Art Gallery

Made By A Human

Art with a Heartbeat

💖

Art with a Heartbeat 💖

Mission

Made by a Human Art Gallery was born from one thought: “Toronto needs more opportunities for artists to grow”.

Founded by photographer Fiona Vandermyden after experiencing the vibrant, accessible art scene in New York, MBAH exists to challenge the limits of traditional gallery spaces.

We are committed to growing Toronto’s artistic world by providing inclusive, affordable, and welcoming venues for both emerging talent and established creators. Our mission is to amplify voices that deserve to be heard, to foster authentic connections between artists and audiences, and to create a platform where collaboration and community come first.

At MBAH, every exhibition is an invitation: to connect, to inspire, and to remind the world that art is, and always will be

made by a human.

Meet the Team That is making all of this happen!

  • Art Gallery Director

    Jadyn Nasato is a Toronto-based theatre and film actor whose work is grounded in honesty and connection. She’s been recognized for her performance as Cara in Studio 180’s Four Minutes Twelve Seconds, which earned her the 2024 Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Best Supporting Performance, and for bringing a fresh, playful energy to Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Canadian Stage. Her recent film Desync has screened at festivals around the world, where she was awarded Best Lead Performance at the FascinAsian Film Festival.

    Outside of acting, Jadyn is the co-owner of Headshots Studio, a creative space dedicated to helping artists feel seen and confident in front of the camera. Her work behind the lens is just as thoughtful as her work on stage and screen. All rooted in collaboration, authenticity, and care.

    Her involvement with Made By A Human Galleries comes from a strong belief that art is, at its core, about human connection. In a world that is slowly being shaped by AI, her drive is to make and keep space for real people telling real stories.

    No matter how advanced technology gets, nothing will ever replace the impact of something… made by a human.


  • Art Gallery Curator

    Fiona Vandermyden is a Toronto-based photographer and creative, with a background in Theatre from York University and a Photography diploma from Humber College.

    Beyond the lens, Fiona runs many different social media accounts as their manager and strategist, crafting content that connects brands and artists with their desired audiences.

    As the curator of Made by a Human, Fiona is driven by one goal: to see Toronto’s artists thrive. The idea for MBAH was born during her first-ever art gallery visit outside of school. While in New York, she thought, “Toronto needs more of this.” She knows firsthand how challenging it can be to find gallery spaces in the city, with many venues only accepting established names or being booked years in advance.

    Through Made by a Human, Fiona is creating an inclusive space where emerging and established artists alike can showcase their work, connect with their community, and remind the world that art has a heartbeat, and it’s human.

Challenging AI

What is this? What does it mean? “Challenging AI” is the theme of this month’s art gallery! The reception opens August 28th at 7 PM, and the gallery itself will be open until August 31st.

Our debut exhibition, “Challenging AI,” opens the conversation around art in the age of artificial intelligence. In a time when many creatives fear being replaced by machines, this show celebrates the irreplaceable human touch and the emotional connection only real people can bring to their work.

Exhibiting artist

Alex Goubar - The Future of stories

See Alex's Work

Patrizia Brasch - It Takes Two (to make a dream come true)

See Patrizia's Work

Ryan McGarvey - Best in Show

See Ryan's Work

Manuella De Castro - Menina Dos Olhos Castanhos

See Manuella's Work

Tha Pizza Boi - Ranch Saga (Various)

See Tha Pizza boi's Work

Hiral Solanki - pause

See Hiral's Work

Sebastian Gil - They don't know how fast it can go

See Sebastian's Work

Karan Soochak - surrounded, yet only you matter

See Karan's Work

Rividu Mendis & Teleri McGuire-Astolfo & Jacob Modestino - Essence

See Rividu's Work

Carlos Fentanes - Do Algorithms Have Memories?

See Carlos' Work

  • Because art isn’t just pixels or patterns, it’s lived experience. It’s stories, memories, and meaning only a human can create. We are the reason art resonates, why it sparks conversation, and why it connects people across time and space. Machines can mimic, but they can’t feel. And that’s everything.

  • As AI tools become more common, the idea that machines could replace artists has been growing louder. We disagree. Challenge AI is our way of pushing back, by celebrating the irreplaceable human spark behind every brushstroke, photograph, sculpture, and more. Art has a heartbeat, and that heartbeat belongs to us.

  • We want to create a space where artists can connect, collaborate, and showcase their work in a way no machine ever could. It’s not just about showing art; it’s about reminding people that creativity is a deeply human act, built on emotion, intuition, and connection.

  • All of it is acceptable. Paintings, photographs, sculptures, costumes, videos. If it’s made by a human, we want to see it. Any style, any medium. Surprise us, challenge us, prove what human creativity can do.

  • During the submission process, you are welcome to submit as many pieces as you would like! However, with each submission you must send $10 to help cover the costs of promotions, and gallery space.

  • Yes! we are already in talks of our next Open call gallery that will start in September. you will have many opportunities to apply, and if you unfortunately don’t get accepted to one, we would love to meet you at our opening receptions! we are always open to making new and exciting connections.

  • yes, there will be a reception opening night for artists, friends and communities to come in, meet, and connect! it will be an amazing opportunity for networking and selling your work.

 FAQs

Next

Creative works