Whimsical 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).

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.

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.

Mural representing the history of the neighbourhood with the imagery of a hare running down the river

Wabos Sipi

Mural commissioned by the committee “Habiter mon quartier du vieux-Masson”, painted on the St-Jean de Brébeuf primary school, acrylic on bricks, 45′ by 36′, 2019

Protect the Don

This mural aims to celebrate the urban biodiversity that natural corridors like the Don River ravine support, as well as calling attention to the threat that invasive species and shrinking habitats have on the healthy biodiversity of our city. Pictured in the design are a few native animal species that rely on these corridors to…

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…

Moving Elevation

This was commissioned by the Citadel + Compagnie with a grant from the City of Toronto. “Citadel + Compagnie is a dance organization with its home, The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance, embedded within the Regent Park community of downtown Toronto. Through its creation, curation and cultivation of contemporary dance, Citadel + Compagnie’s mission is…

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…

Image of large horizontal wall with a grape purple to sea blue gradient painted background with simple gradient linework from sky blue to deep purple of plants and flowers. In the foreground are three orange and pink moths with detailed wings.

Underrated Elegance

This mural features three stunning moths, native to North America, including a cecropia moth, polyphemus moth, and garden tiger moth. The background incorporates apple tree blossoms, maple tree keys, and birch tree blossoms, species that these moths frequent.

Wall with painted image of stylized animals and vines

Wildlife Culture Days Community Mural

A Culture Days Event: Community Mural Project, presented by the St. Catharines Downtown Association. Designed by the artist for the public to paint under artist’s guidance as a Culture Days activity. Facing the parking lot next to 27 James Street.

Pink line art of houses with a train passing by in the front. The background is washy green.

A Train Passing Through Seaton Village

Private commission.

Wood Duck

For Bellbox Murals.

Baby Point Village

The mystical and natural elements of the artwork pay tribute to the beauty of the local area’s homes, trails, parks, ponds, people and the sun and moon as a global connection between all forms of life. Each element’s unique and distinct personality is intertwined, reflecting the Baby Point community.

In white, blue and pink outlines. Flowers on each side of fence. With beetle in middle. Orange slice as the body.

Metamorphosis

On side fence of Ship & Anchor Pub.

Green nature creature made up of roots holding a maple leaf in one hand. The creature floats in a green background with silhouette green of trees.

The Last Maple Leaf

In an homage to Canada and the richness of our forests, Wosnan highlights in his beautiful mural the decline of our green areas due to human intervention.

Bird standing on a Sun-like object with leaves and abstract strokes of colour in the background.

Billionaire

his design is rooted in my painting practice, meshing the floral imagery that reference my Dene heritage, with an original image of the Evening Grosbeak, a local bird, to create a dynamic, fun and expressive artwork.

Geometric lines and shapes with random colours and shades of grey.

N/A

With 61 gallons of paint, 290 cans of spray paint, and a 110-ft canvas, Astro, a graffiti artist from Paris, has managed to catch the eye of many Calgarians.

From left to right. Woman figure floating with flowy clothing, portrait of a big-horned sheep on the side of her. Graffiti stylized lettering on far right side of wall.

Sunset Dream

This piece represents my time in Calgary and the surrounding area – the vibrant nightlife and beautiful Rockies.

Blue and gold macaw side portrait merging with abstract flowers, shapes, and geometric patterns.

Companion

Macaws specifically popular as companion parrots. Through these difficult and uncertain times it seems we could all use a companion.

Simona Lisa

I have photographed a Calgary artist [Simone Saunders] with her textile work. Her work is especially important these days on a global scale, but I am also hoping to utilize this opportunity with BUMP in order to bring attention and support to one of my peers in the Calgary art scene. The overall composition plays off of the form of Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa with a modern subject.

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