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Mark A Toffoli’s work is about the love of men: the beauty and strength and incredible variation of how men show themselves to the world. Many images of beautiful men have been destroyed or lost, through religious intolerance or through hate crimes just as many beautiful men have been lost to AIDS. Loses of beautiful men has been a frequent part of Mark’s life mostly due to AIDS. All his gay friends from the 70s, 80s and into the 90s have passed. He’s a sole survivor but he’d say “soul” survivor with so many people to remember. His work celebrates their lives by allowing the beauty of the male form to shine brightly. 

Mark A(lan) Toffoli was born and grew up in HAMILTON Ontario Canada, a steel town with a large Italian community. At that time there were no nice words for being gay, bashing was commonplace and the police were as likely to be perpetrators. His parents made him leave home at 16 once his queerness was discovered. He supported himself through school with a part time job. Yet his artistic talent was evident and fostered early. Mark took many painting and sketching courses after school, on weekends and during the summer. While earning his Nursing degree, he took a 3rd year sculpture course at York University after submitting a body of work to prove his advanced fine art standing.