Focusing on the quietly unremarkable and transforming it into something luminous, Toronto-based illustrator Cristy Q brings everyday moments into sharp, joyful focus. Through bold colour, clean graphic forms, and a sly sense of visual wit, ordinary objects are reimagined as playful, tender, and unexpectedly emotive. What might otherwise go unnoticed becomes vivid, characterful, and full of story.
This exhibition is both a celebration of the small things and a reminder of how much beauty hides in plain sight—an invitation to slow down, look closer, and rediscover the charm woven into daily life.
✨ Launch Party — March 26
Join us at RAID Gallery to celebrate the launch of the exhibition and meet the artist.
📍 RAID Gallery — 1720 Queen St. West, Toronto
🗓 March 26
🍻 Drinks and food available at the café
🖼 Prints and merch from the show available
More in on our Eventbrite — LINK IN BIO!
Team RAID is taking on Toronto Comicon, happening March 20-22 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North building📍255 Front St. West, Toronto, ON.
You can find everyone at tables P160 - P167 in Artist Alley.
And speaking of everyone — we’ve got a great mix of familiar faces and new talent joining us this year:
• @ramonperez (The Flash, Stillwater) • @d__gee (Forest Folk, Giant-Sized Little Marvels), along with Blackmouth dynamic duo @thisismyface and @kjsmakesart , Cauldron creators @shane__amato , @heysamnoir , and @jasontocewicz , plus Aardehn creators @eric_vedder_illustration & S.M. Carter.
We’re also excited to showcase some fresh faces from the RAID studio, including @connormacgregorart (The Bronze Knight), @the_becka (The Wormhole Club Tragedy), @nickkilislian (Zorro), and @cold.robot (The Increasingly Heretical Thoughts of Giordano Bruno)!
Our @raidpress shop will also be set up with the latest releases and previews of what’s coming next.
Swing by to pick up original artwork, prints, and books—or just stop in and say hello to the creators.
See you there!
🚨 BLITZ BACK COVER CONTEST! 🚨
We’re featuring ONE artist on the back cover of the next issue of BLITZ Magazine… and it could be you.
Draw your favourite indie comics character and throw them into the RAIDverse with Klaatu, Barada, Nikto!
Go wild. Go weird. Go full chaos.
🗓️ Deadline: Dec 20, 2025
📧 Submit to: [email protected]
For full details hit the LINK IN BIO!
Nothing says the holidays like toys scattered across the living room—and we’re here to help you relive that magic.
Join us at RAID Gallery & Café for a full day of collectibles, toys, action figures, vintage treasures, and festive drinks inside our Parkdale space at 1720 Queen St. W.
🕙 Doors open at 10 AM
Browse vendor tables, discover rare finds, and connect with fellow collectors and toy enthusiasts.
🎤 Special Guest: Brian Heiler
Creator of MEGO MUSEUM and Plaid Stallions, Brian will share insights on the toy industry, from retro classics to modern must-haves.
💥 Bonus:
Curious about the value of your old Pokémon cards? Want to know how collectors spot a grail? Get insider tips and maybe a few surprises.
Sip, shop, and get into the holiday spirit while hunting for the toy that “got away” or the perfect gift for the collector in your life.
Join us for RAID’s festive celebration as we toast the launch of BLITZ, our brand-new creator-driven magazine — along with two terror-ific new releases: Blackmouth: The Witch’s Mark and Cauldron: Forbidden Appetites!
Sip on bespoke cocktails crafted by @barebonesbartending , and indulge in new sweet and savoury creations debuting at the RAID Gallery & Café.
Come unwind with friends, peers, and fellow creators who know just how wonderfully chaotic — and deeply rewarding — making comics can be.
Expect good vibes, great company, and a soundtrack curated with care to keep the night rolling.
🗓️ Saturday, November 29, 8:00 PM to midnight
📍 RAID Gallery & Café — 1720 Queen Street West
🥃 Bespoke Cocktails by Barebones Bartending
💲 LINK IN BIO
Join us this holiday season for a cozy, creative afternoon!
Artist Joy Sam (@snarkytuna ) will guide you step by step to create your own whimsical, holiday-themed illustration — the perfect way to unwind, get inspired, and make something special this season.
🎨 Supplies provided (while they last!) — or bring your favourite kit.
☕ Drinks & treats available at our café — with beverages generously sponsored by @barebonesbartending .
Come paint, sip, and soak up a little holiday magic with us ✨🖌️
📍 RAID Gallery & Café – 1720 Queen St W
📅 Friday, November 15 | 4:00–7:00 PM
🎟️ Limited spots available — [link in bio]
@thisismyface and I are doing our first comic shop signing for our brand new graphic novel ‘Blackmouth’ at @negativezonecomicstore on Devil’s Night (this Thursday). We’ll be hanging out from 2pm-6pm, and we’ll have copies of the book for sale. Come say hi, pick up a copy, and get it signed just in time for Halloween!
🇬🇧✈️ @raidpress is heading to @thoughtbubblefestival 2025 in Harrogate, UK!
Joining us is award-winning cartoonist @ramonperez (Tale of Sand, Stillwater, Jane) — plus a showcase of our latest creator-owned comics and art books.
Swing by the RAID Press table at Booth 1 in Redshirt Hall to say hi, discover new stories, and celebrate the art of comics with us! LINK IN BIO
RAID Gallery & Café presents PLEASE DESTROY AND REBUILD WITH CARE by Ottawa animation artist Brennan Bova.
Emerging from a period of personal hardship and transformation, this debut solo exhibition explores resilience, self-compassion, and the power of rebuilding with intention. Through experimental works rooted in animation and visual storytelling, Brennan invites us into an intimate look at creativity as a form of healing.
📅 Exhibition runs October 8 – November 30 👋 Meet the artist on October 8 and hear him share insight into the stories behind his work.
Free admission. All are welcome. Event details in our link in bio.
Straight from the Source 9
Ramon Pérez – Eisner-winning artist & director of @theraidstudio , the Toronto studio, agency, and publishing house that champions the art of comics.
🎨 Gisèle Lagacé, acclaimed for her webcomics & published work across North America.
They share what it really takes to become a comic creator:
💡 Perseverance is everything
💡 Growth happens over time
💡 Community + collaboration help you level up
👉 Save this reel & share with a friend who dreams of making comics!
👉 Big thanks to RAID Studio for fostering such a vibrant creative community.
#ComicsCommunity #ComicBookArtist #Webcomics #MakingComics #StraightFromTheSource #RAIDStudio #ArtistsOnInstagram
![Join us this holiday season for a cozy, creative afternoon!Artist Joy Sam (@snarkytuna) will guide you step by step to create your own whimsical, holiday-themed illustration — the perfect way to unwind, get inspired, and make something special this season. Supplies provided (while they last!) — or bring your favourite kit. Drinks & treats available at our café — with beverages generously sponsored by @barebonesbartending.Come paint, sip, and soak up a little holiday magic with us ️ RAID Gallery & Café – 1720 Queen St W Friday, November 15 | 4:00–7:00 PM ️ Limited spots available — [link in bio]](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6720626844477238395528_0_eebf8de291523feeac32dd124b8b25b2.jpg?o=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&h=dc4edcb05419bc2704ae96b30ed8264d)
