Contemporary

Contemporary art is the art of today, produced in the second half of the 20th century or in the 21st century. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world.

  • SÔHKÂTISIWIN

    ᓲᐦᑳᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ, meaning “sôhkâtisiwin” or strength/power in Cree, and it depicts B-Girl and traditional fancy and hoop dancer, Angela Gladue. The mural is based on a photograph taken by Calgary photographer, Candice Ward.

  • Sun Dogs

    “This mural was created by transforming collected data of Winnipeg experiences into various patterns, colours and textures. In this process, a new representation of the city was created.”
    Sponsored by: Synonym Art Consultation, Graffiti Art Programming, Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, Benjamin Moore, United Rentals and Wall-to-Wall Mural Festival

  • Respect

    This mural is displayed on the wall of Main Street Project’s seating portal, which was designed by architecture students at the University of Manitoba in 2021. The structure is meant to provide those experiencing homelessness a place to sit and place their belongings, while also shielding them from the wind and harsh Winnipeg weather. This mural was installed in 2022, depicting an array of buffaloes and flowers which represent the respect in which artist Jordan Stranger has for those who work and reside around the Mural Street Project building.

  • ᑮᐦᑳᔮᓱᐁᐧᐤ KÎHKÂYÂSOWÊW / SHE SHINES BRIGHTLY

    This piece was created in collaboration with both Kayla Bellerose and Mackenzie Brown. The portrait of Amy wearing a buffalo robe is a recreation of an original photograph by Yamuna Flaherty, a photographer and friend of Amy’s. The circle behind Amy’s portrait is the sun with 7 beams of light representing the 7
    Sacred Teachings of Truth, Honesty, Respect, Humility, Love, Wisdom, and Courage. Amy Willier embodied these teachings with the way she lived her life with family and community. The symmetrical butterflies represent the transformation of coming from darkness into light, and we chose the colour orange to honour
    the children being found at unmarked mass graves in residential schools across Canada, and green to honour the intergenerational healing of our future generations. Amy advocated for Orange Shirt Day for years, so we know that she is now a helper in the spirit world bringing home the children who never
    made it back to their family.

  • Pandora’s Snail

    A mural that took 14 days to paint, Pandora’s Snail looks like a page from a timeless storybook you could get lost in. Rich blues and pink adorn the cerebral clowns on Kayla’s canvas, between whom sits an ancient snail. What secret’s loom inside this snail? What stories do these characters bring to the Beltline? Inspired by the Cirque du soleil show KOOZA, Kayla says “The mural is about two curious but mischievous clowns about to open Pandora’s snail to release chaos onto the world. The snail is a slow moving creature making it easy to catch and open with the key. The mural uses costumes and motifs from KOOZA to tell a brand new story created by MILKBOX.

  • N/A

    In a special mural that was designed to ‘Commemorate Canada’ through generous funding from The Government of Canada, the artist was asked to ruminate on the nuances of the era we are in through his installation. In response to this Alex Kwong brings us a beautiful mural capturing a pivotal moment in time between father and daughter. Depicting Curtis and his daughter Odette on a warm summer afternoon in Calgary, Kwong hopes to expand on the idea of love and how individual relationships can serve as starting points to greater connections with friends, family, and most importantly ourselves. Loving connections in these most familial relationships can be a window into our true nature and the realization that we are all in fact connected and one. Kwong is an exceptionally skilled local artist whose large scale figurative works have become well known in Western Canada.

  • N/A

    Freehand painting of a six-story-high, whimsical mural on 17th Avenue. It depicts the personal baggage of how an average person lives with everyday.

  • Look Within

    My BUMP mural was inspired by the business behind the wall. When I discovered the wall I was to paint I immediately went in to meet the business owner and took a few photos. Later on I realized I needed to go back and take more inside shots as my ideas for the concept were beginning to develop. This was my first time doing a mural and I wanted to be excited about the design but also be confident that it could be executed properly with the timeframe and structure of the wall.

  • N/A

    “The design will represent a healthy, co-operative relationship between the Native culture and the community. In my artwork I use bold black lines and vibrant lively colors reminiscent of the woodland style of art. I use animals such as birds, bears, wolves, eagles, beavers, ravens and buffaloes to represent people or groups of people, and also to represent spiritual beings. I use circles to represent thoughts, ideas, statements, words, concepts, and principles. Whether you are driving or walking by the artwork, I am hoping that the art piece will aid in promoting a cooperative relationship and bring healing and unity to the community.”

