🎨 Creative
Creative in Dundas West
32 after-work creative experiences in Dundas West, Toronto.
Community Orchard Electrical Box Mural (2019)
Seek out this charming piece of public art nestled inside Ben Nobleman Park, where artist Caitlin Taguibao turned a humble electrical box into a celebration of blossoms, cherries, and buzzing bees. Commissioned in 2019 to mark the community orchard's tenth anniversary in partnership with The STEPS Initiative, it's a small but genuinely delightful discovery on an after-work stroll. Street art fans and casual wanderers alike will want to linger — and maybe look up what else STEPS has been quietly planting across the city.
Weston Road Flow 16 (2016)
Catch Elicser Elliot's vibrant multi-panel mural along the John Street sound wall — a tribute to cycling culture and a nod to Drake's "Weston Road Flows" that feels both personal and proudly local. Painted in partnership with Metrolinx, the work honours Weston's deep-rooted manufacturing heritage and its bicycle-building legacy. It's a perfect pit stop on an evening stroll through the neighbourhood.
Artscape Weston Common
Discover Artscape Weston Common, Toronto's only Artscape hub outside the downtown core and a genuine heartbeat of the Weston–Mount Dennis community. Spread across 8,200 square feet, this creative placemaking hub uses art and culture to spark real neighbourhood connection and urban renewal. Whether you're dropping in for an event or just soaking up the energy, it's the kind of space that reminds you why community matters.
Riding the Radials (2007)
Wander over to this striking outdoor mural and discover a piece of Toronto's transit history painted right onto the neighbourhood's walls. Part of a beloved trilogy celebrating children at play, this work by John Kuna reimagines the old radial streetcar lines that once spread outward from the city's core like spokes on a wheel. It's the kind of street-level gem that turns an ordinary after-work stroll into something genuinely memorable.
Islington Village Murals: John Kuna
Take yourself on a self-guided open-air gallery tour along Dundas Street West, where Toronto artist John Kuna's vivid murals have quietly become landmarks in their own right. A graduate of OCAD who committed his career entirely to large-scale public painting, Kuna has left over 20 works along this stretch alone — each one rich with local character and craftsmanship. It's a wonderful after-work wander for anyone who loves discovering that a city's best art is sometimes hiding in plain sight.
Prodigy (2011)
Wander past this beautifully rendered mural celebrating the Village of Islington's deep musical roots, painted by local artist John Kuna. The work pays tribute to the legendary Glenn Gould and the storied history of a Royal Conservatory of Music satellite branch that once called this very spot home. It's a free, unhurried cultural moment tucked into the everyday streetscape — perfect for music lovers who enjoy discovering history hiding in plain sight.
Fishing in Mimico Creek (2012)
Discover one of Toronto's most layered public murals along Dundas West, where artist John Kuna captures the joy of childhood in a bygone Etobicoke. This final piece in the 'children at play' trilogy transports you to Mimico Creek circa 1920, complete with kids fishing, lush riverbank flora, and a peek beneath the water's surface. It's a quiet, contemplative stop that rewards anyone willing to slow down and look closely at the neighbourhood's natural history.
Harold G. Shipp's "First High Flier!" (2008)
Uncover one of Toronto's most unexpectedly cinematic street murals, inspired by a true wartime story right here in Etobicoke. This vivid scene depicts the audacious teenage stunt of Harold G. Shipp, who convinced a Lancaster bomber pilot to drop cards onto a local school football field during the Second World War. It's a free, conversation-starting piece of public art that turns a simple walk down Dundas West into a genuine history lesson.
The Way We Were - Part II (2006)
Travel back to 1912 without leaving the sidewalk — this beautifully rendered mural paints a vivid picture of Islington Village as it once was, complete with the storied old Islington Hotel and road workers laying down the very streets you're standing on. Part of a larger series celebrating the neighbourhood's layered history, it rewards a slow, curious stroll after the workday winds down. Bring a friend and see how much the neighbourhood has — and hasn't — changed.
Gordon's Dairy ca. 1940 (2008)
Pull up to this warm, nostalgia-soaked mural that brings Gordon's Dairy back to life — a 1940s neighbourhood institution where locals gathered at the lunch counter and dairy bar after school and work alike. The family portrait captured in paint, from suited sons to the bookkeeper daughter Grace, gives the scene an almost cinematic intimacy. It's a quiet, feel-good stop on any Dundas West after-work wander.
