Alternative Arts

About

Providing Quality Custom Framing, Custom Lamination & Canvas Transfers and a Large Selection of Fine Art Prints and Posters for over 20 years.

Story

Situated in Toronto in the heart of the Annex on Bloor Street near Brunswick, Alternative Arts has been providing quality custom framing, custom lamination and canvas transfers and a large selection of fine art prints and posters for over 20 years. We strive to provide quality customer service that can only come from a small business. Taking the time to assess your needs and provide you with different framing and mounting options to suit them is our goal. No order is too large or small, we welcome you to bring your pieces of art in and let our design staff show you all the different options available.

We now offer custom printing and custom large format printing on a variety of surfaces. Bring in your digital files and we will print then in high resolution on matte paper, photo paper, art paper, canvas, linen, and aluminum.

We carry an extensive selection of Vintage Toronto Photography and Vintage Toronto Maps. Come into the store and view our selection of pre-mounted photos and maps. Choose your favourite photo or map and we’ll print them for you in the size that works best on the material of your choice. We can also custom frame or mount them for you.

Our knowledgeable sales staff prides itself on being up to date with framing design trends and new products and materials. Whether framing a cherished family photograph, your children’s art work, a diploma, autographed memorabilia or an original work of art, our experienced framers use the utmost care. We offer conservation framing so that your treasured pieces will last a lifetime. With hundreds of wood moulding to choose from we will help design framing options that not only work well with the piece being framed but also compliments your own style and decor.

Custom laminations include plaking, flush mounting as well as canvas transfers. Plaking and flush mounting is a process where your print or photograph is mounted to wood that is custom cut to size. A clear and durable vinyl matte laminate is then applied to the surface, completely sealing and protecting your piece. The edges are bevelled and coloured to your choosing. Canvas transfers begin by placing the same clear vinyl laminate onto your poster, it is then soaked in a water bath that allows the paper to be taken off, leaving the ink adhered to the protective surface. This is heat pressed onto canvas and stretched onto stretcher bars, allowing you to have the look and texture of canvas.

We offer a wide variety of art prints, movie posters, vintage ads and more, but if there is something you are not finding in stock please ask our friendly staff and we will help find that perfect print from our many suppliers. You may also come in and browse our catalogues to find the right piece to decorate your space.