THE 525
About
The 525 was assembled when a group of friends realized their shared love for intimate artistic experiences.
In recognizing their diverse backgrounds and experiences, the team at the 525 bonded through a passion for exploring and experiencing art.
The 525 stands as a non-profit art organization grateful to their encouraging connections, striving to support Saskatchewan artists and the community at large.
Our Mission
Hosting pop-up art exhibitions that connect emerging artists from Saskatchewan with a wider audience.
Our Vision
Making art central to Saskatchewan’s cultural identity.
RECENT EXHIBITIONS
Unbecoming: A Group Exhibition
204 3rd Ave S, Saskatoon /
2024
Our Origin Story
"The 525 started during a crossroads in my life. I had just left a kushy yet stagnant sales job at a tech company. I had no other job prospects and leaving was a risk, yet I knew I had to leave for my own well being and growth.
My girlfriend, now wife, who I met at the tech company had since left too to pursue her own dreams of starting a flower truck business. Watching her pursue her dreams and build a business from scratch was motivating to witness.
Her creativity and gumption must have worn off onto me. I too was surrounded by creative and talented people in Saskatoon. I wondered if I could use my skills of bringing people together to showcase the artist's talent around me.
The inception of the idea of The 525 is hard to pinpoint. During my leave from work, being unemployed, I gave myself the time to just live, to enjoy the places and activities that I wanted to do. Life almost gives you the answers when you are living freely. when your mind is not constrained by the tasks of work. Looking back on that time in my life, It could be categorized by a sense of romanticism. Few cares, taking in the simple pleasantries around me. Visiting art galleries, sitting on the 3rd floor of the newly opened Remai and spending whole afternoons reading and looking over the river. Viewing the works of the Group of 7, Picasso and Canadian artists. I felt a sense of deep connection to these artworks, as if my viewing experience was a continuation of the ideals of art; that art connects us through time and space. Simply being at these galleries gave me a sense of purpose.
It was during this time that I had the idea of turning my extremely small 1 bedroom apartment into a pop up art exhibit. At no point did I think the idea absurd or improbable. I knew enough local artists who would love to showcase their work to their friends and family. I had done artistic video work with NOM and saw other friends bring artist together. My good friend, Adam Bosley, was visiting from Toronto that summer and I could have him, "adamtheillustrator," formerly "ghosteface adam," be the central artist, while also having him create the first ever 525 exhibition poster. I could easily move all my belongings into my bedroom (and hallway which was actually a huge fire hazard). All of these factors, coupled with the inspiration I received from watching my girlfriend pursue her own creative endeavours and many art gallery visits, contributed to the origins of The 525.
It should be noted that I was also hoping to visit my girlfriend that summer to see her flower truck in bloom. Since I was unemployed, I needed some funds to make the trip out to Kelowna. There was an underlying sentiment to make money while promoting local artists. With all of these factors in place, I pulled the trigger on hosting an art show for the first time at my tiny apartment at 525 20th Street on Friday, August 31st in 2018. And the rest, as they say, is history."
-Shawn Setyo, Founder of The 525
Until 2024, The 525 operated as a trio following Shawn's first few apartment shows. In 2021, The 525 was picked back up by new ownership that brought with them greater intentions. Kehan Fu (The 525's current Principal Director) and Isabel Bacalao (former Co-Founder of The 525) started planning the first show of its kind in years, once again in an apartment. DONDA (2021), featured a broad range of local artists, one being Rowen Dinsmore, a BFA student on the cusp of graduating. Following DONDA, Rowen took on a new role as The 525's Creative Director, and together the trio planned the second show of The 525's new era; this time in a house.
Since then, Isabel, Kehan, and Rowen went on to execute seven exhibitions together, eventually outgrowing the house party aesthetic and taking The 525 to the next level. As the team, board, and collaborations have grown beyond their wildest dreams, The 525 is forever rooted in an idea between friends to make art accessible and central to Saskatchewan.
