Toronto is about to witness an extraordinary fusion of art and flavour as the city plays host to the first-ever Truly Flavour Face-Off. This groundbreaking event, organized by Truly Hard Seltzer in collaboration with Secret Walls, will occur on Thursday, June 22nd, at a transformed space on Queen West. Local, up-and-coming artists will showcase their skills on stage in real-time, using Truly Colours—a unique paint made from the fruit found in Truly’s distinct flavours—to create captivating works of art.
The Truly Flavour Face-Off aims to celebrate creativity, inclusivity, and the power of flavour. The art battle will feature two teams of two artists, including renowned names such as Curtia Wright, a multi-disciplinary fine art artist and muralist from Scarborough; Andre Kan, a Toronto-based painter with an extensive mural portfolio spanning Canada, the U.S., and various international locations; Katrina Canedo, a Filipino-Canadian live painter, and muralist; and Rei “M E D Ē I O” Misiri, an Albanian-born calligraphy artist based in Toronto. These talented individuals will have just 90 minutes to collaboratively create masterpieces meant to inspire others to express their unique flavours worldwide.
The event is part of Truly’s Make Space Project, an initiative committed to finding, funding, and creating opportunities for Canadian creatives to showcase their work. Truly’s research revealed that only one in three Canadian creatives are optimistic about their future, and 68% of them find it challenging to find spaces to exhibit their creations.
Julia Glynn, senior brand manager at Moosehead Breweries, partner RTD, expressed Truly’s belief in making space for new and underrepresented voices. “The Truly Flavour Face Off is an integral part of that mission,” Glynn said. “It will also be an epic celebration of artistry—and of flavor. As a brand that stands for flavor, the Truly Make Space Project is about empowering incredible artists to express a flavor of their very own.”
Patrice Pollack, ECD at Momentum Canada, added, “Creating the art battle experience for Truly was such an awesome collaboration and a great example of how the brand is celebrating inclusivity, creativity, and the power of flavor.”
The Truly Colours paint, used by the artists in the Flavour Face Off, was developed in partnership with the Toronto Ink Company. It is a limited-edition line of acrylic paints made from natural pigments found in Truly’s flavours, such as berries, cherries, pineapples, and mangoes. These vibrant, natural paints were created through a process of boiling, freeze-drying, liquifying, and distilling the fruits.
Tickets to the Truly Flavour Face-Off are now available, allowing Torontonians the opportunity to witness the creative process unfold on stage. The event will also feature interactive installations, incredible music, and a Truly bar serving unique flavours of Truly Hard Seltzer that are not typically available in Ontario. Kevin Collins, CEO of Secret Walls, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating, “We share the collective belief that by creating spaces and opportunities for artists to thrive, we can contribute to a more vibrant, positive, and inclusive experience for all.”
Furthermore, up to 80 sets of Truly Colours paint, along with a monetary donation, will be provided to support up-and-coming artists through the Vancouver Visual Arts Foundation. This Vancouver-based nonprofit’s mission is to unite people of diverse backgrounds and cultures through the power of art, creating advantageous opportunities for aspiring artists.
The Truly Flavour Face-Off will take place on June 22nd, from 7 to 11 p.m., at 1153 Queen Street West, Toronto.