The Real Estate section is sponsored by:
Great Spaces
Lost and Found
A Queen West rental becomes a meticulously assembled artist’s retreat worth ditching New York for By Veronica Maddocks
Scroll over squares for details
Micah Lexier had lived in Manhattan for nearly a decade when he started thinking about relocating. The conceptual artist and painter found out his friend, art dealer Paul Petro, was moving out of his place above a small Queen and Ossington storefront, and decided to scoop it up. It’s the “perfect” location, three times the size of his minuscule Chelsea apartment, in the midst of a legion of Canadian artists. His studio is now only a few blocks away, the gallery that reps him, Birch Libralato, only a few blocks more.
Lexier has been exhibiting internationally since 1985 and has produced a dozen public art commissions. He specializes in minimalist works that express the transient nature of existence. His pieces rarely stay in his home for long. “My work is for other people to live with. I’m on to the next thing.” Instead, this space has given him room to store and display his gathered treasures. “I’m a collector, but I’m not an archivist,” he says. “I’m not fixated on knowing the story behind an object.” A line of newly purchased IKEA sideboards, protecting hundreds of books from sunlight, allows for a parade of well-loved pieces—some bought, some found, some traded with other artists. “Everything an artist does is portraiture, in a way,” says Lexier, including the furnishing of his apartment.
Photographs: Michael Graydon
Related:
• Block Party: Competition for Queen West West, T.O.’s reigning art juggernaut
• Art Throb: A slew of artful goodies for aspiring gallerinas
• Electric Avenue: In a matter of years, Ossington has gone from no-go to boho
Comments
Comment on this story
Neither Veronica Maddocks nor Toronto Life necessarily agree with the comments posted here. Editors will not correct spelling or grammar. Toronto Life reserves the right to edit or delete comments entirely. Read our full policy
Some articles on this site require that you have a Torontolife.com account in order to comment, and this is one of them. If you do not have an account, you can register now.
Related
More Great Spaces Articles
- Up in the Air
- Mod Men
- Living History
- Immaculate Concept
- A Room of Their Own
- Cable Guy
- Lakeside DIY
- Home Made
- Gut Feeling
- Industrial Strength
See all Great Spaces articles »