On June 13, 2026, local artist Basm launched his exhibition, Painted Rhythms, at Holly’s Neighbourhood Cafe and Bar.
Basm is a multidisciplinary artist, musician and filmmaker based in the Waterloo Region. Known for creating interactive, multi-sensory experiences, he produces mixed media works that blend painting, video and live music. His projects span multiple disciplines, incorporating vivid physical paintings, interactive elements alongside music and live performances. Basm was also an undergraduate student in the Fine Arts program at the University of Waterloo.
He continues to get involved by actively creating and showcasing original art.
The exhibition featured a series of layered paintings, each with distinctive, weathered borders.
“Frames can tell a story too,” Basm said. “The canvas tells a story of its own. All these frames are thrifted or had older images under what I painted. There’s a whole life there with each of these items.”
Basm has collaborated with Holly’s before. He said the space is not just a cafe, it is a gallery that defies the stereotype that art is a background decoration.
“Basm’s willingness to work alongside us in shaping and curating this exhibition was incredibly meaningful,” Erin Ogilvie, events coordinator for Holly’s, said.
By treating their walls as a professional gallery space, the venue allows Basm’s work to remain active and central to the environment.
“We don’t treat artwork as decoration,” Ogilvie said. “The exhibitions are curated, thoughtfully installed, and intentionally presented,” she said.
By hosting Painted Rhythms in a community-centered venue, Holly’s offers an approachable environment where people can admire artwork without the intimidation often associated with formal galleries.
“Traditional art spaces can sometimes feel intimidating,” Ogilvie said. “Here, someone might stop in for a coffee and unexpectedly find themselves immersed in an artistic conversation. That’s the goal. Art should spark dialogue.”
“I think it’s a shame that galleries and museums don’t utilize sound more often,” Basm said. “A gallery is a movie theatre. The value of art is the opportunity to enter curated experiences and make it as potent as possible. My music sounds like my paintings and vice versa.”
Having previously featured in an undergraduate fine arts exhibition at the University of Waterloo, Basm views his current work as an opportunity to curate the air and noise of the space.
“Aim really high. Be grand. Be obnoxious,” Basm said. “It’s really chaotic, the whole thing, and if you can pivot as obstacles arise, you will always get somewhere you’ve never been before. And that’s the point.”
While Holly’s has integrated local exhibitions into its business model for nearly two years, for Basm, the goal is always to disrupt the routine. He hopes Painted Rhythms encourages visitors to disconnect from their devices and engage with the art—and each other—in real conversation.
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