Ten local artists are turning handcrafted Muskoka chairs into fundraising artworks for Oasis A Centre for Bereavement and Healing.
The charity said The Empty Chair Auction is based on “an empty chair,” which it described as “a quiet yet powerful symbol of the loss of a loved one.”
Oasis A Centre for Bereavement and Healing is a small, entirely volunteer-run registered charity based in Newmarket.
The artists have partnered with the Bear Chair Company to reimagine the chairs as one-of-a-kind works of art. Oasis said each chair has been designed “to create a space for reflection and remembrance, honouring those who are no longer with us while supporting those who are grieving.”
The completed chairs will be sold through an online auction that closes on May 24, 2026, at 9 a.m.
Proceeds will go to Oasis’s bereavement programs and resources. The charity said it provides support to individuals and families dealing with loss.
The public can also view the chairs at a preview exhibition on Saturday, May 23, at Royal Rose Gallery on Yonge Street in Aurora, the day before the auction ends.
Oasis thanked the Bear Chair Company for sponsoring the initiative and Royal Rose Gallery for hosting and showcasing the artists’ work.
More information about The Empty Chair Auction, the participating artists and Oasis A Centre for Bereavement and Healing is available at oasisbereavement.com.
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