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What is La Parete Gallery?
La Parete Gallery is a Toronto art gallery focused on Canadian abstract art, operating since 1975. It buys and sells Canadian art and also provides custom framing. The gallery's inventory is organised by artist, with a long roster of Canadian abstract and modern painters, and visitors can browse available pieces by name. It is located at 1091 Bathurst St, Toronto.
What you can do there
- Browse or buy Canadian abstract art — the collection is presented artist by artist, so you can start from a specific name or scan the full inventory.
- Sell art — the gallery states that it buys art as well as sells it, which matters if you hold Canadian abstract works and want a dealer's assessment.
- Have work framed — custom framing is offered as a separate service, described on its own page.
Who it suits
Collectors and sellers of Canadian abstract art are the clearest audience, particularly those who already know which artists they are looking for. Someone furnishing a home with a single strong piece can also use the by-artist browsing to narrow the field. If your interest is contemporary emerging art rather than established Canadian abstraction, the fit is less obvious.
A practical next step
Pick two or three artists from the list, look at what is currently available for each, and then call or email with a specific question about condition, provenance or framing. For comparison, Art Gallery of Ontario is a public institution rather than a dealer, and Heffel handles Canadian art at auction — useful reference points if you are weighing a private sale against auction.
How do I know which Canadian abstract artists are available to buy at La Parete Gallery?
The gallery lists availability by artist, not by a single catalogue with live stock counts. On La Parete Gallery, the homepage names a long roster of Canadian abstract artists under "Our Featured Artists" and points to per-artist pages plus a "Browse All Inventory" section. That is where you confirm what is currently offered: open the artist page or the full inventory list, then contact the gallery directly (phone, email or the Toronto address given on the site) to ask whether a specific piece is still available and to request details.
A practical way to check
- Start with the artist index on the homepage and note the names that interest you.
- Open the individual artist page to see the pieces described for that artist.
- Cross-check the "Browse All Inventory" page for anything not shown on the artist page.
- Contact the gallery to confirm availability, condition and viewing arrangements before you plan around a purchase.
Who this suits
Collectors who already know the names they want—mid-century and post-war Canadian abstraction, from Jack Bush and Harold Town to Marcelle Ferron and Kazuo Nakamura—will find the artist-by-artist structure efficient. Buyers who are still exploring will need to browse the full list first, since the site is organised around artists rather than themes, price bands or mediums.
Trade-offs to expect
An artist index tells you who the gallery handles, not what is in stock at any moment; the roster is broad, so availability can vary widely between names. If a specific work matters to you, treat the gallery's reply as the authoritative answer rather than the listing alone.
Next step: pick two or three artists from the homepage list, check their pages, and send one email asking about current availability for each.
Can I sell my Canadian abstract art to La Parete Gallery, and how does that process work?
Yes. La Parete Gallery states that it buys and sells Canadian art, so selling your work to the gallery is a plausible route, especially for Canadian abstract pieces. The site does not publish a step-by-step selling process, so treat the following as practical guidance rather than the gallery's stated procedure.
What to expect from the model
A gallery that both buys inventory and resells it generally works in one of two ways:
- Direct purchase: the gallery buys the work outright, usually at a wholesale level below retail, and then resells it. You get certainty and payment sooner, but less than a consignment or private-sale price.
- Consignment: the gallery displays and sells the work on your behalf and takes a commission. You may earn more, but you wait for a buyer and share the proceeds.
The site's "we buy & sell" wording points toward direct purchasing, but confirm which arrangement applies to your piece before agreeing to anything.
A sensible first step
Contact the gallery with a clear submission rather than an open question. Include:
- Artist name, title, year, medium and dimensions.
- Several sharp photos of the front, back, signature and any labels or gallery stickers.
- Provenance: purchase receipts, exhibition history, prior gallery labels, estate or auction records.
- Condition notes, including restoration, fading or frame damage.
- Your asking price or a request for their offer, and whether you are open to consignment.
Their listed contact details are email [email protected] and phone 416-533-8292, with a visit possible at 1091 Bathurst St, Toronto. A phone call first can establish whether they are currently acquiring work by your artist.
How they will likely judge it
Because the gallery specializes in Canadian abstract art and lists many established names, expect the decision to rest on the artist's market standing, the strength of the specific period or series, condition, and whether the piece fits their current inventory. Works by lesser-known artists or pieces outside the abstract focus may be declined or offered at a lower price. For context on comparable asking prices, you can check auction results and dealer listings, such as Heffel for Canadian art auction records.
Decision criterion
If you need a quick, certain sale, a direct purchase offer is the simpler path even at a lower figure. If the work is strong and you can wait, ask explicitly about consignment terms, including commission rate, insurance, duration and who covers framing or transport. Get any agreement in writing before the piece leaves your hands.
