BizBash
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
Topics
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
  • Industry Buzz
  • BizBash Lists
Resources
  • On-Demand
  • White Papers & E-Books
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • Events
  • Awards
  • Subscribe
User Tools
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Get Featured
  • Press Releases
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Subscribe to Magazine
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
  • On-Demand
  • White Papers & E-Books
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • Events
  • Awards
  • Subscribe
  1. Venues & Destinations
  2. Canada
  3. Toronto

8 Instagrammable Installations From the Toronto Light Festival

The second edition of the public light art festival includes a pyramid created with gummy bears, a moon, and a fire-breathing metal dragon.

Ian Zelaya
February 14, 2018

Toronto may have recently broken a record for cold weather, but a light art festival is still managing to draw people outside with a variety of interactive and Instagram-friendly installations. For its second edition, the Toronto Light Festival curated more than 30 installations from Canadian and international artists, which are on display throughout the Distillery Historic District. The event kicked off January 19 and runs through March 4.

Mathew Rosenblatt, the festival’s creative and executive director, says that as with last year’s inaugural edition, one of the main goals of the festival is to get more people to explore Toronto and see the creativity the city has to offer.

“At its very core, the mission statement of the festival is to change the narrative of the city. Whereas people view this time of year as depressing and gloomy, we want it to be uplifting and fun,” said Rosenblatt. “We do live in an incredible city full of creativity. People need to participate in their city and go on an adventure. That’s the primary driver.”

Rosenblatt, along with two other partners, organized this year’s event in the Distillery Historic District, of which Rosenblatt also is a developer and owner. To expand the festival, the team brought in more installations, both in terms of the number and the variety. The event is showcasing work from artists and collectives from countries including Canada, Japan, Austria, the Netherlands, India, and the U.S.

“We go all over the world seeking light art,” said Rosenblatt. “It’s really meant to be both diverse in terms of the areas they’re coming from and the type of light art they’re bring to the city.” Some of this year’s installation highlights include a pyramid created with gummy bears, a moon that glows with blue-green paint, and a metal dragon that breathes fire.

Along with bringing people to the neighborhood, the festival's other mission is raising money for the Yonge Street Mission, a nonprofit that aims to help people in Toronto living in poverty.

For future editions of the event, Rosenblatt said he wants to continue expanding, and include more indoor activations and outdoor heaters. He also wants the festival to continue being an event that everyone can enjoy—not just art fiends.

"Generally speaking, I think it’s important for us to keep the art accessible and keep it fun, and not turn this into a modern art gallery that only art critics or professors can enjoy," said Rosenblatt. "For us, if a five-year-old or the five-year-old inside all of us can appreciate it, then I think we’ve done our job."

Here's a look at some of the eye-catching installations on display at this year's festival.

