BIO:
“My vision belongs to the public realm. The generosity of public spirit and chance to create something of value for community suddenly changed my whole view when I began to create community murals. …These murals were accessible and free to all. Even more exciting, was their purpose - to create public dialogue and sustainability in our communities and to foster a greater sense of belonging for all. "
I live in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
By day, my practice focuses on community themed mural projects, which I execute in the summer months. Many of my murals feature simple site-specific designs, commissioned by both public and private venues. In public spaces, often beside libraries, and other prominent public buildings. I specialize in painting small murals, hand-painted traffic boxes, Bell Boxes, concrete barriers and other outdoor surfaces. These projects serve to help revitalize and beautify the many communities in and around Toronto. They are included on the StART Murals Map streetart.to/ and the Bell Box Murals Map www.facebook.com/bellboxmuralsproject/ . I 2024, I created the Leno Park Community Mural, in which I led 28 Richmond Hill High School students to produce two murals, "Flora" and "Fauna" in a city park. This project was funded by a Community Connected Experiential Learning (CCEL) Grant, and a Richmond Hill Community and Cultural Grant. One of my key public art project can be found in North York, Ontario, in the community of Willowdale. In 2023, Cristina Delago and I partnered to create nineteen mosaic hearts. The Willowdale Neighbourhood Mosaic has been installed on tree planters on Yonge St. The project was
made possible through a grant from Heritage Canada in association with Mural Routes. When I'm not painting murals in the community, I study the night sky, which I draw with the use of a telescope, in Dark Sky designated areas throughout Canada.
I graduated from the Ontario College of Art, receiving 3 major scholarships in the Department of Fine Arts. I then returned to OCAD to receive a diploma in Digital Media from OCAD in 2017, and attended George Brown College in 2022 to graduate from the dept. of Graphic Design (Con. Ed.). I've been the recipient of many awards, and seven grants from the Ontario Arts council, including an OAC Emerging Artists Grant. My work is held in public and private collections, including The Government of Ontario Art Collection of the Ontario Archives, and Imperial Oil. I was represented by Circle Arts Gallery of Tobermory Ontario for ten years, (2010-2020.
Tied in with this work, is my association with Toronto Public Library, where I have spent 50 years in public service. I led Mini-Makers, a STEM program for children for the library and conducted various children’s art programs through the years. Much of my community mural work builds on library public service initiatives that have inspired my creative projects. This rich public service opportunity has given me great insight and an understanding of community. I've watched communities evolve and grow and has developed a keen awareness of neighbourhood demographics. . Seeking ways to combine knowledge of public service with my art practice, I have found mural making to be a great way to combine community engagement with art. The Henderson Bridge Mural (2013) followed by StreetARToronto projects: Outside the Box, (2015-2021) The TTC Coxwell Laneway Mosaic (2016), The Bell Box Mural (2017), Light up the Laneway (2018), and The Lakeshore Barrier Bike Lane Project (2019). I was awarded a Richmond Hill Community and Cultural Grant to create and manage my own Traffic box Program for Richmond Hill - The Richmond Hill Traffic Box Mural Project (2019). I took part in a street beautification project for the Mount Pleasant BIA, in which street poles were hand-painted by artists on Mount Pleasant Avenue in Toronto. The same summer, a mural featuring “Henrietta the Hen” was painted across the road from the Hillcrest branch of Toronto Public Library (2021).
I've served on public art juries, including the Bell Box Murals Project and has facilitated workshops in public art making at Centennial College.
StART Beyond Barriers: StreetARToronto Disabled, Deaf, Mad and Blind Artist Roster came to my attention in 2024, when my daughter who has a disabiliity and physical injuries she sustained during Covid, expressed an interest in mural painting. Although this program call had passed for 2025, it was suggested that Kiri apply to paint instead, a Cycle Track Concrete Barrier if I could assist her to develop both with design, and on site rendition. As a team we worked together to deign her first barrier mural, which she was able to produce on site giving her a firsthand chance to paint with the many other dynamic and talented artists on the team! We are looking forward to continuing in this collaborative "Mother and Daughter" team, and especially, I am learning how to mentor and assist a talented young artist .
