City of Craft – Artist Spotlights!
November 24, 2025
City of Craft, photo by Jae Yang
Toronto’s favourite market for handmade gifts is right around the corner! City of Craft was co-founded in 2007 by Jen Anisef, Leah Buckareff and Becky Johnson to increase the city’s access to – and appreciation for – contemporary craft. Since then, City of Craft has built a reputation as the place to see excellent studio and d-i-y craft works, with an amazing community of artists behind the tables.
This year’s market will feature returning fan-faves as well as some exciting new faces. Since We spoke to some of our 2025 City of Craft artists about their work.
"Maximalist research, balance original graphics, and illustrated modernist prints!"
Returning this year to City of Craft is Raymond Biesinger!
A Montréal-based illustrator, artist, and best-selling author, he has been part of more than 1000 assignments on five continents since 2002. His other interests include minimalism, maximalism, world and local history, equality, diversity, economics, music, science fiction, historic buildings, pictorial maps, Canadiana, wall art, preserving a 145-year-old home
Pictured: Raymond at his booth last year, photo by Jae Yang
Q: Raymond, what Do you love most about City of Craft?
A: I think it’s mostly because the weird variety of missions each event collects. I mean, each City of Craft is a hundred or so creative people working with different mediums, skills, materials and often aloof of sensible business plans. Like, “I want to sell incredibly labour-intensive tacos made of wool, the market for them be damned!” I don’t make tacos like that, but I admire that kind of conviction.
Q: What are three words that describe your work?
A: Three words? I’m going to go with “MR. BOG IMP” which is secretly an anagram for “maximalist research”, “balanced original graphics,” and “illustrated modernist prints”.
Q: Who are you excited to see at City of Craft this year?
A: I’ll be missing a bunch of sales at my own table because I’ll be digging through the zines downstairs, and I’ll miss a few more while I catch up with Chris Rouleau and what he cooked up at his residency at the Gladstone. I also failed to buy a much needed new belt from Fitzy Leather last year and won’t make the same mistake again.”
Pictured: 305 Lost Buildings of Canada poster by Raymond Biesinger & Alex Bozikovic. Photo courtesy of the artist
"An antidote to throw away culture is to carry your own unique spoon with you!"
Joel Regehr has been a practicing woodworker for close to 20 years. They work with local materials that connect us to a specific place.
Q: Joel, How does using woodenware enrich our day to day experience?
Wooden ware enriches our lives in both tactile ways but also in the ways we relate to nature and trees, in our connection to place and our local forests. Humans and trees have a long history together and we have become increasingly separated from that relationship. The wooden ware I make is all sourced, harvest and handcrafted by me from nearby forests. These are traditions of making everyday items that go back hundreds of years. These are ‘new antiques’.
Pictured: Joel’s studio space, photo courtesy of the artist
Many of the designs and decorative carving I do is based on historical examples and protection spells that were incorporated into everyday design. Each item is shaped based on the characteristics of the wood and so I like to think of the process as a collaborative process between me and the tree. It is a joy to eat or cook with a one of a kind spoon. It brings an element of beauty into the everyday. Wood doesn’t conduct heat or cold in the same way that silver cutlery does and so it has a soft quality which is a delight when used for soup or granola. An antidote to throw away culture is to carry your own unique spoon with you!
Q: What are some items you are bringing to City of Craft?
I’ve been working through some fresh walnut and black cherry which are both beautiful woods! I’ve been making a range of serving spoons and ladles which I’m really excited about! I’ve also begun making some kuksa cups from black cherry which I’m excited about!
I will have a range of eating spoons, serving spoons and a small collection of hand carved bowls and kuksa cups. I will also be bringing a range of shrink pots which are small containers which are made by hollowing out a branch and as it dries it seals around a wooden base. These maker great salt caddies or sugar or spice containers.
Pictured: Various wooden spoons. photo courtesy of the artist
Finally I’ll have some wooden spreaders, honey dippers and some wooden candle tree ornaments. I’m so excited to share this craft at City of Craft!
Showcasing 60+ craft and DIY artists from all disciplines selling specially made cards, gifts, studio pieces, and everyday-ware from Ontario and beyond, featuring special holiday baked goods and drinks — this is a must-attend, family-friendly, craft festival and market!
Taking place at The Theatre Centre
(1115 Queen Street West, Toronto)
December 5-7, 2025
Admission to City of Craft is $5.
FREE for kids 12 and under.
Details & learn more: theatrecentre.org/event/city-of-craft/