Cathy MerrittToronto is one of those cities where you don’t have to spend money on high-end museums and galleries just to admire beautiful art—the streets are where they’re at! From colourful murals to detailed sketches, you’ll find just about every type of art in the bare walls and alleys of Hogtown.
So if you’re looking for a frugal way to enjoy Toronto’s best art that doesn’t feel cheap, you’ve come to the right place! Allow us to take the reins as we take a closer look at some of the best street art you’ll find in Toronto:
Graffiti Alley
Address: Graffiti Alley, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Graffiti Alley is the closest thing that Toronto has to an open-air museum that’s filled with vibrant murals and detailed stencils. The unique set-up and abundance of artworks found across this alley make it one of the most famous spots for street art enthusiasts around the world.
The murals you’ll find here are made by local artists, with the most notable ones being Skam and Uber5000. These artworks are begging to be photographed, which is why you’ll see droves of visitors doing photoshoots – some artists even shot music videos here!
These art pieces here aren’t permanent as well, as they’re constantly changing to allow more artists to express their emotions through graffiti. Also, this revolving nature allows artists to display activism on current social issues—pretty neat, right?
Kensington Market
Website: http://www.kensington-market.ca/
Address: Kensington Market, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Aside from being one of the most famous shopping destinations in Toronto, Kensington Market is also a display of Toronto’s best street murals. This bustling neighbourhood doesn’t fall short on outstanding graffiti works, whether it be on its walls, alleys or even buildings themselves!
You can even find an abandoned car that has been painted all over with graffiti paint! This attraction is called “The Garden Car”, as it’s been overgrown by various greeneries—make sure to take a pic!
These pieces of art along with the local stores and overall friendly community make walking in Kensington Market a one-of-a-kind experience in Toronto.
| Pro tips: If you’re looking for vintage clothes, make sure to stop by stores like Space Vintage and Exile Vintage! If you want to add sightseeing to your itinerary while you’re here, make sure to climb up the Kensington Market Parking Garage to get the best views of Toronto’s beautiful skyline. |
Queen Street Market
– Media credit: blogto
Website: https://www.queenstmarketplace.com
Address: 1384 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6K 1L7, Canada
Contact details: +1 647-351-8838
Queen Street Market is another bustling hub for vendors that’s no stranger to beautiful graffiti from local artists. Walking here is quite rewarding, as you’ll be treated to artworks left and right, two of which are the iconic You’ve Changed Mural and the This Is Paradise wall.
The latter of the two aforementioned iconic attractions is a satirical piece of art created by Tom Dean. This graffiti features striking primary colours, which is a huge contrast to the brick wall that it’s plastered on AKA the Cameron House.
| Pro tip: Queen Street is also a great place to experience Toronto’s bustling nightlife! Check out some of its famous bars like Bar Poet, Poetry Jazz Cafe and The Dog & Bear Pub while you’re here. |
Underpass Park
Address: 29 Lower River Street, Toronto, ON M5A 1M6, Canada
Contact details: +1 416-214-1344
On paper, a park under a speeding parkway may sound absurd, but Underpass Park managed to pull it off! Here, instead of towering trees, you’ll get to admire the tall pillars that hold the parkway upright, as they’re painted with massive and colourful murals.
Who would’ve thought that these columns were such great canvasses for artists to express themselves? What’s more impressive is that these artworks are constantly being updated and new ones are being added to keep things fresh!
Aside from these pieces of art, this park is also worth visiting for its bustling street market. This market is where Torontonians score great deals on vintage items, local produce and more!
| Pro tip: If you’re planning on driving your way here, be sure to visit during the afternoon, as the small parking space beside the park can easily fill up in a snap. When this happens, you can also drive a couple of blocks away from the park and find parking there. |
The Annex
– Media credit: helloanex
Address: The Annex, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
If you’re up for a lovely stroll, the lively neighbourhood of The Annex should be on your radar! It will treat you to a peaceful walk that’s filled with beautiful street murals, one of which is the massive piece by talented artist, Alex “Al Runt” Currie.
Aside from these pieces of art, you can also come across some interesting places like Lee’s Palace, which was once the venue of artists like Oasis and Nirvana.
If you’re a foodie, this walk can also be a gastronomic adventure thanks to its selection of amazing restaurants like By The Way, Eat BKK and Insomnia Restaurant and Lounge.
Spadina Ave
– Media credit: blogto
Address: 101 Spadina Ave, Toronto, Canada
What’s great about art is that it transmits a message, whether it be positivity, activism, etc. One of the best examples of this in Toronto is the Keep Going mural located along 101 Spadina Ave. (south wall).
This striking bright blue graffiti can cheer anyone’s day up with its straightforward message. If you’re looking to be inspired, make sure to stop by this simple piece of art by Ben Johnston.
| Pro tip: If all the walking along Spadina Ave just to see the Keep Going Mural left you hungry as a horse, there’s a beloved local pizzeria just a couple of blocks away called General Assembly. Their prices are reasonable and the pizzas themselves are great for sharing! |
Chinatown
Address: Chinatown, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Chinatown is usually a place for shopping but in Toronto’s case, it’s also an open-air museum if you will. The main highlight here is the beautiful paintings of the New 7 Wonders of the World, which include the Taj Mahal, Machu Pichu, The Great Wall, Christ the Redeemer and more.
Aside from that, there are tons of other paintings here that are created by over 20 local artists.
Other artworks that you’ll find here include the floating lanterns, cherry blooms, sleeping tigers and more.
| Pro tip: If you’re looking to immerse yourselves in China’s culture by trying out its delicacies, we recommend checking out King’s Noodle, Chat Bar and Dumpling House Restaurant. |
Yonge St. St Clair
– Media credit: jerryrug
Address: Yonge St. St Clair
One of the most impressive pieces of street art in Toronto can be found in Midtown. The art in question is the 10-storey-high deer mural that was created by the famous local artist that goes by the name of BirdO.
This pop of colour is a great breath of fresh air to the otherwise concrete jungle look of midtown.
| Pro tip: If you want to take the best picture, we recommend positioning yourself across the street to capture the massive mural in all its glory. If you’re lucky enough, you can even capture the tram as it passes by! |
Bloorcourt Village
Address: Bloorcourt Village, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Strolling around Bloorcourt Village is always nice because you’ll never know when you’re going to encounter one of its beautiful artworks. One particular artwork that you shouldn’t miss, however, is the Make Good Mural, a graffiti that eats up the entire wall of Studio 835.
The mural looks more like a doodle and we mean that in the best possible way. It consists of various colours and shapes, with the text “Make Good” being written in bold letters.
169 Rush Lane
– Media credit: uber5000
Address: 169 Rush Lane (between Rush Lane and Richmond Street, just east of Portland Street)
Of course, you can’t have a list of the best street art in Toronto without the Toronto Tribute Mural. As you may have gleaned from its name, this mural pretty much sums up the city and its culture, featuring caricatures of its iconic people, landmarks and more.
Some of the most notable drawings in this mural include the CN Tower, the raccoons that Torontonians are far too familiar with and the former mayor, Rob Ford. It also features a drawing of a moose, which you’ll understand why if you’ve been in Toronto long enough.
