About
artverb* is an independent artist-run business dedicated to serving the needs of Toronto’s visual arts community. We are based in downtown Toronto and cater to artists, galleries, museums and institutions.
- Specializing in local fine art transportation and installation throughout Southern Ontario
- Service delivered by friendly and uniform-wearing artists
- 20+ years of professional art handling experience
- Offering bi-weekly New York City and monthly Ottawa/Montreal shuttles from Toronto, in climate-controlled, air-ride suspension, lift gate equipped, fully alarmed, unmarked trucks
- Delivering to art fairs all across North America, including NYC, Chicago and Miami
Ryan Barrett
Founder and Owner
Ryan makes artverb*. This company is his vision. He tells everyone what to do. He likes being green. He also likes cookies. Some people know him as the mousetrap artist. Some people know him as an ultra runner. And some people know him as the boss.
Email me: ryan@artverb.com
Agata Ostrowska
Operations Manager
If you need to book a job with us, you need to speak with Agata. She answers our phones, takes care of our local and international logistics, and makes sure our clients are happy. And when not in front of the computer, she sits in front of her antique typewriter and makes art.
Email me: agata@artverb.com
Sabrina Iacono
Project Coordinator
Sabrina coordinates local projects and logistics. She has a BFA in Criticism and Curatorial Practice and a background in painting and interior design. Her work experience varies from gallery administration and event coordination to freelance interior design.
Pippin
Office Dog
Pippin is still working on his Bio.
Dean Povinsky
Senior Lead Installer and Art Handler
Dean is just a normal guy who likes movies and watching the waves lap upon the sand as the sea birds circle above waiting to scoop up the stardust falling from his gleaming hair. We’re not really sure what makes him such a nice guy but we’re pretty sure it has absolutely nothing to do with how incredibly handsome he is, or the fact that he was born in Oshawa, ON.
Mackenzie Duncan
Installer and Art Handler
Mack is an artist and art handler originally from Barrie who made his first steps into the art world as studio assistant for public sculpture installations and as an installer for shows at Georgian College and The University of Guelph where he graduated both their art programs. He later went to work for the Clay and Glass Gallery of Canada in Kitchener Waterloo before finding his way to Toronto where he began working for artverb*.
Mack’s own artistic practice is inspired by the likes of Diana Alhadid, Vanessa Brown, Alexander Calder, and Ryan Gander. To name a few.
Obay Alrifai
Packing Manager, Installer and Art Handler
Obay is a OCADU graduate and currently practices out of his studio in Toronto. He is a painter and mixed media artist who works with spray paint, airbrush, oil pastel, acrylics and oil paint.
Obay runs a studio space in Toronto’s west-end and enjoys cooking when he’s not walking or eating.
Steven Weliczko
Driver and Art Handler
Working in the transportation industry for almost twenty years, Steven has developed his skills in both short and long haul logistics. His experience in extreme Northern climates comes in handy during winter trips, and he values a really good latte on early morning starts. Of all the cargo he’s every transported, he thoroughly enjoys transporting art the most. Steven’s attention to the specific needs of cultural objects in transit has been his top priority and passion. When not behind the wheel, Steven enjoys sketching and painting and upping his culinary skills with cooking adventures (new tool: 2700K kitchen torch). Winters are spent growing vegetable seedlings and summers are reserved for nurturing those now-burgeoning vegetable crops. Fishing and classic video gaming round things out.
Nick Colbert
Installer and Art Handler
Nick’s experience includes fabricating and installing window displays to fine art installations all over Manhattan- from galleries and auction houses to local art fairs and Miami basel.
Nick is a painter, sculptor, and also creates custom footwear. In all things he does Nick likes to bring a detail-oriented creative approach, whether it’s installing a show or discussing ufo conspiracy theories.
Stephen Deffet
NYC Installer and Art Handler
Stephen Deffet is an artist currently living and working in Brooklyn, New York. Stephen has shown his work internationally and directed an artist-run gallery out of his garage for two years while living in Ohio. When Stephen is not at the studio or working one of his art handling jobs he is most likely eating or sleeping.
Todd Irwin
Chicago Art Handler
Todd handles art on our Chicago shuttles. He is also a fine art printmaker and maker of zines and small publications. Otherwise he is drinking coffee at Chicago diners or hanging out with his dog Laika and cat Hot Sauce.
Todd also runs Bitmap Press and handles the design and production of all the cool artverb swag.
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