525 IN THE PRESS
Unbecoming Presented by The 525, Saskatoon
'Unbecoming' Closing Reception
The 525: Bridging Creativity and Community in YXE
PROGRAMMING TEAM
Principal Director
Kehan Fu's journey in the arts began with his passion for bringing people together and a visit to a tiny apartment where he witnessed the magic of the very first 525 pop-up exhibition. He took on the role of Volunteer Coordinator for Nuit Blanche Saskatoon in 2022, steering the festival through its post-COVID comeback and now chairs its fundraising committee.
Kehan's ties to The 525 deepened in 2021 when he co-hosted its first pop-up. Since then, he's joined the City of Saskatoon's Public Art Advisory Committee and the board of Makerspace Saskatoon, where his fundraising skills are put to good use. A firm believer in the power of grassroots and community-led arts projects, Kehan is dedicated to using his experience in nonprofit leadership to create platforms where art and culture thrive. His background in project and relationship management makes him a valuable asset to larger artistic endeavours, proving that passion and community can lead to excellence.
Curatorial Director
Rowen is a BFA Honours graduate from the University of Saskatchewan (2022) and is a studio artist currently working and living in Saskatoon. In addition to her artistic practice, she specializes in creative direction and social media content creation. These passions led to her career as a Content Creator for ENSEMBL in 2022 and more recently at LMNO Consulting and the 30 Birds Foundation.
Following her participation as an artist in The 525’s first house-show, DONDA in 2021, Rowen has been a working member of the board as well as the Curatorial and Creative Director for The 525. Rowen is passionate about creating opportunities for emerging artists and hopes her work in these spaces will contribute to the vibrance within Saskatoon’s artistic community as a whole.
Communications Director
Molly is a photographer, cinematographer, and creative director based in Saskatoon. Through her business, BY MOLLY, she collaborates with individuals and brands across Canada to bring compelling visual stories to life. With a deep passion for community and connection, Molly combines her artistic vision with years of experience managing teams and organizations, believing that effective communication is the cornerstone of creativity.
In 2024, Molly joined The 525 team as a co-curator of “Unbecoming”, where she also showcased her own work as an artist. Now, she is dedicated to facilitating meaningful events and experiences that bring people together and share The 525’s story.
Design Director
Delaney is a visual artist and graphic designer born and raised in Saskatoon. She currently works as a graphic designer at Post Projects design agency in Vancouver and as a visual artist through her personal art practice. Her passion lies in visual communication, compelling art, and creative design—she gets excited when art and design intersect.
Delaney’s involvement with The 525 began when she was selected as the 2024 solo artist, culminating in her solo exhibition titled "Good Looking" in March 2024. She remains engaged with The 525 as a member of the creative team. Delaney is proud of her prairie roots and values her continued connection to the Saskatoon arts community.
Music & Audio Director
Hannah is a live audio engineer, musician, and lyricist based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Following her graduation from the Recording Arts Institute of Saskatoon's Audio Engineering program, Hannah completed an internship with Village Guitar and Amp Co. In addition to her internship, Hannah holds a laundry list of personal audio contracts, in which she now uses her gained knowledge and experience of live and studio audio to work on shows of all varieties and sizes throughout Canada as a senior lead technician with Encore Global.
Her love for art and community brought her to The 525, where she has attended and supported the organization since its founding show in 2018, located in Riversdale, Saskatoon. Her love for music and visual art drives her to bring new and innovative audio experiences to the 525. With the goal of deepening guests' connection to the visual art, Hannah curates playlists to accompany The 525's galleries. Hannah uses her skills and knowledge to bridge the gap between visual and auditory art, to help create meaningful and memorable experiences at The 525's events and within the Saskatchewan art community.
Project Coordinator
Versailles is an Art History Major at the University of Saskatchewan, and holds a passion for local art and beyond. She has prior curatorial experience, having worked as a Curatorial Assistant at AKA Artist Run Studio, and through this experience, Versailles has expanded her ties within the Saskatoon Arts Community. She is devoted to working with local and non-profit art-based organizations, with the goal to grow and maintain a strong and vibrant art’s community in Saskatoon.
