EKKT (Society of Estonian Artists in Toronto) Artist Feature: Ashley Lennox

I joined EKKT (the Society of Estonian Artists in Toronto) 8 years ago in order to reconnect with my Estonian heritage and my identity as an artist. It has been a privilege to show my work over the years with such an eclectic, talented, and bold group of artists.

The annual EKKT art show never fails to serve up a variety of styles and subject matters to delight and inspire guests and participants alike. I am heartened that on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of EKKT, during these unprecedented COVID times, our organization has pivoted and adapted to ensure that our show will still take place virtually, as well as physically at the esteemed Papermill Gallery at Todmorden Mills.

I work as a Design Lead for the emoji app Bitmoji by day. While I am privileged to make my living using my artistic skills as a career, I also love working within my own artistic style during my off hours. The yearly EKKT shows have always provided impetus to continue working on my own artistic projects, and my membership helped secure my spot as an Artist in Residence at TYPA Printing and Paper Arts Centre in Tartu in 2017. A lot of my personal artwork is informed by Estonian folklore and culture, and I am currently working on a surface pattern collection inspired by Estonian midsummer traditions. A couple of these pieces will be on display at the upcoming EKKT show. You can follow my work on my website at www.duchessoflore.com, and on Instagram @duchess_of_lore.

I look forward to seeing what is in store at this year’s EKKT art show, and hope you will join in on the fun, whether virtually or in person!