Graphic Archives - Mural Routes

Quick Dip

Emily May Rose (she/her) is an award-winning artist and illustrator based in Toronto, Canada. Based on her own experiences, Emily’s work features a cast of recurring characters (most notably her weed-smoking, pizza-eating raccoons) to depict humorous situations that are relatable to many of us who are trying to survive in an urban environment.

Come As You Are, Uniquely You

Love and passion flow through the JVN brand and I wanted to capture this by depicting figures with beautiful flowing hair cascading through the design reminiscent of waterfalls.

BISKAABIIYAANG

The mural name is an Anishinaabe word that describes the experience of having been on a long journey, and returning home (returning to your true self).

A Time for Pollinators

The mural’s ‘Bees and Urban Pollinators’ theme recognizes Riverside’s hidden green spaces that maintain wildflowers and local hives, as well as the area’s growing bee-keeping culture in the east-end.

Outside the Box Art

This design featuring forms and visuals drawn from nature aims to remind passersby of the restorative peace, solitude and joy that can be found in the natural world that is so inextricably linked with the city of Toronto.

Alquimia

Alquimia’ (Spanish for ‘alchemy’) is a mural in a semi-abstract style. Paying homage to the Riverside neighbourhood, the mural is an interpretation of the quote “This river I step in is not the river I stand in” that speaks of the inevitable nature of all things: Alchemy and change.

Lilies of the Water

Inspired by the resilience of the natural world, this stylized water garden highlights nature’s survival through harsh and changing conditions of our urban environments.

SADIE Under Grandma Moon

My name is Sadie & this mural represents the wave of change of more women being visible within graffiti.

Nokomis

I created this mural for my Grammie. I wanted to give thanks to her and honour her life and her journey. She was a genocidal camp survivor, (formerly known as residential “school” survivor) and I am here today and have my culture, because she survived.

Create space for life, keep space for waterways

This mural depicts dark hands digging or separating the earth to create a waterway path that winds like a blue snake.

The Cycle

It takes collective efforts to restore, protect and nurture the changing landscape of The Don. The Cycle illustrates the interconnectedness of water and how it nourishes animals, plants and humans within the ecosystem. The steady stream reminds us of the urgent protection it requires today to thrive in future generations.

Water and People

In this mural, Haenahhh revisited her experiences and memories of Riverside and the Don River: walking and bicycling along the water and taking a quick break admiring the nature around the neighbourhood, it makes you forget that you’re in the city.

The image shows a large, vibrant mural painted on the side of a building against a bright blue sky with some clouds. The mural features a striking combination of natural and symbolic elements. On the left side, there are large, detailed flowers including an echinacea flower and three brightly coloured tulips. A bee is visible on the echinacea flower, emphasizing themes of pollination and nature's interconnectedness. In the centre, a graceful swan swims with several fluffy cygnets on its back, set against a background of blue water. To the right, a purple echinacea flower appears, with a swallowtail butterfly perched on it. Further right, a realistic depiction of a human skull adorned with golden crown speaks to the strong theatre culture. The mural is composed of many small, colourful hearts, giving it a pixelated effect from a distance. In front of the mural, a person stands in a mostly empty parking lot, wearing a black jacket and light blue jeans.

Heart of the Community

This mural embodies the idea that love is abundant and transformative when acknowledged. Composed of 25,000 individual heart pixels, the piece symbolizes the many small contributions that collectively shape a thriving community. Each heart represents an act of kindness, a shared experience, or a connection—woven together to reflect the unity and diversity within Stratford. Beyond…

A vibrantly coloured mural depicting an alien machine of many parts painted onto a garage door. Screens and wires attached to each other fill the entirety of the mural, with only a small amount of background colour showing through. The pieces of machinery are coloured in vibrant hues of turquoise, blue, purple and orange and feature bold outlines. Many of the pieces have cute, stylized faces on them as if they are alive. While they are machines, they drip and flow together almost as if made of clay. In the lower left corner is the signature of the artist painted in turquoise, it reads "Earth to Elize".

Strange Connections

‘Strange Connections’ was created as a part of the 2024 KJ BIT Collective Laneway Mural Jam on September 14th, 2024. It was the artist’s (Earth to Elize) first ever Aerosol mural. The theme of the Mural Jam was “connection”. This piece celebrates connection and collaboration through the depiction of a strange, flowing alien machine. It’s…

Joy

Commissioned by the City of Wood Buffalo for the Wood Buffalo Mural fest.

A long wall alongside train tracks featuring two large features, one looking up at a flower with a tear in her eye, the other mesermized by fire in their hand.

Allow me to be human in public

Painted by fatspatrol for Up Here Festival Year 10 themed “Are we there yet?”

A blue background with an eagle soaring across the wall. The left side of the image has an apple tree, with apple blossoms on its branches.

First Peoples Mural

In artist Lorne Julien’s own words, the mural’s imagery includes “the eagle (kitpu) [which] is an important animal to the Mi’kmaw people (L’nu’k). It symbolizes respect, love and protection. When an eagle shows up in your path, it is seen as a good and hopeful sign, a good moment to show gratitude and send prayers….

This image features a modern building with dark grey panels and large windows reflecting clouds. In front of the building is a vibrant mural painted on a wall, displaying a pixelated design of two lush ripe strawberries, two strawberry leaves, a strawberry flower and a mushroom in bright colours against a pink and dark purple background. Instead of a typical pixel, the pixels are hearts. The mural includes a text in light pink cursive font stating, "little by little, a little becomes a lot." A circular wooden bench sits in the foreground on grass, enhancing the urban park setting.

Little by Little, A Little Becomes a Lot

“Little By Little” is a community mural project led by local artists Bareket Kezwer and Julia Prajza, designed as a gift of love to the West Toronto Railpath. Drawing inspiration from the power of collective, incremental actions and ancestral healing knowledge, this initiative aims to transform a prominent urban space into a canvas that celebrates…

Mural with Japanese plank bridge and blossom trees

Harmony Across Horizons

Celebrating Burlington’s Twin Cities Public Art Project – Sponsored by the City of Burlington Vinyl Wrap June 2024 Harmony Across Horizons serves as a visual celebration of the unique bond between Burlington and Itabashi, promoting the values of peace, unity, and global understanding. The design encapsulates the essence of Itabashi’s meaning, “plank bridge,” while celebrating…

$A photograph of a mural featuring a mom doing groceries with her son on a bike that defies physics. a buff dog is standing up on the back looking at a bird hidden in a chard. an orange cat with wings walks out of an apple house towards the rainbow forest.$

Surprise

Commissioned by Karma Food Co-Op through a Call for Submissions process and supported by StreetARToronto, Wandy Cheng painted this 52 feet wide x 14 feet tall wraparound design at the front entrance to attract new members to the laneway. The immersive environment made up of local produce during a parent’s commute may also resonate with…