The Liss Gallery is thrilled to welcome Bernie Taupin, renowned visual artist and legendary songwriter, back to Toronto for an exclusive artist-in-attendance event on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Best known as the lyricist behind Elton John’s most iconic songs—from “Tiny Dancer” to “Rocket Man” to “Your Song”—Taupin’s influence on the music world is undeniable. But over the past two decades, Taupin has carved out an equally compelling identity as a contemporary visual artist, bringing the same poetic depth and layered storytelling to canvas that he once brought to song.
This event marks Taupin’s return to Toronto with “Two Sides of the 60s,” his celebrated collaborative series with the late British photographer Terry O’Neill. In this body of work, Taupin overlays O’Neill’s legendary photographs—capturing stars like Audrey Hepburn and Muhammad Ali—with bold, expressive mixed media interventions. The result is a powerful dialogue between pop culture history and personal vision, nostalgia and reinterpretation.
The exhibition will also include selections from “Reflections,” Taupin’s most recent solo series, which continues to explore memory, symbolism, and the language of abstraction. These richly textured works offer collectors a unique glimpse into the emotional and aesthetic world of an artist whose cultural contributions span more than 50 years.
In a rare opportunity, collectors who acquire pieces will be invited to meet privately with Mr. Taupin on the evening of June 14. This exclusive event is RSVP-only and space is extremely limited.
Confirmed RSVP is mandatory. Priority admittance will be given to Liss Gallery collectors.
To secure a work in advance and guarantee entry to the artist-in-attendance evening, please contact the gallery at 416-787-9872, visit us in person, or email them directly through the RSVP portal.
Among the works available for acquisition:
- Audrey Hepburn – Hippy Hat (Bernie Taupin & Terry O’Neill): A 1966 portrait of Hepburn reimagined with cosmic and naturalist motifs, transforming her minimalist helmet into a psychedelic dreamscape.
- Muhammad Ali – The True Identity of Superman (Bernie Taupin & Terry O’Neill): Featuring a 1972 image of Ali training in Dublin, layered with comic-book iconography inspired by Ali’s famous claim, “Superman don’t need no seatbelt!”
Taupin’s visual art continues to captivate collectors across the globe, from New York and Los Angeles to London and now Toronto. Each piece is a meditation on cultural memory, identity, and reinvention—expressed through collage, paint, and an ever-curious eye.
Don’t miss this chance to experience the dual genius of Bernie Taupin—whose words once filled stadiums and whose brush now commands the canvas.