Dylan Cease, the Major League pitcher, is having a potential Cy Young-caliber season in his first year with the Blue Jays. Dylan Cease, the painter, also accomplished a milestone this week.
Cease saw his work put on display at the Art Gallery of Ontario in a partnership that included a photo opportunity with Cease on Tuesday, as well as a collection of merchandise featuring the original painting, named “Eve of Toronto.” Fans can get their hands on shirts, sweatshirts, postcards, prints or tote bags with Cease’s work on them. All proceeds additionally will be donated to the AGO.
“I was inspired by the fact that I was about to spend the next years of my life in Toronto,” Cease said in a statement for the event. “I love painting and it feels good to give back to the community.”
The painting might look familiar to fans who have taken a special interest in Cease’s artwork. “Eve of Toronto” is the masterpiece that hung in manager John Schneider’s office for the bulk of this season, featuring bright colors and the word “Toronto” written over and over.
It was noticeably absent from Schneider’s office on Tuesday, replaced by a meme from the movie “Wedding Crashers.”
Several of Cease’s Blue Jays teammates also wore T-shirts featuring the painting during warmups before Tuesday’s game.
“I think if anyone else did that painting, it would be a little bit different,”Schneider joked. “But I think it’s really cool how it’s gotten the amount of attention that it has. I kind of said it to him as a joke when we signed him, knowing that he painted. I didn’t know it was going to be this. I think it’s cool how the community has grabbed onto it and how he’s leaned into it. Add it to the wonderful world of Dylan Cease."
Cease’s off-field exploits this year have included plenty of painting, a hobby he took up in 2022 and has continued mastering ever since. Another of his original works sold at auction for $16,000 earlier this month to support Jays Care, the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays.