Unique gifts
Find something unique, support artists in your community and avoid the mall with these shops offering artisanal wares
Go off the beaten path with offerings from museums and galleries,
Toronto has some hidden gems when it comes to finding the perfect holiday gift.
Local retailers can help tick items off your holiday gift shopping list, but if you are looking for something unique, you might just find something different in the gift shop of your favourite museum or art gallery.
Although museum gift shops offer up their fair share of classic souvenirs, they are also ideal for finding curated selections of unique gifts, including collections that are designed to complement current exhibitions, as well as, one-of-a-kind wares made by local artists. One of these is the Gardiner Museum, which specializes in clay and ceramic art. “We maintain a focus on Canadian-made items, particularly ceramics,” says Rachel Weiner, Senior Manager of Marketing. “This supports our local community of artists and gives our patrons the opportunity to discover rising local talents.” Others museum shops share a more global story. The Aga Khan Museum Shop is a treasure trove of one-of-akind objects inspired by the collections at the Museum, says Shoheb Gwaduri, curator of the Aga Khan Shop. “I took designs I created to fifth generation ceramicists who come from the mountainous regions of Turkey who will then paint and glaze those designs onto the quartz pottery, making them exclusive shop.”
From art, books and ceramics to textiles, these gift shops are filling their shelves with eye-catching pieces that make them a great destination for gift shopping. Proceeds not only benefit the museum or gallery, it also helps the artists whose creations are sold. Here are six under the radar shops Toronto shops.