  • N/A

    The presence of contemporary artwork on publicly accessible walls in Calgary fosters a sense of community and belonging outside of standard public graphics that often have a commercial focus. Through our murals, we hope to add a sense of play and positivity to the city. We offer stimulating and harmonious visual poetry for the public to live with and grow alongside in their day to day activities. The abstract nature of our work allows viewers to access it in their own way, resulting in a plethora of meaning and interpretation. This positive addition to the Beltline fosters a more walkable community where people can explore the city and discover artwork along the way.

  • Akin

    Unity and concept of “being in this together.”

    Fragments of diverse young faces intermingle in a column of light within swirling ribbons of colour in this eight-story-high street mural. They coalesce into a radiant triple portrait with a message for our times. Akin is a refreshing work of urban art with an intelligent dose of spatial complexity and social engagement, wrapped up with remarkable craftsmanship.

  • Star Blanket Project – Red Road Lodge

    Part of Wall-to-Wall mural festival, Winnipeg artist Kenneth Lavallee led the Star Blanket Project, which first consisted of painting star blankets on buildings in Winnipeg’s North End. Many other star blanket murals have been created throughout Winnipeg and Brandon since then. The murals honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, this dedication coming from Lavallee learning more about the 1971 murder of Helen Betty Osborne. Sponsored by Synonym Art Consultation, Graffiti Art Programming, North End Community Renewal Corporation, Wall to Wall Mural Festival.

  • Star Blanket Project – Edge Gallery

    Part of Wall to Wall Mural Festival, Winnipeg artist Kenneth Lavallee led the Star Blanket Project, which first consisted of painting star blankets on buildings in Winnipeg’s North End. Many other star blanket murals have been created throughout Winnipeg and Brandon since then. The murals honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, this dedication coming from Lavallee learning more about the 1971 murder of Helen Betty Osborne. Sponsored by Synonym Art Consultation, Graffiti Art Programming, North End Community Renewal Corporation, and Wall to Wall Mural Festival.

  • nitayānān kīyāpic ōta – we’re still here

    Artist Statement: ““We’re still here” depicts an illustration created with the focus of sharing artwork that can be recognized by other Indigenous people through the use of Cree syllabics; a writing system used to depict Cree dialects. With the help of their mother, Diana Morrisseau, they had both decided on the phrase nitayānān kīyāpic ōta which in Cree translates to “we’re still here,” as a sign that indigeneity and indigenous artists/voices are still prevalent in today’s society. The image uses floral designs and patterns to display reciprocity and interconnectedness at the suggestion of their mother due to how important and integral floral designs are presented in indigenous beadwork, especially among Métis artists. By including floral designs in the artwork, it is also a way for them to show solidarity towards their ancestral background as a Métis and Cree artist.”

  • Fancy Shawl Dancer

    Artist Statement: “Fancy Shawl Dancer features Anishinaabe mother Billie Brandon from Waywayseecappo First Nation. The original piece is part of a Fancy Shawl Dancer series with this one being done in watercolor. It is part of the Provincial Art Collection of Manitoba. In this work, Jannuska is trying to capture the beauty of the regalia in motion.”

  • Mercury and Psyche

    Mercury and Psyche is an approximately 20-meter-tall mural on the east-facing wall of 333 Adelaide St. W in Toronto. The mural creatively uses Reinhold Begas’ 1878 marble statue “Mercury and Psyche” as its focal point, blended with a pink and blue background which contains numerous styled and re-contextualised tags from graffiti artists. 

  • Ebb and Flow

    Ray Vidal created Ebb and Flow, a digital illustrated mural series located in Sculpture Court Skate park in the City of Mississauga. Depicting local Mississauga skateboarders and break-dancers that have helped shape and continue to build the Mississauga hip-hop and skateboard community over the last 15 years. The project was conceived to promote the skate park as a place to amplify local artists, uplift community voices and share stories to improve the user experience of the space. Creating a strong community feel that considers the park users and engaged viewers in a conversation exploring the relationship between urban design, architecture, public places and how shared spaces can help foster place making in the community. Showcasing local residents that have impacted the space and left their imprint on the city. Using the skatepark walls as monuments of celebrating and giving recognition to their legacies and upholding their work which continues to influence generations. Working closely with Mississauga skateboarders and break-dancers that use the space as the main inspiration for the series. Ray was able to create 14 different works of art capturing Mississauga’s diverse community and members in the form of portraits and iconography of important historical events, movements and moments captured by Mississauga photographers and videographers over the years. Honoring and celebrating local community members that have laid foundations for the Mississauga community and continue to build, putting the city on the map on an international level.

  • Garden of Hope

    This mural was created to inspire. Each flower represents something different and were chosen by guests to the Inn.

    Iris (Trust, Hope), Forget Me Nots (Hope), Tulip (Caring, Respect), Malva (Health, Love, Protection), Daffodil (New Beginnings), Monarda (Health, Prosperity), Geranium (Determination).