Maggie Dong & Grace Tao | FANTASIA

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Left to Right: Grace Tao, “Machine and Flowers,” 2025; Maggie Dong, “Are cats pets?,” 2024

Left to Right: oil on canvas; oil on canvas, 48 x 36 inches (courtesy of the Lipont Gallery)

Opening May 29, 2025, 6-8pm, https://openingfantasia.eventbrite.ca

Lipont Gallery is excited to present FANTASIA, a two-person exhibition featuring the works of North Vancouver-based artist Maggie Dong and Surrey-based artist Grace Tao. Both artists explore themes of nature, humanity, and the emotional depth of life through their individual practices, showcasing their work in this collaborative exhibition.

With over a decade of experience in painting, both Dong and Tao have established themselves in Vancouver’s art community. Their journey as artists mirrors their experiences as immigrants, constantly evolving in response to both their personal lives and the surrounding environment. FANTASIA reflects their ongoing exploration of art, nature, and life’s philosophical inquiries. Despite their different backgrounds and artistic practices, both artists convey a deep connection to the world around them through their respective mediums.

Maggie Dong’s work is defined by delicate emotions, vibrant colours, and precise brushwork. Her People and Pets series, including her thought-provoking painting Is a Cat a Pet?, invites viewers to reflect on the philosophical questions of joy, human connection, and self-awareness. Through these paintings, Dong examines the intricate relationships between people, pets, and the natural world, transforming everyday moments into profound narratives.

Grace Tao brings a unique perspective to the exhibition, combining her background in painting, design, and business. Her work bridges abstract oil painting with imagery that juxtaposes machinery and nature, exploring the intersections of design, natural laws, and human ingenuity. Tao’s works, which include captivating colour fields and representations of nature’s laws intertwined with human-made structures, reveal her fascination with the mechanics of life and the inherent beauty of both.

Like the unpredictable and spontaneous nature of a fantasia—a free-form melody—FANTASIA presents a harmonious blend of both artists’ interpretations of the Canadian landscape and their reflections on life and humanity. Their works echo each other’s exploration of nature, culture, and philosophy, culminating in an exhibition that captures the fluidity and complexity of life’s emotional spectrum.

Coffee Talk & Meeting the Artists: June 11, 2025 11am – 12pm

https://meetfantasia.eventbrite.ca

Admission is free and by appointment https://www.lipontgallery.ca/

Transit: Aberdeen Station