Infrastructures is a solo exhibition of new paintings by Mark Bell, presented by Paul Petro Contemporary Art and on view from February 13 to March 21, 2026 in West Queen West.
In this body of work, Bell turns his attention to the overlooked structures that shape daily life. Cell towers, sound barriers, power lines, storm sewers, and temporary fencing become central subjects. These functional forms, built for utility rather than beauty, are rendered with care and restraint, revealing a quiet visual rhythm within the city’s peripheral zones.
Bell’s paintings emerge from close observation of transitional spaces where urban systems and the natural world intersect. Hydro corridors fill with wild growth, accidental meadows appear beneath power lines, and engineered barriers sit beside trees and open land. Rather than treating nature and infrastructure as opposites, the work highlights how deeply entwined these systems have become.
Mark Bell is a Toronto-based artist with an extensive exhibition history across Canada, including solo shows at Cambridge Galleries, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and Mercer Union, as well as multiple exhibitions with Paul Petro Contemporary Art. His practice has consistently examined architecture, systems, and the quiet logic of built environments.
Infrastructures continues this long-standing inquiry, offering a reflective look at the spaces where cities reveal their inner workings.
Dates: February 13 – March 21, 2026
Location: Paul Petro Contemporary Art, 980 Queen Street West, Toronto
Gallery Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm, or by appointment
