Sushi On Bloor by Leslie Phelan in Vancouver

This mural project was unique because the commission had come from the owners of the building, as opposed to the owners of the business. They had grown tired of repainting this 55 ft wall every time vandals tagged it, which was a frequent due to its downtown Annex neighbourhood laneway location. So they contacted me, and we worked together to come up with a concept for artwork that would brighten up the alleyway with a vibrant and eclectic colour palette, along with bold, beautiful magnolia blossoms like the ones that can be found on an early summer stroll through the surrounding neighbourhood. It was important that the mural should harmonize nicely with the brand colours of the tenant, Sushi on Bloor, but be ambiguous enough for any other kind of tenant that may take the space further down the road. Also, that it should offer an enduring and instantly iconic sense of place to the beholder, wherever they may be from, and redefine what "urban art" means in downtown Toronto for years to come.