Liss Gallery brings two icons of contemporary art to Toronto’s Yorkville hood this spring. Todd White’s paintings and limited edition prints opens on May 9, with Lynn Goldsmith’s photography opening June 6. Goldsmith’s exhibition will include silver gelatin and C prints
Both shows are inspired by elements of pop culture, but in very different ways.
Todd White: Painting (May 9, 2026)
Painter Todd White worked for in the field of animation for years, including Warner Bros. on shows like Tiny Toons and SpongeBob SquarePants. Todd was part of the lead team for SpongeBob. He worked on character design, and that experience has developed into figurative paintings marked by their vibrant palettes, and visual elements that have been described as “Rat Pack meets Picasso”.
Faces are asymmetrical, and expressive hands hold martinis and cigarettes. While backgrounds are minimal or non-existent, the scenes they often depict could be taking place in night clubs late at night. He places an emphasis on hands and face.
“’Everyone’s hands are full of personality,” says Todd.
“They reflect the subject’s state of mind almost as much as facial expressions.”
His canvases have been collected by celebrities like Macaulay Culkin, Eric McCormack, and Ryan Stiles, and galleries across the continent as well as in the UK.
“I actually name my pieces first and then visualise each face and its personality,” White has said. “Then I develop each person’s story.”
Style and storytelling are inextricably linked in his compositions, and he’s a constant scribbler, capturing details of faces and hands to use in his work. White’s work often provokes a smile or laugh. He reveals the inner workings of his characters, and we recognize them, even under the bright colours and exaggerated shapes.
Todd White will be at the Liss Gallery opening reception on May 9.
Lynn Goldsmith: Photography (June 6, 2026)
Lynn Goldsmith’s career is an interesting and eventful as those of the musical celebrities she captures with her camera lens.
Her silver gelatin and C prints capture decades of rock, soul, blues, and pop history, and many find themselves in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
She’s photographed music industry icons of the 20th century, including Bob Marley, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, David Bowie, Prince, Michael Jackson, the Rolling Stones, KISS, Blondie, Bob Dylan, and many more. Her photos capture much more than a PR shot — she looks to capture the essence of who they are.
Born in Detroit, Lynn graduated from the University o fMichigan with degrees in English and psychology. She went to work for Elektra Records. After a couple of years, she met artist Joshua White, and worked for him as a director.
Goldsmith became a director with a specialty for music, and in the early 1970s, directed a documentary and film on the band Grand Funk Railroad. She became the band’s co-manager for a few years.
Lynn made the pivot to photography in the mid-1970s, and founded the LGI Agency, which represented many prominent celebrities of the day. During the same period, she became a recording artist, and was signed to Island Records.
By the late 1990s, she settled back into photography full-time, covering major stadium tours for artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, and Bob Dylan.
Details
Liss Gallery is located at 112 Cumberland Street, Toronto, with gallery hours Tuesday through Saturday, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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