Briarly - Gone but not Forgotten (2007)
Pay a visit to a house that no longer exists — Briarly, an 1830s Regency-style cottage once graced with briar rose gardens, lives on through a gorgeous commemorative mural on Dundas West. Named for its blooms and redesigned multiple times over its long life, the home now exists only in paint and memory, making this an unexpectedly moving stop on an evening stroll. It's the kind of hidden gem that reminds you how much history is quietly layered beneath Toronto's streets.
Arts Etobicoke
Discover a creative haven that's been quietly shaping west-end culture for over four decades. Arts Etobicoke offers thoughtfully designed programs for all ages and skill levels — from visual arts to community workshops — making it an ideal after-work stop for anyone craving genuine creative connection. Whether you're a seasoned artist or a curious beginner, the welcoming atmosphere here makes it easy to show up, get inspired, and leave feeling a little more yourself.
Portraits From Our Past (2008)
Step up to a mural that turns a sidewalk into a living history lesson. Manitoba artist Sarah Collard translated archival photographs of the Village of Islington into four vivid vignettes — harvest scenes, community portraits, and glimpses of daily life from another era. It's a surprisingly moving stop on an evening stroll, the kind of public art that rewards a slow look and sparks real conversation about the neighbourhood you thought you knew.
Aftermath (2011)
Stop and take in this striking outdoor mural that brings one of Toronto's most dramatic weather events back to life. Painted in 2011, it captures the raw community spirit that emerged in the wake of Hurricane Hazel's devastating 1954 floods, depicting volunteers and firefighters working side by side. It's free, it's powerful, and it's exactly the kind of local history that hits differently when you're standing right in front of it.
Golfing in Islington (2014)
Catch a glimpse of a century-old golf course without ever stepping onto the green. This 2014 mural offers a window-like view of the Islington Golf Club, designed in 1923 by legendary course architect Stanley Thompson and largely unchanged since. The painterly realism makes it one of the more quietly impressive pieces of public art along Dundas West — worth a pause, a photo, and maybe a little trivia flex with whoever you're walking with.
SKEIN Mural, Fairbank Tunnel (2014)
Discover one of Toronto's most vibrant underpasses, where a dazzling mural transforms a former industrial corridor into an open-air gallery. Artist-painted walls burst with abstracted twists of yarn — a nod to the textile factory that once operated nearby — while the pedestrian tunnels on either side flow with alternating rainbow hues. It's the kind of spot that rewards a slow evening stroll, camera in hand, as the setting sun catches every vivid colour.
Bell Box Mural by Karen Roberts (2017)
Pause on your evening walk to take in this vibrant Bell Box mural by local artist Karen Roberts, a personal tribute to Vaughan Road Academy painted in the school's bold red, blue, and gold. Every detail — from the iconic 'V' logo to the school mascot — carries the weight of real memory and community pride. It's the kind of public art that rewards a slow look and reminds you how much story a single street corner can hold.
Nia Centre for the Arts
Step into Nia Centre for the Arts and immerse yourself in a vibrant celebration of creativity from across the African Diaspora. From thought-provoking exhibitions to hands-on workshops and community festivals, Nia is a space where emerging artists find footing and audiences find something genuinely moving. Named after the Swahili word for purpose, it lives up to that meaning every time you walk through the door.
See the Forest for the Trees (2019)
Seek out this vibrant mural tucked at the corner of Rogers Road and Silverthorn Avenue, where artists Christiano De Araujo and Natasha Dichpan wove together portraits of real neighbours among lush painted trees. It's a love letter to west-end community life — the kind of public art that makes you slow down and actually look. A perfect detour on an evening walk through one of Toronto's most quietly creative pockets.
Toboggan Hill (2011)
Take a moment to pause in front of this wonderfully nostalgic mural, the third in John Kuna's charming children-at-play trilogy. Drawn from a historic photograph in the Islington archives, it captures kids gleefully tobogganing from Dundas Street down toward the Mimico Creek — pure wintertime joy frozen in paint. It's a warm, playful addition to the neighbourhood streetscape that's impossible to walk past without smiling.
Ontario Gothic (2011)
Seek out this clever, affectionate riff on one of art history's most iconic images, reimagined right here in Islington Village. Artist John Kuna swapped out the American Midwest for a local 19th-century farmhouse and a real Etobicoke family, giving the scene an unmistakably Toronto soul. It's a free, five-minute detour that rewards the curious and makes for a genuinely great photo opportunity.