What custom framing services does La Parete Gallery offer for my own artwork?
La Parete Gallery presents custom framing as one of its two core services, alongside buying and selling Canadian art. The site frames it as a way to "beautify your art," aimed at people who already own a piece—a print, a gift, a family work or a purchase from elsewhere—and want it properly presented rather than simply hung.
What the site indicates
- Custom framing for your own artwork is an explicit service, listed as its own section ("About Custom Framing") in the main navigation.
- It sits alongside the gallery's art business, so framing is offered to visitors generally, not only to buyers of its inventory.
- The gallery has operated in Toronto since 1975 and is reachable by phone, email or in person at its Bathurst Street location—useful if you want to discuss a piece before committing.
What to confirm directly
The site does not spell out frame styles, matting options, glazing choices, turnaround times or how quotes are handled. For a decision, ask specifically about:
- Whether they frame works on paper, canvas or both, and how they handle oversized pieces.
- Conservation materials (acid-free mats, UV-filtering glazing) if the work has value or sentimental importance.
- Whether you can bring the piece in for an in-person consultation, and what to expect on timing.
Practical next step
If you have a work whose proportions or palette you're unsure about, bring it (or clear photos and exact dimensions) to the gallery and ask to see moulding samples against it. For guidance on matching frames to Canadian abstract works in particular, the gallery's own inventory is a useful reference point: La Parete Gallery. If you're weighing a general framer against a gallery-based one, a gallery that handles art daily tends to be stronger on conservation and presentation judgment, while a high-volume frame shop may be faster and cheaper for everyday pieces.
How can I visit or contact La Parete Gallery in Toronto to view the art in person?
To view the art in person, visit La Parete Gallery at 1091 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5R 3G8. You can call 416-533-8292 or email [email protected] before you go. The gallery's site describes it as buying and selling Canadian art, with a specialty in Canadian abstract art, and also offering custom framing.
A useful next step
If you have particular artists in mind, browse the site's inventory by artist first, then call ahead to confirm that the pieces you want to see are on view. The roster is long and spans historical Canadian abstraction—figures such as Jack Bush, Harold Town, Kazuo Nakamura and Marcelle Ferron appear alongside many others—so a quick call can save a wasted trip. The same applies if your main reason for visiting is custom framing: ask what they need from you (dimensions, the work itself, or photographs) so you arrive prepared.
For broader context on Canadian abstract art before your visit, Art Gallery of Ontario and National Gallery of Canada are useful reference points.
What should I consider when buying a piece by a specific artist such as Jack Bush or Harold Town from La Parete Gallery?
Focus on three things: the work itself, the gallery's dual role as buyer and seller, and what you need in writing before you commit.
The work and the artist
La Parete Gallery states that it specialises in Canadian abstract art and has bought and sold Canadian art since 1975, so a Jack Bush or Harold Town piece will sit inside a deep inventory of Canadian abstraction rather than a general fine-art mix. That helps on context, but it does not replace your own homework. For either artist, know the period and medium you want—Bush's colour-field canvases and his works on paper are different propositions, as are Town's paintings versus his prints and collages—and check the piece against the artist's catalogue raisonné or a recognised authority where one exists. Ask for provenance (exhibition history, prior owners, literature references), condition notes, and whether the work is signed, dated and titled on the verso.
The gallery's dual role
Because the gallery both buys and sells, it may also make an offer on art you already own, or discuss a trade. That can be convenient, but it means the price you pay and any credit you receive are separate negotiations. Treat them separately: agree the purchase price of the Bush or Town first, then discuss any sale or trade of your own work.
Questions to settle before buying
- Is the attribution documented, and who has confirmed it?
- What is the condition report, including any restoration, relining or frame damage?
- Are there exhibition or publication records that add value?
- What exactly does the price include—framing, shipping, taxes?
- What are the return terms if the work disappoints in person?
Framing
The gallery also offers custom framing, which is useful for works on paper but is a separate decision from the art's value. Ask whether the quoted frame is archival (UV-filtering glazing, acid-free mounts) and whether the existing frame is original to the piece; changing an original frame can affect both appearance and resale.
A practical next step
Before visiting the Bathurst Street location or calling, request images of the specific Bush or Town works, their dimensions, condition notes and provenance in writing. Then compare against auction records and, if you want a second opinion, a specialist Canadian-art dealer or auction house. If you are building a collection more broadly, Heffel publishes auction results and artist records that are useful benchmarks, and Art Gallery of Ontario holds reference material on Canadian abstraction. Use those to sense-check the piece before you negotiate.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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