Celia Lees (b. 1996) is a Toronto-based abstract artist whose work is an exploration of identity, memory, and interpersonal relationships. Through large-scale, expressive paintings, she unpacks the emotional weight of human connection, the fleeting moments of everyday life, and her perception of memories into vibrant, intuitive compositions. Her practice centres on the physical act of painting, allowing movement, emotion, and instinct to shape each gesture and creating space for reflection and connection.
Celia holds a Bachelor of Design from Toronto Metropolitan University and worked in the fashion industry prior to her career in art, experiences that continue to inform her sensitivity to materiality, texture, and colour.
Her work is held in private collections across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, with clients and collaborators including the Ritz Carlton, Find Arcana, Johnnie Walker, Tiffany and Co., Sidia, Maison Margiela, Scotiabank Arena, 200 Amsterdam, Aria Las Vegas, and The Laurel West Palm Beach.
Celia is currently represented by Bau-Xi Gallery in Canada, Saint Cloche Gallery in Australia and 11 Contemporary Art Centre in China.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026 Reminiscence - 11 Contemporary, Shenzhen, China
2026 Eyes Shut - Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
2026 Loosen Your Grip - Escat Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
2025 When We Were Small - Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2024 LOVE LANGUAGE - Sugarlift Gallery, NYC USA
2023 Notes to Myself - And Now You - Cry Baby Gallery, Toronto Canada
2022 Solo - Cry Baby Gallery, Toronto Canada
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 TETHER - Tappan, Los Angeles, USA
2026 Second Reality - 11 Contemporary Art Centre, Shenzhen China
2026 Assembly - Tappan, Los Angeles, USA
2026 Chroma II - Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto
2026 A Year in Preview - Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto
2025 A Collective Unfolding - Saint Cloche, Sydney Australia
2025 Winter Group Exhibition - Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2025 A Cabinet of Curiosities - Two Faced Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
2025 Love All - Glass Rice Gallery, San Francisco, USA
2025 Summer Show - Bau- Xi Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2025 Group Show - Material, Berlin Art Week, Berlin, Germany
2025 Homebody- Two Faced Gallery in Collaboration with Tacit Collective, Los Angeles, USA
2025 Negative 25 - 11 Contemporary Art Centre, Shenzhen China
2025 Ways to Love - Northern Contemporary, Toronto, Canada
2024 Tales of Women - Tang Contemporary, Hong Kong, China
2024 Secret Garden - 11 Contemporary Art Centre, Shenzhen China
2024 Fragments of Thought - PWD Gallery, Kitchener, Canada
2024 No Mans Land - Cry Baby Gallery presented by Tacit, Toronto Canada
2023 Wavelengths - Abbozzo Gallery, Toronto Canada
2022 Arta Gallery, Toronto, Canada
FAIRS
2026 Art Toronto - Bau-Xi Gallery
2026 Sydney Contemporary Art Fair - Saint Cloche Gallery
2025 Art Toronto - Bau-Xi Gallery
2025 SWAB Barcelona - Escat Gallery
2024 SCOPE Art Show Miami - Crybaby Gallery
2024 Art Shenzhen - 11 Contemporary Art Centre
2023 Foundations Online Art Fair - Curated by Artsy
2023 Artist Project, Toronto Canada
RESIDENCIES
2024 Nocefresca - Milis, Sardinia Italy
2023 NG Creative Art Residency - Maussane Les Alpilles France
2022 Find Arcana - Creative Retreat - Ontario Canada
INSTRUCTIONAL
2021- Present - Top Artist on Instructional Painting platform ARIE
AUCTIONS
2025 - Art With Heart, Toronto, Canada