An Abundance of Plenty CONTACT Billboard Unveiling

For CONTACT 2026, BAND is proud to present An Abundance of Plenty by Kenyan photographer Thandiwe Muriu, a work from her acclaimed CAMO series.

Join us to celebrate the unveiling of BAND’s billboard on Thursday, May 7, 2026 in the heart of Toronto’s historical fashion district.

Meet us at 460 King St. W at 5:30 PM.

Afterward, continue the evening with us as we celebrate CONTACT openings across the city, heading to the opening of A Place of Ours, by Delali Cofie, curated by Emilie Croning (EMC Contemporary), at United Contemporary and Hints of Orange, by Jamaal Owusu-Ansah at The Black Canary.

About

In CAMO, Muriu explores identity, visibility, womanhood, and cultural inheritance through textile, pattern, proverb, and the transformation of everyday objects. Known for her vibrant and often surreal portraiture, Muriu creates striking optical illusions that blend her subjects into richly patterned backgrounds while keeping them powerfully in focus.

An Abundance of Plenty is on view as a billboard at 460 King St. W until May 31, 2026. Presented in partnership with CONTACT Photography Festival and 193 Gallery. Documentation: Toni Hafkenscheid.

Thandiwe Muriu

Thandiwe Muriu (born 1990) is a Kenyan artist who examines themes of identity, culture, and female empowerment through her works. Her pieces are deeply inspired by African textile narratives, primarily the Ankara (wax) and the East African kanga fabric, which she uses as a canvas to redefine, celebrate, and remember.

The convergence of historical references and contemporary aesthetics become mediums harnessed by Muriu as she contemplates how individuals and communities can thrive — not in spite of cultural legacies, but within them. Through her practice, she draws on and archives disappearing histories, transforming elements that are often undervalued — oral traditions, everyday life, and common objects — into dignified expressions of identity.

Schedule:

Starting Location, 5:30 PM: An Abundance of Plenty, Thandiwe Muriu, 460 King St. W

Location 2, 6:00PM: Independence Square II, Delalie Cofie at Queen and Augusta

Location 3, 6:15PM: A Place of Ours, Delalie Cofie at United Contemporary, 129 Tecumseth St.

Location 4, 7:30PM: Hints of Orange, Jamaal Owusu-Ansah at The Black Canary, 61 Sherbourne St

Please note that this event includes walking and/or public transport. You are welcome to join for all or some of the evening!

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