Bio
Summer Leigh is a Toronto based professional photographer & videographer with over 10 years freelance experience shooting a wide variety of projects. From events, weddings, and products, to industrial landscapes, aerials & 360°photography, Summer has extensive experience and has learned so much from all the diverse industries she works with.
She graduated from TMU’s photography program with a Bachelor of Fine Art. During her time at TMU, she came to know Toronto’s waterfront through the sport of rowing which helped inspire her photographic series, The Past is Never Far. Since its creation, the series has been exhibited at historic Todmorden Mills, Casa Loma, the Parliament Interpretive Centre and more.
The next evolution of Summer’s work combines elements of The Past is Never Far, with the work of incomparable Toronto artist, Mathew Borrett in the ambitious virtual project: EnvisionTO. EnvisionTO will be an exciting virtual map for the city of Toronto, and has already begun creating exciting virtual tours of historical and future Toronto.
Exhibitions
2023
- The Past is Never Far, The Rivoli, Toronto
2017
- The Past is Never Far, Mackenzie House, Toronto
2016
- Toronto: Past, Present Future, Steam Whistle Brewery, Toronto
- The Past is Never Far, Papermill Gallery, Toronto
2015
- Toronto: Past, Present Future, Steam Whistle Brewery, Toronto
- The Past is Never Far at Doors Open Toronto, Papermill Gallery, Toronto
- The Past is Never Far, Casa Loma, Toronto
2014
- The Past is Never Far, Papermill Gallery, Toronto
- The Past is Never Far, The Parliament Interpretive Centre, Toronto
2013
• Max Ex, The Burroughes, Toronto
2012
- Temporal Forms, I.M.A. Gallery, Toronto
- 3, Gallery 1313, Toronto
2011
- Puncture, Ryerson Gallery, Toronto
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Brands She Has Worked With:
Sephora
KitchenAid
Redbull
Mazda
Animal Justice
AMEX Cobalt
TD Bank
Grand Marnier
City of TO
Heineken
Tim Horton's
Trojan
... and more!
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What Others Are Saying About Summer's Work:
“This is city building at its most meaningful. [Her] images invite recognition and contemplation, teach the next generation, inspire creative initiative, and engage us in conversations that build community.”
— SHELDON LEVY, (President and Vice-Chancellor of University Canada West)
“Summer Leigh’s exploration of landscape change in Toronto is both novel and engaging. Historical geographers often view landscape as a palimpsest – as layers of form and activity which are partially or wholly erased over time. Leigh mines Toronto’s artistic history and marries it with her own contemporary photography to literally superimpose past and present at specific sites. She reminds us that urban places are inherently dynamic; her non-judgmental eye allows us to see environmental change free of nostalgia.”
— WAYNE REEVES (Chief Curator, City of Toronto)