Butterflies are Free (2018)
Step outside and let Toronto's street art scene surprise you with this stunning nature-inspired mural along Dundas West. Artist John Kuna draws from the intricate wing patterns of 11 local butterfly species, turning an everyday building facade into a vibrant ode to the city's natural biodiversity. It's the kind of find that makes an after-work stroll feel genuinely rewarding — bring your phone, because this one is absolutely worth photographing.
Flight of the Passenger Pigeon (2018)
Pause in front of this quietly powerful mural and let it land the way it was intended to. John Kuna's tribute to the extinct passenger pigeon is designed with intention — as your eye travels across the image, the bird visibly fades, a poignant visual metaphor for a species lost forever. It's a rare piece of public art that manages to be both beautiful and genuinely thought-provoking, and it won't cost you a thing.
MABELLEarts
Tap into one of Etobicoke's most beloved grassroots arts organisations, MABELLEarts, which has been animating parks and public spaces with free performances and workshops since 2007. With roots in community collaboration, their programming brings together professional artists and thousands of local residents across generations and backgrounds. Whether you catch a live event or simply engage with their public installations, it's a genuinely warm entry point into Toronto's neighbourhood arts scene.
The Pub with No Beer (2009)
Discover a piece of Toronto's prohibition-era past painted right onto the streetscape of Dundas West. This evocative mural captures the spirit of the old Islington Hotel — a beloved neighbourhood gathering spot that stood until 1986 — through a clever scene of empty pop bottles and a bygone truck. Wander over after work for a moment of unexpected history tucked into an otherwise ordinary stretch of sidewalk.
The Art Alley Mural Project (2009)
Step outside and let public art stop you in your tracks on Dundas West, where a striking mural brings together poetry, human rights, and visual storytelling in one unforgettable scene. Rooted in a poem by Toronto's former Poet Laureate Dionne Brand, the work interprets the universal right to freedom of movement in a way that feels both intimate and global. It's the kind of after-work discovery that makes you see your city — and your commute — a little differently.
Bell Box by Leanne Davis (2017)
Stumble upon this charming Bell Box by artist Leanne Davis and let its playful energy brighten your commute home. Morning glories, lucky clovers, horseshoes, and a quietly regal grey cat come together in a composition that feels like a folk charm painted in full colour. A handwritten reminder curls across the top — the kind of gentle wisdom that hits differently when you catch it unexpectedly on a city corner.
Everyone Everywhere (2013)
Discover one of Toronto's most ambitious public art installations stretching a full 61 metres along Dundas West. Created by lead artists Anna Camilleri and Tristan Whiston, this sweeping mural celebrates neighbourhood diversity through vivid imagery inspired by universal human rights. Stroll the length of it after work and let the storytelling wash over you — it's the kind of piece that reveals something new each time you look.
Creative Village Studio
Step into Creative Village Studio, a welcoming, inclusive art space where artists of all abilities come to create, learn and connect. Drop into the open studio after work, browse the gallery showcasing work by resident artists, or sign up for one of their hands-on art or photography classes. It's warm, unpretentious and the kind of place that reminds you creativity isn't reserved for any one type of person.
Welcome Mural (2011)
Start your Village of Islington stroll at this welcoming mural where history and community meet in bold colour. Painted in 2011, it frames historic local buildings alongside portraits of real residents — including Mary Appleby, whose family once farmed a vast stretch of the land you're standing on. It's a warm, orienting introduction to the neighbourhood's layered past, and a genuinely lovely spot to linger as the evening light catches the wall.
Bell Box Mural by Bareket Kezwer (2017)
Seek out this quietly powerful utility box mural tucked into a residential corner, where artist Bareket Kezwer weaves together textile patterns and reggae-inspired colour palettes into something genuinely moving. The piece pays homage to the neighbourhood's rich industrial and cultural heritage, echoing themes explored in the nearby Walter Saunders Memorial Park mural project. It's a perfect excuse to slow down, explore on foot, and let the neighbourhood's layered history wash over you.
Transit Mural by Jim Bravo (2017)
Stroll past this striking street mural along Eglinton Avenue West and catch a vivid snapshot of Toronto's transit story — from the beloved old Eglinton streetcar to the sleek future vehicles of the Crosstown LRT, all painted together in one bold, forward-looking scene. Created by artist Jim Bravo before the LRT even opened, it's a rare work of public art that bridges nostalgia and optimism in equal measure. Bring a friend and let the conversation flow about how much the city has changed.