Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease walks back to the dugout while playing against the New York Yankees during second inning American League MLB baseball action in Toronto on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease walks back to the dugout while playing against the New York Yankees during second inning American League MLB baseball action in Toronto on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
TORONTO - Dylan Cease has been painting the corners of strike zones all season.
But the Toronto Blue Jays ace enjoys working on canvases just as much.
The Art Gallery of Ontario will be showing his artwork “Eve of Toronto (2026)” in Walker Court, the gallery’s central atrium, starting Tuesday.
A limited-edition collection featuring the painting will also go on sale Tuesday, with prints, apparel and totes available in stores and online. Proceeds will support the AGO’s charitable mission.
Cease paints in his free time, including doing a piece for Blue Jays manager John Schneider early in the season.
“Eve of Toronto (2026)” was created on the cusp of his arrival in Toronto and has been hanging in Schneider’s office.
“Painting gives me joy,” Cease said in a release. “It relaxes me. I am happy creating my paintings and very happy that they have resonated with the incredible fans across the GTA. To know that people will be able to enjoy my art and take home this collection is a thrill.”
The 30-year-old right-hander signed a seven-year US$210 million contract with Toronto on Dec. 2.
Cease (7-5) has had an immediate impact on the Blue Jays, becoming a serious contender for the American League's Cy Young Award, with a 2.42 earned-run average and 201 strikeouts.
This report by ɫtvwas first published Aug. 21, 2026.
