Sharing his late wife’s artistic legacy with free art giveaway

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 16, 2026

Toronto artist Martha Fleury’s husband, Max Dean, organized an event at the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair where over 1,100 of her diverse artworks were given away for free to the public with the request that recipients care for them. The exhibition and giveaway aimed to preserve Fleury’s legacy, sparking dialogue about her exploration of themes like sexuality, mortality, and family, while providing new insight into her previously unseen work.

When Toronto artist Martha Fleury passed away in 2023 after a battle with ovarian cancer, she left behind a vast collection of over 1,400 pieces of artwork, including paintings, drawings, and journals. The extensive and diverse body of work, stored in her studio, ranged from small postcard sketches to large canvases, reflecting decades of creative exploration.

Max Dean, Fleury’s husband and a multidisciplinary artist himself, took on the task of curating and sharing her legacy. Known for his own artistic achievements, including the Governor General’s Award, Dean found untapped facets of Fleury’s work in the collection. He described discovering earlier pieces that revealed a sensitivity and sensuality less evident in the artworks she had exhibited publicly during her lifetime.

To broaden public engagement with Fleury’s art, Dean organized an event called Passing On at the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, held last week in Nathan Phillips Square. During the event, Fleury’s work was offered free of charge to attendees, with the sole request that recipients commit to caring for the pieces they selected. The artworks available included a wide variety of subjects and mediums — from portraits and still lifes to nudes and landscapes, made with watercolor, acrylic, graphite, and mixed media.

In addition to the giveaway, Dean created a curated display featuring Fleury’s artwork alongside her personal belongings and furniture. The arrangement provided visitors with insight into the artist’s personal life and creative sensibilities, effectively offering a posthumous collaboration between Dean and Fleury. The installation included pieces from all stages of her career, including a notable tableau titled Toe to Toe. This work combined a self-portrait of Fleury as a child with her father’s favorite chair positioned upside down and supported by an easel, alongside a faint figure interpreted to be her mother, symbolizing familial dynamics and complex emotional themes.

The exhibition attracted a diverse crowd, including families, teenagers, and retirees, many of whom queued in the July heat for the chance to select a piece of Fleury’s art. Dean guided some attendees through the exhibits, highlighting details such as artistic techniques and hidden elements within the works. More than 1,100 artworks were distributed at the event.

In addition to the artwork, signs posted by friends and colleagues offered recollections of Fleury as a passionate teacher and creative spirit, emphasizing her encouragement of student expression and her playful style.

For Dean, the event was not only about preserving and celebrating Fleury’s artistic output but also about fostering conversation around the deeper themes present in her work, including sexuality, mortality, and family relationships. As visitors departed with their chosen pieces, the shared appreciation and dialogue surrounding Fleury’s legacy underscored the lasting impact of her art.

“Thank you for introducing us to Martha,” one visitor told Dean. “Thank you for taking Martha home,” he replied.

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