As a fan of the work and presence of The 525, Versailles has joined the Committee in the role of Project Manager. In this role, Versailles brings her passion for art and experience in both event organization and staging to The 525 to aid in developing new and sustainable partnerships that benefit both the participating artists as well as raising the profile of the local art community
Communications Coordinator - Creative Team
Hannah is currently pursuing a Bachelor's of Commerce, majoring in Supply Chain Management. Accepted into the Honours Program, she will researching sustainable supply chains in the textile and apparel industry. Currently, she works at Canpotex in the Ocean Transportation Department, gaining real-time experience in supply chains. Hannah is passionate about her creative pursuits such as pottery, fashion, styling, and photography. She also runs an e-commerce vintage shop and is an active participant in the Saskatoon resale community through local pop-ups.
Hannah began following The 525 Art Non-Profit Organization at their first house show in 2021, "DONDA," in support of her good friend and current 525 Curatorial and Creative Director. Since then, she has been a devoted attendee, and in May 2024, she joined The 525 team as part of the Operations and Creative team. Passionate about human connection, Hannah joined the 525 to foster a community where art and creativity thrive, bringing together individuals from all backgrounds and experiences to create something truly special.
Curatorial Assistant
Hailey Weber (BFAH), is a working artist that engages with a variety of community partnerships to develop the many areas of her personal creative ecosystem. Living in Saskatchewan her whole life, Hailey has spent much of her time developing roots in her community through diverse volunteerism, developing bilingualism, playing soccer with the University of Saskatchewan, and many lived experiences within the community she calls home. These experiences have shaped her creative practice in all its facets.
Hailey’s involvement in the 525’s programming began when she was selected as an exhibiting artist culminating in her solo exhibition in the Fall of 2024 titled “My Bones”. She continues to stay involved as a member of the creative team, to support artists and the creative realization of exhibitions.
Project Coordinator
Rhea is a painter, poet, and graduate from the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at UBCO (2024). Her love of writing has led her to get involved with projects such as "Belonging": a collaborative chapbook focused on eco-anxiety and the experience of growing up in a climate crisis. Similar themes, along with her experience moving between the prairies and the Okanagan, permeate her work in oil painting. Rhea's artistic practice reflects her love for the Earth, her enthusiasm for life, and hope to spark joy in others.
Having stumbled upon a 525 exhibition by chance, Rhea was immediately drawn to their eagerness and faith in the importance of showcasing local artists. Her own passion for connecting people prompted her to reach out to the 525 team, where she hopes to create further positive change. She aspires to contribute to building an inclusive community, where emerging artists feel empowered to pursue their interests.
JOIN OUR TEAM
We're always looking for individuals with a passion for local art and supporting emerging artists.
THE BOARD
Board Chair
Cora’s experience spans international non-profit work, infrastructure financing, and impact investing. She is currently a Principal with InvestEco Capital, a Toronto-based venture capital firm focused on supporting companies that promote health or sustainability in the food sector. Previously, she worked on the investments team at Export Development Canada and has also held internship roles with Forum Equity Partners and Shanti Uganda. Cora has completed all three CFA exams as well as ILPA Level I, and has a BBA specializing in finance from the Schulich School of Business at York University. Cora grew up in Saskatoon and is very interested in promoting the local cultural scene, hence her involvement with the 525.
Director
Devin’s passion for the arts runs deep, stemming from his family’s history of professional artists in pottery, glass, and painting. Straying from tradition he obtained a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Saskatchewan, during which time he founded SaskInvent, a lasting non-profit developing novel medical devices. He went on to help grow RapidAi, a medical stroke diagnostics tech company based in California’s Bay Area. Now working as a home goods product designer and coach for early stage startups at Co.Labs, Saskatchewan’s tech incubator. Through the 525, Devin aims to connect and mature the art community with approaches fresh to province.
Director
Allie Harrington holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Woodwind Performance from Brandon University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Saskatchewan College of Law. She is passionate about music and art, and loves the way it can bring people together. She is currently an associate at McDougall Gauely LLP in Saskatoon. Allie has attended every show that the 525 has put on since its inception, and joined the 525 board in June 2023. She is excited about the 525 creating space for emerging visual artists, and building relationships between artists and their audiences and patrons.