Art mural unveiled at 591 Sherbourne in St. James Town

A striking new art mural, designed and painted by 100 local children on new construction hoarding, was recently unveiled in St. James Town, in Downtown Toronto. The bold and colourful installation marks the launch of an inspiring public art initiative led by the youth arts organization, Art City, in collaboration with Medallion Corporation.

The unveiling ceremony, attended by City Councillor Chris Moise, the Medallion Corporation team, Art City’s Executive Director Heather Wilson, and over 30 young artists, showcased the power of creativity and communty collaboration. The mural now adorns the hoarding surrounding the future site of a 51-storey purpose-built rental building at 591 Sherbourne Street, a project by Medallion Corporation. This initiative is the first phase of a larger effort to integrate children’s artwork into urban development across Toronto.

“We have so many talented young people here in St. James Town, who can often be overlooked,” said Ward 13 – Toronto Centre Councillor Chris Moise. “I’m so happy that we're actually showcasing their talents.”

The mural’s abstract design captures the children’s interpretations of Toronto’s cityscape and was created under the artistic direction of OCAD graduate Sarah Klawiter. Over several weeks, children participated in workshops and creative sessions hosted by Art City.

Heather Wilson, Executive Director of Art City, spoke on the deeper significance of the initiative. “This project is about more than art,” she said. “It’s about giving young people a role in shaping the city and providing meaningful education opportunities while boosting their confidence. When you work with Art City, you’re commissioning a unique piece of public art while directly supporting programming that serves families in St. James Town.”

Yvonne Yorke, Senior Property Manager at Medallion Corporation, also highlighted importance of community partnerships in fostering inclusive city-building initiatives. “Community spaces for children are so important. And Art City is a place that provides so much more than art lessons; it helps kids build confidence and discover their point of view. The mural is not just artwork; it’s the result of an educational process that builds life skills.”

Yorke also encouraged other developers, agencies, and organizations to engage with community arts groups to create meaningful public art. “Children should have a voice in city-building and see themselves reflected in their community. What better way to do that than through art?”

For 25 years, Art City has been a creative cornerstone for youth in St. James Town. This initiative is part of a broader effort to expand the organization’s impact, reduce its growing waitlist, and inspire more developers to collaborate with community arts programs to shape a more vibrant and creative city for all.

...