Self-Guided Downtown Art Tour

Spring-themed flower lights will be up until Fall 2022. Part of DHBC's seasonal lighting program

Mural completed in early 2020 by local artist Mike Burt (@princefuze)

Mural depicts rum-running boats tied at dockside in the early morning. Artist Jake Sibert used existing elements on the wall as part of the scene

Facade lighting and best seen at night.

This mural is the second in a series of murals inspired by Pikola Estes interpretation of the tale "la llorona". Artist: Jacoba Niepoort (@jacoba_niepoort). Group: Rad Consulting, Navid Saberi, and Jacoba Niepoort

Artist: Sarah Cannon. Group: Argyle Fine Art, Develop Nova Scotia and Downtown Halifax Business Commission. When you visit the waterfront, make sure you walk around to the back of the I Heart Bikes container to see this beautiful work of art.

Original Art in the parkade to transform an otherwise dark or drab wall into a wall filled with colour and creativity. Artist: James Janssen, group: Argyle Fine Art and The Hardman Group Limited. There are 5 murals, one on Granville level, and 4 more on floors 4 & 5

'Rising Tides' is a beautiful depiction of the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that burns here in Halifax. Artist: John McPartland, known as @absenarchives. Partners: ONSIDE Now, The Halifax Innovation District, Volta, Slate Assets Management, and Downtown Halifax Business Commission 

Adorns the building steps in front of the FM Architecture - Interior Design - Planning office with a repeating pattern of honeycombs in blues and yellows, and detailed honey bees and Nova Scotian wildflowers. Altruistic Current Team - Amber Solberg, Dylan Smibert, Elyse Moir, and Erica Meschwitz.

Artist Jason Skinner (@jason.a.m.skinner). Starfish Properties and The Loop. Every Downtown has its collections of interesting characters and, here, artist Jason Skinner collects a few of them.

Artist: Trackside Studio's Daniel J. Burt. Name reflects that in 2020 humans are more connected with each other than ever, yet many are still divided. This mural is for the people who go out of their way to help others. 

Orange and blue geometric pattern mural on the Barrington Street and Spring Garden Road bus shelter. PBJ Design

Facade lighting. Group: Ocean Optometry. Best seen at night.

Historic facade lighting, and best seen at night. Group: Oakport Limited/A.S. Developments. 

Former Halifax Memorial Library at Spring Garden & Grafton St. The flower xylophones brighten up Grafton Park. Group: PBJ Design Society.

The mural makes use of iridescent paint, creating both a daytime and nighttime experience. Artist Jake Siebert, and The Stubborn Goat.

Mural completed by Mike Burt (@princefuze). Dynamic street-art version of a warrior during a struggle. The main purpose of this mural is to be visually stimulating with bright and bold colours.

A beautified retaining wall with a composition of fantastical African birds and beasts and their North American cousins. Artist/Group: Alex Mbuga Thuku (artist) and NSCAD University.

This piece is intended to add a touch of whimsy, humour, and inspiration to the city and the people who live and work there. Artist: Drew McSherry, Scotia Square.

Facade Lighting. Best seen at night.

Inspired by the street art of Tom Bob, this project transforms the urban infrastructure into something that brightens the street and brings a smile to the passersby. Artist/Group: Jason Skinner (@jason.a.m.skinner) (artist), PBJ Design Society and Greenwood Lane.

Historic Facade Lighting. Best seen at night.

Facade Lighting by the Gritty to Pretty program. Artist/Group: Freak Lunchbox. Best seen at night.

Historic Facade Lighting. Best seen at night.

The mural celebrates Halifax and its support of local and emerging performers and musicians through its annual Busker Festival. Artist: Drew McSherry, @drinoart. Building Partner: Scotia Square, @scotiasquare

Historic Facade Lighting. Group: NSCAD University. Best seen at night.

This colourful mural is made of rectangular wooden tiles inspired by the sky and water of the Halifax Harbour. The tiles are nested in the vertical recesses of the retaining wall surrounding the access point of the overpass that connects George Street to the courtyard of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. This mural was completed by Joseph Pesina, Luke Fair, and Rachel Anzalone in early November 2020.

Facade Lighting. Best seen at night.

