Jackie Strauss Zimmerman is the Owner/Director of the Petroff Gallery in Midtown Toronto. She took over the gallery in 2017 and along with the Petroff Team curates contemporary collections across many art mediums. The long-time vision of the gallery is to represent and showcase Canadian artists locally and internationally. Her background is in landscape design and has an established landscape design business in Toronto.
James Fowler is an artist and curator based in Toronto. He has a fulltime studio practice and is a member of The Red Head Gallery, a well-established artist collective and gallery in Canada.
Fowler is a member of the Nipissing Regional Curatorial Collective and is a founding member of Nuit Rose, a queer focused performance and art festival. He has co-curated the Church Street Mural Project and curated the annual 10X10 Photography Project for ten years, showcasing LGBTQ+ Canadians in the arts. He has written articles for Akimbo, produced ten photography books, and organized exhibitions at the Gladstone Hotel, The Art Gallery of Mississauga, and the ArQuives.
As a speaker and educator, Fowler has given talks and led workshops on social media for artists and designers. He has consulted with arts and cultural organizations on best practices and created a social media course for OCAD University’s continuing education program.
Fowler has taken part in artist residencies, retreats, workshops, and exchanges, and his artwork can be found in various private, public, and corporate collections.
Jelena Jankovic is currently a sales manager at Galerie de Bellefeuille and was formerly the exhibitions manager at Petroff gallery. She completed a Bachelor’s degree in Art History at York University. During her studies she was a member of the Visual Arts Student Association, organizing and curating yearly student art exhibits, and assisting at the campus gallery. After completing her studies in 2012, Jelena began working at YellowKorner Photography Gallery as a sales manager with a focus on client satisfaction, special orders and curation. Her gallery experience has taught her how to find the perfect piece for every individual.
Jim Turner was a creative director and agency owner in the marketing communications biz for 35 years. He worked with numerous Canadian and International Fortune 500 brands over those years. Now, he is co-owner and curator of 2gallery, a fine art gallery in Prince Edward County, ON
Jodi Wheeler has been working in art world since she graduated from York University with her BFA in 1999. She moved to Australia where she managed two galleries and worked at the Museum of Contemporary Art. In 2001 Jodi had returned to Canada and started working in galleries in Toronto. Over the years, she worked to build her experience as an art dealer, curator, working with the galleries at large art fairs, events and working hands on with artists.
In 2005 Jodi returned to her own art and launched her career as an artist. Having a background in Photography and painting Jodi started creating mixed media works which she exhibited and sold in Canada and internationally.
In 2010 Jodi started a family and started really looking at how she wanted to work in the art world going forward. Jodi kept working as an artist and networking with the artist community.
Which led her to working with artist Rachelle Kearns founder of the charity Buy Art Not Kids. Jodi helped to curate large art auctions raising money to help stop child trafficking. This work was very rewarding and Jodi loved being able to curate these events and work with the artists.
In 2015 Jodi opened Second Door Studio in the Distillery District of Toronto with artist Joya Paul. Together they built a wonderful studio and store front where they both created and sold their art. In 2016 Jodi decided to take a leap and open her own art gallery. Jodi opened the Blue Crow Gallery on Gerrard St. E in Toronto representing local Canadian artists. Exhibiting works by established and emerging artists, potters, jewellers and more. The gallery also has an art school which has offered classes for kids and workshops for adults it has been a wonderful addition to the east end community. Jodi being an artist herself has always been very mindful about supporting artists and helping them in their careers to get over their own artistic boundaries and achieve their goals. Jodi’s goal to help artists and showcase their talents is a dream come true.