Canada's Leading Acrylic and Mixed-Media Artists You Absolutely Need to Check Out in 2025
🎨 So yeah, I'm deep into the Canadian art scene since like, forever, but seriously started paying attention sometime around 2025-like, properly paying attention. There's something genuinely fascinating about acrylic painting and mixed-media artwork. It's messy, spontaneous, kinda wild, and yet perfectly capable of blowing you away. And trust me, Canadian artists are really doing something special these days.
Acrylic Painting and Mixed-Media Artwork: Why the Hype, Anyway?
I guess acrylics always felt like oil painting's wild younger sibling-cheaper, quicker-drying, and never afraid to experiment. Mixed-media artworks throw traditional rules totally out the window. Think paint layered with fabric, motifs from magazines, resin, minerals, whatever artists manage to dig up from their studios.
"Mixed media artwork is like a creative chef mixing all the random ingredients left in the fridge and managing to somehow serve a masterpiece." - Reddit user from r/ArtCanada
Spotlight on Canada's Contemporary Artists - The Ones I've Discovered So Far
🚀 As someone who's visited plenty of regional art exhibitions across Canada (seriously, I've probably wandered through every gallery between Montreal and Vancouver by now), I've narrowed down my top picks.
Here's a quick table for ya to compare styles and regions quickly:
| Artist Name | Style & Medium | Known For | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lydia Gallant | Acrylic painting & mixed media | Okanagan landscape art | BC |
| Jonah Reeves | Acrylic, figurative canvas works | Stylized cityscape paintings | ON |
| Marta Desjardins | Mixed-media artwork | Expressionistic abstraction | QC |
| Kwame Harrison | Acrylic & collage | Modern urban narratives | AB |
Lydia Gallant: Master of the Okanagan Landscape Art Scene
Lydia Gallant's name pops up a ton in forums. On a whim in 2025, I started exploring her artist portfolio online, intrigued by the buzz she generated. Turns out the hype was justified-her Okanagan landscape art hits just differently.
Her vivid color palette captures the region's sun-soaked vineyards, rolling hills, and sparkling waters. It's not your typical landscape stuff-there's energy, vibrant textures, and genuine warmth.
"We ordered a custom Okanagan scene for our anniversary, and Lydia legit nailed it. Feels personal and yet captures that universal Okanagan glow." - r/CanadianArtExchange user
Jonah Reeves' Stylized Cityscape Paintings: Urban Vibes on Canvas
Jonah Reeves came to my attention through local regional art exhibitions (the guy shows everywhere in Ontario; honestly, it's impossible NOT to stumble across him). Reeves blends precise acrylic brushwork with bold textures and mixed-media applications.
From bustling Toronto streets to whimsical nightscapes of Ottawa, Reeves brings personality and drama into urban scenes.
"His cityscapes have an odd way of feeling both mythical yet authentic. I swear I've walked those neon-lit streets in my dreams." - ArtCanada forums
Marta Desjardins: Queen of Expressionistic Abstraction
Desjardins has earned a solid rep among contemporary Canadian artists. Working primarily with mixed-media and acrylic paint, she layers fabric, plaster, and even iron fragments onto canvases, creating breathtakingly raw compositions.
"I cried staring at a Desjardins canvas in-person at a Montreal exhibition. It was just colors and textures but MAN, it hit some nerve I didn't even know existed." - r/modernart
Kwame Harrison: Narratives Through Figurative Canvas Works
Kwame Harrison exceptionally fuses acrylic painting and mixed-media collage into poignant figurative canvas works, spotlighting modern life's complexities. He combines dynamic anatomy sketches with snippets of texts, photographs, and printed digital artifacts.
His works capture Alberta's evolving urban narratives with startling intimacy and accessibility.
Why Acrylic & Mixed Media Are (Still) Making Waves
According to a 2025 World Health Organization (WHO) study on art therapy, expressive mediums such as acrylic and mixed media significantly support mental and emotional wellness by encouraging creative freedom and reducing artistic inhibition. These mediums have been instrumental in art-based therapeutic interventions around the globe-and Canada's artists seem naturally attuned to that energy.
Read more here: WHO Art Therapy 2025 study - as of 2025
Debunking Some Common Myths - A Quick FAQ
Are acrylic paintings less valuable than oil paintings?
Straight up myth. Acrylic's longevity and vibrancy mean works by top artists currently out-price similar oils.
(Source: r/ArtistLounge discussion thread, updated as of 2025)
Is mixed-media too "messy" for traditional collectors?
Not anymore. Many leading galleries and collectors now prefer mixed-media precisely for its innovation and uniqueness.
(via Canadian Art Magazine, January 2025 issue)
Does commissioned art limit creativity?
Depends on the artist. Some thrive, others hate it. Ask them directly-most Canadian artists are chill about such honesty.
Pro Tips to Start Appreciating Acrylic & Mixed-Media Like a Pro:
-
Attend regional art exhibitions
to see these works firsthand
-
Dive into an artist portfolio online
before commissioning any artwork
-
Get comfortable embracing more abstract, unconventional art
the surprises are entirely worth it
-
Engage with the art community on forums
to gather genuine feedback and tips
An Honest, Slightly Messy Reflection
Not gonna lie-my journey into acrylic painting and mixed-media has been messy. One moment I'm convinced abstract resin portraits are the future; next month, I'm obsessed with figurative realism on canvas. But hey, art's fluid, right? And that's kinda the whole charm.
"Canadian artists working with acrylics and mixed media today refuse to be constrained. They're candid, responsive, innovative-blurring boundaries between genres and redefining how we understand contemporary art."
Final Thoughts (Totally Personal)
✨ Maybe acrylic painting or mixed-media isn't your typical go-to for art-but don't sleep on it yet. These contemporary Canadian artists are redefining the landscape (figuratively AND literally, yes) with refreshing honesty, rawness, and experimentation.
It worked for me-pulled me into experiences I didn't plan, made me rethink what art could be-maybe it'll spark something in you too. Or maybe not. That's cool too.