“My vision belongs to the public realm. The generosity of public spirit and chance to create something of value for community suddenly changed my whole view when I began to create community murals. …These murals were accessible and free to all. Even more exciting, was their purpose - to create public dialogue and sustainability in our communities and to foster a greater sense of belonging for all. "
I live in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
By day, my practice focuses on community themed mural projects, which I execute in the summer months. Many of my murals feature simple site-specific designs, commissioned by both public and private venues. In public spaces, often beside libraries, and other prominent public buildings. I specialize in painting small murals, hand-painted traffic boxes, Bell Boxes, concrete barriers and other outdoor surfaces. These projects serve to help revitalize and beautify the many communities in and around Toronto. They are included on the StART Murals Map streetart.to/ and the Bell Box Murals Map www.facebook.com/bellboxmuralsproject/ . I 2024, I created the Leno Park Community Mural, in which I led 28 Richmond Hill High School students to produce two murals, "Flora" and "Fauna" in a city park. This project was funded by a Community Connected Experiential Learning (CCEL) Grant, and a Richmond Hill Community and Cultural Grant. One of my key public art project can be found in North York, Ontario, in the community of Willowdale. In 2023, Cristina Delago and I partnered to create nineteen mosaic hearts. The Willowdale Neighbourhood Mosaic has been installed on tree planters on Yonge St. The project was
made possible through a grant from Heritage Canada in association with Mural Routes. When I'm not painting murals in the community, I study the night sky, which I draw with the use of a telescope, in Dark Sky designated areas throughout Canada.
I graduated from the Ontario College of Art, receiving 3 major scholarships in the Department of Fine Arts. I then returned to OCAD to receive a diploma in Digital Media from OCAD in 2017, and attended George Brown College in 2022 to graduate from the dept. of Graphic Design (Con. Ed.). I've been the recipient of many awards, and seven grants from the Ontario Arts council, including an OAC Emerging Artists Grant. My work is held in public and private collections, including The Government of Ontario Art Collection of the Ontario Archives, and Imperial Oil. I was represented by Circle Arts Gallery of Tobermory Ontario for ten years, (2010-2020.
Tied in with this work, is my association with Toronto Public Library, where I have spent 50 years in public service. I led Mini-Makers, a STEM program for children for the library and conducted various children’s art programs through the years. Much of my community mural work builds on library public service initiatives that have inspired my creative projects. This rich public service opportunity has given me great insight and an understanding of community. I've watched communities evolve and grow and has developed a keen awareness of neighbourhood demographics. . Seeking ways to combine knowledge of public service with my art practice, I have found mural making to be a great way to combine community engagement with art. The Henderson Bridge Mural (2013) followed by StreetARToronto projects: Outside the Box, (2015-2021) The TTC Coxwell Laneway Mosaic (2016), The Bell Box Mural (2017), Light up the Laneway (2018), and The Lakeshore Barrier Bike Lane Project (2019). I was awarded a Richmond Hill Community and Cultural Grant to create and manage my own Traffic box Program for Richmond Hill - The Richmond Hill Traffic Box Mural Project (2019). I took part in a street beautification project for the Mount Pleasant BIA, in which street poles were hand-painted by artists on Mount Pleasant Avenue in Toronto. The same summer, a mural featuring “Henrietta the Hen” was painted across the road from the Hillcrest branch of Toronto Public Library (2021).
I've served on public art juries, including the Bell Box Murals Project and has facilitated workshops in public art making at Centennial College.
StART Beyond Barriers: StreetARToronto Disabled, Deaf, Mad and Blind Artist Roster came to my attention in 2024, when my daughter who has a disabiliity and physical injuries she sustained during Covid, expressed an interest in mural painting. Although this program call had passed for 2025, it was suggested that Kiri apply to paint instead, a Cycle Track Concrete Barrier if I could assist her to develop both with design, and on site rendition. As a team we worked together to deign her first barrier mural, which she was able to produce on site giving her a firsthand chance to paint with the many other dynamic and talented artists on the team! We are looking forward to continuing in this collaborative "Mother and Daughter" team, and especially, I am learning how to mentor and assist a talented young artist .