One of the most Instagram-friendly installations at the festival is the Gummy Bear Pyramid by Peruvian-American artist Dicapria. The 14-foot-tall installation was made with 200,000 hand-casted gummy bears.
One of the most Instagram-friendly installations at the festival is the Gummy Bear Pyramid by Peruvian-American artist Dicapria. The 14-foot-tall installation was made with 200,000 hand-casted gummy bears.
Photo: Courtesy of Toronto Light Festival
A signature installation for the festival this year gives the Distillery District its very own moon. Moonburn, by Netherlands-based artist group Stichting Barstow, offers a replica of a moon that offers a blue-green shine thanks to glow-in-the-dark paint.
A signature installation for the festival this year gives the Distillery District its very own moon. Moonburn, by Netherlands-based artist group Stichting Barstow, offers a replica of a moon that offers a blue-green shine thanks to glow-in-the-dark paint.
Photo: Courtesy of Toronto Light Festival
Birds Fly Around With You, by Japanese motion artist Masamichi Shimada, features 24 illuminated birds placed in a circle with an 8-meter circumference. The center circle has a sensor that creates the effect of one bird flying alongside a guest as they walk around the circle.
Birds Fly Around With You, by Japanese motion artist Masamichi Shimada, features 24 illuminated birds placed in a circle with an 8-meter circumference. The center circle has a sensor that creates the effect of one bird flying alongside a guest as they walk around the circle.
Photo: Thane Lucas
Heavy Meta, from Toronto-based the Heavy Meta Collective, crafted a fire-breathing dragon art car. The structure is 30 feet long and 19 feet tall, and was made with hand-welded sheet metal.
Heavy Meta, from Toronto-based the Heavy Meta Collective, crafted a fire-breathing dragon art car. The structure is 30 feet long and 19 feet tall, and was made with hand-welded sheet metal.
Photo: Courtesy of Toronto Light Festival
Symbolic Peace, a sculpture of a peace sign that's illuminated with a variety of symbols, was created by the festival’s executive producer, Mathew Rosenblatt.
Symbolic Peace, a sculpture of a peace sign that's illuminated with a variety of symbols, was created by the festival’s executive producer, Mathew Rosenblatt.
Photo: Courtesy of Toronto Light Festival
Hybycozo: the Hyperspace Bypass Construction Zone is a series of polyhedral installations created by U.S.-based artists Serge Beaulieu and Yelena Filipchuk. The installations, which are designed to investigate geometry, are massive sculptures with laser-cut patterns inspired by math, science, and nature.
Hybycozo: the Hyperspace Bypass Construction Zone is a series of polyhedral installations created by U.S.-based artists Serge Beaulieu and Yelena Filipchuk. The installations, which are designed to investigate geometry, are massive sculptures with laser-cut patterns inspired by math, science, and nature.
Photo: Courtesy of Toronto Light Festival
Guardians of Time, by Austrian artist Manfred Kleinhofer, features lamp sculptures draped in hooded robes, which are assembled to resemble guards participating in a ritual.
Guardians of Time, by Austrian artist Manfred Kleinhofer, features lamp sculptures draped in hooded robes, which are assembled to resemble guards participating in a ritual.
Photo: Thane Lucas
Nest, by India-based light designers Vikas Patel and Santosh Gujar, is inspired by Australian bowerbirds that build nests from recycled materials.
Nest, by India-based light designers Vikas Patel and Santosh Gujar, is inspired by Australian bowerbirds that build nests from recycled materials.
Photo: Courtesy of Toronto Light Festival
Latest in Toronto
Warwick Le Crystal – Montréal
Canada
5 New Venues in East Canada for Fall 2023 Meetings and Events
Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto
Canada
6 New Venues in East Canada for Summer 2023 Meetings and Events
Hyatt Centric Ville-Marie Montréal
Canada
5 New Venues in East Canada for Spring 2023 Meetings and Events
Muir, Autograph Collection
Canada
5 New Venues in East Canada for Fall 2022 Meetings and Events
Related Stories
The installation 'Run Beyond,' by Angelo Bonello of Italy, features 18 LED characters across two buildings.
Toronto
How a New Festival Is Brightening Up Toronto
MakeLab recently added a new service: D.I.Y.-designed wine glasses. Event guests create their own designs on a tablet—either freehand or using drag-and-drop templates—which are then laser-engraved onto wine glasses, which the guests can use during the event or take home as favors. MakeLab can even adorn the glasses with photos and selfies. Plus, attendees are able to watch the entire process from start to finish.
Toronto
3 New Ideas for Entertaining in Toronto
The 2018 BizBash Hall of Fame inductees and rising stars gathered at Liberty Grand's Artifacts Room. Pictured (left to right): BizBash founder and C.E.O. David Adler; BizBash executive vice president Nicole Peck; Carly Silberstein of Redstone Agency; Jeff Rogers of Mosaic Canada; Francine Miller of Scotiabank; Heather Broll, formerly of SickKids; BizBash vice president of sales in Canada Vincent Murphy; Johanne Bélanger of Tourism Toronto; Hasheel Lodhia of JM Hospitality; Larry Ostola of the City of Toronto; Virginia Ludy of the Canadian National Exhibition; and BizBash editor in chief Beth Kormanik.
Toronto
Toronto Event Industry Icons Inducted Into the BizBash Hall of Fame
L’Oréal Paris’s Women of Worth Awards
Toronto
10 Best Ideas of the Week: a Graffitied Subway Car, 3-D Printed S'mores, a Teen-Friendly Step-and-Repeat
More in Toronto
Canada
5 New Venues in East Canada for Fall 2023 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in East Canada.
Warwick Le Crystal – Montréal
Canada
6 New Venues in East Canada for Summer 2023 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in East Canada.
Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto
Canada
5 New Venues in East Canada for Spring 2023 Meetings and Events
Take an inside look at these trending restaurants, resorts, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in East Canada.
Hyatt Centric Ville-Marie Montréal
Canada
5 New Venues in East Canada for Fall 2022 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzz-worthy restaurants, hotels, meetings and event spaces, and more recently opened in East Canada.
Muir, Autograph Collection
Toronto
9 New Venues in Toronto for Summer 2022 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzz-worthy restaurants, hotels, meetings and event spaces, and more recently opened in Toronto.
Altea Active Liberty Village
Toronto
10 New Venues in Toronto for Spring 2022 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzz-worthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces and more recently opened in Toronto.
Gladstone House
Most Popular
Brands & Event Pros
Industry Innovators 2025: Sephora
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Cannes Lions 2025: 90+ Bold Builds and Big Ideas From the French Festival of Creativity
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Disney+ Leaned Into Y2K Vibes for a 'Throwback' Pop-Up Experience in LA
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
50 Cool Event Ideas You May Have Missed From Liquid I.V., Martha Stewart, Foot Locker, and More
Brands & Event Pros
Industry Innovators 2025: 10 Brands That Took Experiential Marketing to a Whole New Level
Sports
See Inside Sport Beach—The Game-Raising Activation That Had Everyone Talking at Cannes Lions
Toronto
10 New Venues in Toronto for Fall 2021 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzz-worthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces and more recently opened in Toronto.
Harriet's Toronto
Toronto
5 New Venues in Toronto for Summer 2021 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzz-worthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces and more recently opened in Toronto.
Lavender Menace
Event Production & Fabrication
How Pride Toronto Plans to Pull Off a 'Phygital' Festival
The 40-year-old festival's executive director explains how the team is hosting over 70 individual events, including weekly online programming, a virtual parade and a series of physically distanced art installations.
Trans Pride, seen here in 2019, will take place virtually this year along with Dyke Pride and the Pride Parade.
Toronto
5 New Venues in Toronto for Spring 2021 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzz-worthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces and more that recently opened in Toronto.
Minami Toronto
North America
18 Most Anticipated Event Venues in Canada for 2021
These soon-to-open hotels, restaurants and other event venues are ideal spots for your 2021 gatherings.
W Toronto's rooftop bar and restaurant
Canada
This Week in Canada: a Scuba Santa Show, Massey Hall’s Massive Renovation, Canadian Live Music Initiatives, and More
BizBash's new Canada-focused column covers the week's biggest event news.
For its 15th year, Montreal’s electronic dance party Igloofest is being moved online from Jan. 14 to Feb. 6, 2021.
Page 1 of 83
Next Page
BizBash
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  1. Privacy Policy
  2. CCPA: Do Not Sell My Personal Info
  3. Contact Us
  4. Site Map
© 2025 Connect Biz, LLC. All rights reserved.