Toronto Outdoor Art Fair X StreetARToronto (StART) will connect you to some of the city’s best street, mural and graffiti artists. Meet StART participating artists, and enjoy Live Painting and a feature mural photography exhibition at Nathan Phillips Square.
#StARTatTOAF
Live Painting
Location: Zone D, Nathan Phillips Square
Watch these talented mural and street artists create artwork live and in-person. Artworks are available for $500 each and will be on display at the StreetARToronto booth.
Jessey (Phade) Pacho is an aerosol artist and muralist with foundations in traditional graffiti. As an artist he strives to erase common misconceptions associated with hip-hop & black culture, while simultaneously beautifying public space and pushing for more representation of marginalized communities in the public realm. With over twenty years experience as an aerosol artist, Phade is recognized by industry professionals as a seasoned veteran of his craft.
For over ten years Jessey worked with one of Canada’s leading nonprofits to train and manage numerous teams of professional artists, across various disciplines. Jessey oversaw, created and delivered high-impact, arts based & mental health focussed programming to schools, newcomer, and indigenous communities – nationwide. Phade co-founded the events #paintthecityblack and the annual #everyonevsracism. Mr. Pacho’s work builds community and breathes new life into spaces that could use a boost of color and commerce. Pursuing greater heights in his craft, Jessey remains a student to time and a humble aerosol specialist.
Jennifer Messon is a two-spirited urban Indigenous artist, born and raised in Tkaronto. They work with different mediums such as painting, traditional beadwork, and digital art. They continue to contribute to many individual and collaborative murals around Tkaronto. They are continuing to pursue opportunities that will allow them to grow as an artist and make connections in the community.
As an artist, I have always been fascinated by the natural beauty of the Canadian landscape and trying to capture its splendor through painting. My paintings can be either en plain air, mural, or studio. By combining my love of landscape painting and the tradition of trompe l’oeil, I have found a way to communicate on several different levels through my murals. The illusion of trompe l’oeil offers the chance of discovery, to perceive all the details inside and escaping the illusion in my murals. I aim not to deceive, but to reveal the illusion. This meeting place, between the real thing and the painted thing, brings the viewer to the edge of illusionism, only to assert that the reality is the paint. Although the deception may appear only momentarily, it is an instant of being deceived. And once the illusion has dissolved, what remains will be the painting all on its own and draw in the viewer to spend time exploring all the details and visual delights each mural has to offer.
Kreecha is an indigenous multidisciplinary artist with 15+ years of experience creating across turtle island and internationally. Throughout his life, Spirits of the hip hop movement connect with a deep rooted traditional cultural expression. Heart centered in this rich upbringing, this spirit breathes through; woven of traditional arts, realism, tattoos, calligraphy, and letter formations. Through the power of legend and drawing from the teachings of our elders; his practice informs spirited relations and act as a catalyst for self empowerment.
Hyedie Hashimoto (she/her) is a Toronto-based visual artist and graphic designer. Through her work, she explores themes of environmental climate change and observations of urban living.
Hyedie creates 2D work in all painting mediums (watercolour, oil, acrylic) and also creates work through printmaking, and digital media. Originally from Vancouver, she has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Studio Arts, from the University of British Columbia.
To view more of Hyedie’s work, please visit her website: hyedie.com and her Instagram account: @hyedieh
Jasmine Vanstone is a Jamaican-Canadian multidisciplinary artist, facilitator, and administrator who inspires and amplifies marginalized voices through community engagement, arts education, and public art. Through her artistic practice, she experiments in digital collage, painting, drawing, paper crafts, and murals to share visual reflections on identity, wellness, and the natural environment. With vibrant lyrical abstraction and the power of mentorship, Jasmine has earned awards and features at prominent events such as Nuit Blanche and KUUMBA. Her passion to inspire has led her to spaces that align with her mission such as VIBE Arts, North York Arts, and JAYU.
Participating StreetARToronto Artists
StreetARToronto Walking Mural Tour
Saturday, July 13 at 12:30 PM
Location: Information Booth
Join Cindy Scaife, artist and senior curator of the Richmond Street Cycle Track Art Project, in learning about these trend setting concrete barrier murals that help keep the city moving!
Over 350 murals, spanning 3.3 km ( 2.05 ml ) from Parliament Street in the east to Bathurst Street in the west, were painted in 2021 by over one hundred street artists and muralists who responded to the theme of ‘Cycling is Elemental–Earth, Air, Fire and Water’. The concrete barriers were divided into four zones, each comprised of approximately 88 barriers and the artwork was inspired by the assigned zone’s theme. We will be exploring murals inspired by the Fire element.
Cindy Scaife
Cindy Scaife is a highly skilled and experienced professional muralist from Toronto. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Cindy has designed and created murals for a diverse range of clients, including residential, corporate, and educational facilities, as well as public art initiatives. During her involvement with the City of Toronto’s Street ARToronto / StART program, Cindy is proud of the overwhelmingly positive feedback that she has received from citizens who have viewed her work, including her Park Lawn underpass mural and the four Cycle Track Barrier Mural Projects that she curated. For the cycle track projects, Cindy created the themes and the zone specific colour palettes and acted as senior curator. In 2016, as the curator for the pilot project on the Lake Shore Cycle Track Barrier Mural Project, Cindy created and set forth the method of organizing the large scale project that continues to this day. For Cindy, the most rewarding part of mural making is enriching neighbourhoods with a shared artistic vision while respecting the community’s history. With a passion for creating dynamic and diverse works of art that inspire joy and appreciation in all who view them, Cindy is dedicated to elevating the art of mural making to new heights. Her extensive portfolio and enthusiastic reviews demonstrate her talent and unwavering commitment to public art excellence.
StART and the City: The Evolution of Street Art in Toronto
Location: Zone D, Nathan Phillips Square
Rooted in reconciliation, diversity, equity and inclusion since its inception in 2012 StreetARToronto (StART) has sought out and worked with artists from diverse communities to create and showcase some of the best mural, street and graffiti art and artists globally. These artists and artworks have transformed Toronto’s public streets, laneways, and parks into a city-wide art gallery!
The photography exhibit showcases a diverse range of street art of many forms over the past decade. The walls are adorned with vibrant photos that take you on a journey across many of the murals and artworks across our great city. You can explore and purchase professional canvas, and gator board-mounted photographs of some of the brilliant street art. Come visit and speak to StART team members who can share information and inspirational stories of the many projects and programs since 2012. The current exhibit features the evolution of StART projects throughout its 12-year history, using Toronto’s unique architecture as its picture frame – not just an amazing art piece, but a piece of Toronto history too!
You can see more StART artworks using the StreetARToronto Map at streetartoronto.ca.
About StreetARToronto (StART)
Toronto is now home to some of the best street, mural and graffiti art and artists in the world! StreetARToronto is committed to creating value with and for them, from their entry onto the street art scene with access to small canvasses and micro grants, all the way up to large scale murals on high-rise buildings, international artist exchanges, and more.
Since its inception in 2012, StART programs and projects have been rooted in a set of values that demonstrate the positive and powerful impacts of diversity and inclusion, foster community engagement and civic pride, add colour and vitality to neighbourhoods, encourage active transportation, showcase Toronto artists and contribute to their skills development, mentor emerging talent, foster positive relationships between residents, business owners and operators, artists and arts organizations and create a sense of belonging among all.
