Have you ever been walking the beat in Ottawa, admiring all things pretty and gritty, and discovered a giant painting on the side of a building? You’d be hard pressed to walk a few blocks down Bank Street and not see a lively, colourful illustration adorning what was a banal building surface. Murals are popping up all over Ottawa like cases of the mumps, but fortunately for us, murals are much more enjoyable!
613Artbeat did some moderately serious digging into who these paint-wielding talents are, and compiled an Instagram list of 613 Mural Artist feeds you can follow. To see more Ottawa murals and other local visual artists, visit @613Artbeat on Instagram. Also – at the end of this article you will find an extended list of local(ish) artists who are creating great public art.
If you don’t see your favorite Ottawa mural or artist here, post it yourself on Instagram! Tag #613ARTBEAT.
Images were provided by artists unless otherwise noted.
Cassandra D
Snider Plaza, Bank Street.
@SnikrDBS Cassandra D / Style Over Status
Photo by Marc Adornato
The Higher Ups – Dan Metcalfe & Pat Buck
Off Bank St between Flora and Arlington
@thehigherups & @patbuck_thekid
Photo by Aileen Duncan
Kalkidan Assefa and Mique Michelle
Vanier Mozaik mural located at 261 Montreal Rd. This mural is so tall they had to get a by-law exception!
This mural was completed with the help of Allan Andre, Komi Olaf, Malika Welsh, and the Urban Aboriginal Alternative High School.
@miquemichelle Mique Michelle
@drippin_soul Kalkidan Assefa
The Laporte Brothers
Bank and Lisgar, next to Wallack’s Art Supplies in Centretown.
@laportebrothers The Laporte Brothers (Dom @domlasoul and Phil)
Ryan Smeeton
Bank and First Ave in the Glebe (In between RBC and NOSH)
@ryansmeeton Ryan Smeeton
Dems & Doll
Apparently this is the largest mural in Ottawa! Preston Street at Louisa.
Dems & Doll (Sarah Doll @doll.face.one and Dems @d3M5)
#demsndoll
Daniel Martelock
Lyndale Ave and Carruthers Ave in Hintonburg.
@danielmartelock Daniel Martelock
Julian Garner
On the side of Art House Cafe on Bay St at Somerset, in Chinatown.
@5ivecents Julian Garner
Photo by Marc Adornato
Natasha Runions
NUA showroom in Ottawa, on Breezehill off Somerset in Hintonburg.
@natasharunions Natasha Runions
Angela McGowen
An honourable mention goes out to artist Angela McGowan. Her mural painted in 1998 graced the storefront at Catherine & Bronson for 20 years. It was painted over this past fall, but lives on in the memories of anyone who used the Bronson highway exit.
More Ottawa Artists you can follow on Instagram
Any list will leave out some good talent, so you should also check out these other artists!
In no particular order:
@art_life_andre Allan André
@rollhersleeves Leslie Varady and Carolyn Borer
@stefan.thompson.tracks Stefan Thompson
@arpi_la_vie Arpi
@nathaliegrice Nathalie Grice
@drewmosley Drew Mosley
@peru143 Peru Dyer Jalea
@troy_lovegates Troy Lovegates
@juancarlos.noria Juan Carlos Noria
Whether you’re new to Ottawa or just looking to discover more visual artists, @613Artbeat has it’s finger on the pulse of the 613.