For anyone reading this title who loves hockey (and being Canadian, who doesn’t?), you might think this post is about getting in a fight. Especially with the back alley photo, right? You couldn’t be more wrong.
It’s about art.
It was a particularly frigid day in Toronto (I’m talking cold), when I was on my way to a meeting and decided to take a shortcut through an alley between Queen and Richmond streets. (This being Toronto the Good, this is not as dangerous as it sounds for a woman on her own).
That’s when, despite the freezing temperatures, I found a reason to take my gloves off â not to fight, but to snap a few pictures.
I had always known there were some pretty impressively decorated alleyways in my city (if for no other reason than the Rick Mercer Report ‘Rant’ likes to use these as a backdrop) but I had never really known exactly where this particular one was, until I stumbled on it by accident.
And I have to say, whether you view this as free expression, street art or very creative vandalism, I was impressed enough by the creativity, the riot of colour, and the talent involved in some cases, to risk freezing my fingers to capture these images. Raw, unscripted, with no apparent plan or organization, they all seemed to work together despite the lack of any shared vision or collaboration.
On the other side of the tracks (or in this case, the city), you can find another example of street art, but this time, the politically-sanctioned, officially approved type, known as the ‘Village of Murals’ in Islington. The first time I saw them I didn’t realize how many there were, until I discovered them popping up for kilometres on Dundas Street west of Islington. Driving along the street, building after building hosted an oversized tableau of people, places and stories tied to the area.
Historic, nostalgic, sometimes charming and whimsical, their creators present a completely different style of street decoration, but like their downtown cousins, also using bricks and buildings as the canvas.
So, who or what decides what constitutes art in this case? A permit, popular opinion, or simply personal taste?
I’m not going near that fight!
(I think I’ll just share a few pictures and let the debate rage on elsewhere!)
TIP: If you’re looking to explore Toronto’s urban street art, take a walk through the small laneways in and around Queen and Richmond Streets, between Bathurst and Spadina. Islington’s Murals start at Islington and Dundas, from where you can either walk or drive west. See the map here.
Jane is an award-winning travel writer and photographer and an accredited member of the Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC). In their annual awards competition, TMAC named GrownupTravels.com as the Best Self-Published Travel Blog in 2025 .
She is also a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association, and a freelance travel writer contributing to both print and online publications.
Well we are from Canada and I have to admit we are NOT hockey fans, and we are probably the only ones! đ
We love most street art whether they are sanctioned or unsanctioned, what we don’t like are the crude ones, the ugly or messy ones and all the tags. To us that is just graffiti and has no place on the walls, bridges, train cars or where ever someone has managed to deface public property, but when it is colourful and interesting and clean then we enjoy it.
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I enjoy street art and mural. Most recently, I saw some lovely rooftop art from the Queens subway stop in Jackson Heights and some street-level street art while strolling the streets of Reykjavik, Iceland.
Love street art. My neighborhood in Santiago, Chile was painted like this. Good to see it in other cities, especially in Toronto, which is one of my favorites.
I was in Valparaiso, and saw the outdoor street gallery there, and loved it!
Love both kinds of murals! The ones in Islington so remind me of the street art in the old town of Quebec City.
you’re right – I remember seeing them when we were there as well – didn’t take pictures, though. Lesson learned!
I love your title and your lead; what a wonderful find! I love the artwork. Your photos are excellent!
You must be a hockey fan, too, Marilyn!
So many people still call everything sprayed on walls "graffiti", where street art is now a well recognised form of art. Even Google has now dedicated a special wesite to international street art: https://streetart.withgoogle.com/en/#home I hope your pieces are documented in there, they are stunning. So much of this art has a fleeting existence: threatened by graffiti, demolition, or ignorant property owners painting over it.
Thank you and I agree with you, Juergen – this is transient art so we should enjoy it while we can.
I enjoy street art and always take pictures when I see something that grabs me. What I don’t enjoy is when people tag other art pieces just to show they were there or it’s their turf.
I agree. Tags are one thing, and serve an entirely different purpose.
That picture (that I can only describe as like a doll house) is absolutely incredible!
There’s also a similar one in Quebec City, if you’re ever there. Feels like you’re peeking into their house, doesn’t it? Here’s the link to the Quebec City one: http://www.aguntherphotography.com/canada/quebec-city/mural-house-scene.html
Check out Quebec City’s murals, too, PurpleTravelKate. They are equally impressive! Here’s the link: http://www.ameriquefrancaise.org/en/article-414/FrescoWallArtintheQuebecCityBoroughofLaCit.html