Furthermore To Ocean Voyages, Mermaids & Canadian Landscapes by Elizabeth Greisman

A Contemporary Exploration of Water, Mythology, and Canadian Identity

Furthermore To Ocean Voyages, Mermaids & Canadian Landscapes is a solo exhibition by Toronto-based artist Elizabeth Greisman, bringing together painted interpretations of Canadian waterscapes and mythological life beneath the sea.

Rooted in lived experience rather than fantasy, this exhibition blends coastal mythology, international travel, and Canadian landscape traditions into a richly layered body of work. Greisman’s paintings reflect both the physical environments near water and the enduring cultural stories that exist below its surface.

The exhibition runs from January 21 to February 8, 2026, with an Opening Reception on Saturday, January 24 from 2 to 5 pm, followed by Artist Talks at 3 pm.

From Ocean Voyages to Canadian Shores

Painting Mythology Through Travel and Experience

During 2025, Greisman spent extensive time teaching watercolour painting aboard large ocean liners, traveling international waterways and engaging with maritime cultures across the globe. These journeys deepened her fascination with mythology tied to oceans and inland waters.

Across cultures, stories of mermaids, mermen, sirens, and shape shifters appear as living folklore rather than distant legends. This exhibition honours those traditions while grounding them in contemporary painted form.

Venice plays a central role in this body of work. Greisman imagines the city as a symbolic meeting place for global water mythology, what she refers to as Mermaid Headquarters.

The Canadian Mermaid in Venice

Reimagining National Symbols Through Water

A defining thread in the exhibition is The Canadian Mermaid in Venice, a conceptual series inspired by Greisman’s long-standing vision of a Canadian canoe traversing the Grand Canal, adorned with traditional Venetian gondola textiles.

This hybrid imagery merges Canadian and Italian maritime traditions and reflects Greisman’s aspiration to participate in Venice’s Vogalonga Race with a Canadian team. Paintings connected to Venice and mythology express this ongoing passion and cultural dialogue.

Ontario Lakes and the Gift of Solitude

Canadian Landscapes Near Water

Alongside ocean and Venetian works, the exhibition includes paintings inspired by Ontario’s lakes north of Toronto. During the summer of 2025, Greisman stayed at cottages throughout the region, where time and solitude allowed her to sketch and develop new approaches to capturing atmosphere, reflection, and stillness.

These works recall memories of summer camps, quiet shorelines, and the emotional pull of Canadian freshwater landscapes.

Materials and Sculptural Works

Painting and Wearable Art

All works in the exhibition are executed in oil paint. Two parallel series run throughout the show and are complemented by sculptural elements, including hand-painted wedding gowns in mermaid attire. These wearable artworks extend Greisman’s mythology beyond the canvas and into imagined underwater ceremonies.

About Elizabeth Greisman

Elizabeth Greisman is an international visual artist, curator, and educator based in Toronto. She is the Founding Director of the Artist Cooperative of Canada and the Nascent Art Science Collective.

Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Canadian Embassy in Dublin and in exhibitions supported by the Canadian Embassy in Buenos Aires. In Toronto, her solo exhibitions include Propeller Art Gallery, Gallery 1313, Holy Blossom Temple, the Tanenbaum Centre for the Arts, and the Women’s Art Association of Toronto.

Greisman teaches advanced painting at the Haliburton School of Art and Design and leads international watercolour programs aboard Cunard Line ships.

Exhibition Details

Exhibition Dates: January 21 to February 8, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 24, 2 to 5 pm
Artist Talks: Saturday, January 24 at 3 pm