This mural, called The Sea in Her Blood, is inspired by the diverse, and sometimes unexpected connections Nova Scotia women have with the sea. Came to life thanks to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Trackside Studios (@trackside.studios) and DHBC's Gritty to Pretty Placemaking grant. Artists include Mike Burt (@princefuze), Daniel Burt (@bunhundred) and Justin Fraser-Fong (@pekingdon).

Artist: Swade Owens, (@swadeowens). Came to life thanks to Trackside Studios, Halifax Marriott Harbourfront, and DHBC’s Gritty to Pretty Placemaking grant program.

Artist: Donny Fraser, (@pekingdon). Came to life thanks to Trackside Studios, Halifax Marriott Harbourfront, and DHBC’s Gritty to Pretty Placemaking grant program. Is 1 of 3 rotating murals. 

Artist: Daniel Burt (@bunhundred). Came to life thanks to Trackside Studios, Halifax Marriott Harbourfront, and DHBC’s Gritty to Pretty Placemaking grant program. Is 1 of 3 rotating murals. 

Artist: Mike Burt (@princefuze). Came to life thanks to Trackside Studios, Halifax Marriott Harbourfront, and DHBC’s Gritty to Pretty Placemaking grant program. Is 1 of 3 rotating murals.

Artist: Sarah Cannon (@nightarcade). Depicts a woman and her dog sitting in a patch of brightly coloured lupines as they watch butterflies dance overhead. The concept was inspired by Sarah’s encounters with the natural wonders unique to Canada’s East Coast. Came to life thanks to Paramount Management, on behalf of Maxwell Properties Limited, and  DHBC’s Gritty to Pretty Placemaking grant program. Reflects the ongoing evolution of Cannon’s body of work in which she develops various characters to examine how curiosity and exploration of nature contribute to cultivating positive mental health and well-being.

Artist: Kristen De Palma of KDP Letters (@kdpletters). Features the word "welcome" in over 20 languages, including Japanese, Arabic, and Mi'kma. Consultations with cultural group ensured accuracy of translations. Aims to welcome the international students that Granville Hall hosts every year.

Artist: Peatr Thomas (@thunderbird4311). Peatr is an Ininew/Anishinaabe artist. The mural "Mikisew” – meaning “eagle” in the Ininew language – is made up of the Ininew syllabics ‘sah’ ‘kih’ ‘tah', which make the Ininew word for “love.” The syllabics are overlayed with the silhouette of an eagle, which is part of the 7 Sacred Grandfather Teachings and represents love.

Artist: Daniel J. Burt. The mural, entitled “Living Space,” represents endless imagination and how the mind can't be confined. It depicts a day dreamer, similar to the thousands of people coming to Halifax to chase their dreams.

Artist: John McPartland aka ABSEN. The concept for Sound of Time is a young woman at the piano in deep concentrated thought about her art. At her feet is a young man who is working studiously on composing his music. And to the left, a young girl observing their creative hustle. McPartland drew inspiration from the relationship with time and growth, the creative sparks we see in older people when we are kids, and how through hard work, we can grow up to become the people we once idolized.

Grant Recipients: Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre (MNFC), and Open Studio One (OSO) planning + design Lead Artists: Angela Doyle – Faulkner, Jean Jacobson, and Dora Takatak. Artists: Sophie Amaral, Emma Charles, Crystin Edwards (Little Bear), Angela Jones, Justin Lewis, Sipu Martin, Emma McCarthy, Vivian McDonald, Ava Merrick, Maddox Merrick, Rachel Merrick, Theresa Meuse, Shaylene Morris, Merrigan Palliser, Theresa Palliser, Lena Richerdson, and Rebecca Salmonson.

19 circular murals created by 19 local Indigenous artists ranging between the ages of 9-55. Over five workshops, the Indigenous community shared stories, developed mural concepts and learned new and traditional painting styles while completing their art pieces.

Artist: Drew McSherry. The mural draws on his ability to evoke the dark and strange and is an ode to Halifax’s legendary supernatural appeal. Based on the famous local ghost story of the Grey Lady: the ghost of a young woman, smelling of roses and dressed in 19th century clothing, roams Citadel Hill, mourning her dead fiancée. 

Artists: OSO Planning, in partnership with Spencer House Senior Centre. With the pandemic making so many of us feel disconnected and isolated, especially seniors, this project was born. OSO and Spencer House seniors refreshed and painted the six benches located in front of the former Halifax Memorial Library in Grafton Park.