an uncanny and oversaturated world where self-discovery and identity come to the forefront. Anita is also an avid doll-maker and makes custom collectibles hand-sewn with love.

www.anitafowl.net , Instagram/Anita

Dylon Feyen (He/Him)

is an aspiring artist with a Master of Architecture from Toronto Metropolitan University.

After over a decade of education to become an architect, and after much deliberation, Dylon had decided for himself “Umm no, this is not for me.” So he packed his desk and went along his artist’s journey, tackling all the new challenges that crossed his path toward his sincerest passion of educating. With brush in hand, and pen in the other, and oh, there’s a crayon between those fingers, and clay stuck in his palm, and… oh my, he sure has a lot of different media thrown down there - but one thing is for certain - he has the skills to use them! Through his generalist education to become a mastered architect, Dylon honed many skills with all varieties of medium, along with the creative freedom to combine them. The resulting artwork of his is visually captivating showcasing vibrant colours and fantastical themes, combined with a deep understanding of spatial construction and perspective skills. In his goal of educating others, Dylon’s choice-based art instruction puts the student in charge of their creative time and energy, and builds an artist’s independence and capabilities to become self directed.

rerender.ca , Instagram

Sophia Chavez (She/Her)

is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist. Having graduated from OCAD's Drawing and Painting program, she is mainly an oil painter, but has honed her skills in graphite, and oil pastel. Her body of work is primarily centered around representational portraits that explore themes of girlhood, identity, and the diaspora. Apart from fine art endeavors, Sophia is also a tattoo artist. She integrates her sketchbook drawings, which are characterized by their lively and playful nature, into her tattoo designs. This unique approach allows her to infuse her tattoo artistry with the same creative energy found in her sketches. Sophia is deeply committed to community engagement in the arts. She actively participates in various community-run art programs, including Kapisanan’s FilipinX Arts Mentorship, where she shares her passion for art with others.

Sophiachavez.ca, @sophiachavezzzzzzzzz1

Kyle Andrews, (He/Him)

is an artist and comedian from Toronto. He received a degree in Visual Arts and Art History from the University of Western Ontario and is trained in both digital and traditional drawing and painting. Drawing influence from Pop-Art, Surrealism, B-movie posters, and a deep love of the fantasy and horror genres, his work has been featured in and commissioned for journals and magazines, posters, comic book covers, and character design and concept art for animation. With styles ranging from illustration, to realism, to the absurd, Kyle is interested in the narrative aspect of art, and strives to combine his subject matter, influences and styles into interesting and cohesive stories.

https://www.instagram.com/kylearmageddon/

Danica Loncar, Director Emeritus

is the founder of Art Works Art School and Gallery and served as both Director and Curator from 2003 to 2021.
Danica is an Honours graduate of OCAD University, specializing in Drawing & Painting. She is a painter and teacher who taught both art and design at the college level and to high school students. She was represented by Nancy Poole's Studio in Yorkville for a number of years and has participated in numerous venues including juried shows, group shows, solo exhibitions, and commissioned projects both in Canada and internationally.  Recently, Danica has been featured in various publications including several OCADU Alumni feature profiles. She was interviewed on radio and television, as a guest speaker at Concordia University Faculty of Art Education, as a panellist on the OCAD University Career Panel, and invited to serve as a jurist for the McMichael Canadian Art Collection Spring Fundraiser in Kleinburg. Danica is a recipient of the Lieutenant Governor's medal.

Danica credits her inspiration and motivation for creating Art Works Art School and Gallery to the opportunity given her by Joyce Wieland back in 1989 at Wieland's Alma Gallery in Toronto, where Wieland encouraged and invited Danica and other young artists to exhibit their work alongside hers. 

If you would like to know more about Danica and her current work titled Sanctuary Series, please visit her website.

www.danicaloncar.com