Left to Right: Genevieve Wallen, Marjan Verstappen, Marsya Maharani, and Michael “Humboldt” Magnussen.
YTB is an arts collective supporting artists, curators, and arts workers born after 1981. We provide paid opportunities for emerging practitioners to develop their art careers and grow into artistic leaders. Our work responds to the needs of our generation.
Our Story
In 2009 the New Museum in New York held its first triennial of emerging artists called “Younger Than Jesus,” showcasing work by artists under 33. The show was controversial because it focused on a generation that has been defined by their habits of consumption rather than production. Five years later, Younger Than Beyoncé presents a nomadic, D.I.Y. response to this landmark exhibition, within the context of the Toronto arts community and surrounding neighbourhoods. Our first year as a gallery we partnered with the Daniels Corporation and took over a 3,600 square foot space in Regent Park where we programmed 13 exhibitions working with over 100 artists born after 1981 (or are otherwise emerging) with paid opportunities to develop their art careers and grow into artistic leaders.
Since then, our activities have been increasingly nomadic. We took residency at the Feminist Art Gallery in Parkdale, and collaborated with Margin of Eras Gallery, The Public Studio, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Luminato Festival, the Gardiner Museum, Images Festival, the Art Gallery of Mississauga, The Bentway, and the Art Gallery of York University.
Currently, we are researching methodologies alternative to winning culture, capitalist ideals of productivity, and fast-paced cultural programming. This includes learning collaborative practices and supportive ecosystems in the GTA and internationally. Our approach is built on our commitment to innovative ideas that support 2SLBGTQ+, racialized artists, and others who continue to face multiple barriers to building an art career. We are actively fundraising to build a new sustainable and equitable vibrant arts space to put our research into practice.
YTB is Michael “Humboldt” Magnussen, Marsya Maharani, Marjan Verstappen, and Geneviève Wallen. We live and work on the territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.