Monday Mural

 I'm linking up at Monday Mural 

May 2025 - Ottawa ON

We didn't have a lot of time to hunt down murals in Ottawa so I zoned in on Bank St.

We Gon’ Be Alright

by Kalkidan Assefa, Jimmy Baptiste, Allan Andre

We chose to create a mural with the uplifting affirmation “We Gon Be Alright” – lyrics pulled from the chorus of Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 Grammy-winning single “Alright” which addresses police violence and racial inequality. We thought that this would be appropriate amongst the current backdrop of worldwide protests against systemic anti-Black racism; justice and police reform.” Jimmy Baptiste shared a similar sentiment, stating, “We painted this mural to brighten up the neighbourhood with lively colours and to share a positive message with the city. As black artists, we also wanted to share some love with the black community by giving us an image from which we can draw strength. We would like to thank the Bank Street BIA, Wallack’s Art Supplies as well as the people and businesses on Bank street for their amazing support during the creation of this mural.”

Reading is Fundamental

by Dom Laporte and Dan Metcalfe

Unlock a world of limitless imagination with the help of an excellent novel! We owe a debt of gratitude to Dom Laporte and Dan Metcalfe for their magnificent work. Dom is a muralist and illustrator based in Ottawa who uses a combination of mixed-media techniques and traditional painting techniques to create his work. Dan was born and raised in Ottawa and works as a freelance designer, illustrator, and artist. In 2010, Dan established his own design studio. With octopus tentacles and bubbles emerging from the pages of her book, this mural represents a surreal and dreamlike experience for the young girl. The colorful flora and foliage of the backdrop helps the painting stand out from the structure.

We Demand

by Dan Metcalfe and Rob Lariviere

Love is love, and this mural collaboration between artists Dan Metcalfe and Rob Lariviere marks an important turning point in the history of the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Canada. Dan was born and raised in Ottawa and works as a freelance designer, illustrator, and artist. In 2010, Dan established his own design studio. Robbie, better known by his alias “FallDown,” has been painting murals for over 15 years and has developed one of the most distinctive and popular styles of murals in Ottawa. On the occasion of the first civil rights protest by queers in Canada, this mural depicts a young Charlie Hill reading the ten demands for equal rights.

Dems and Doll

Dems & Doll Herb Spice Mural

One of the largest murals can be found tucked away between Staples and the Book Bazaar, and it is the result of a collaboration between artists Dom Laporte and Dan Metcalfe! A sense of liberation is evoked in those who admire the birds that emerge from the intimate contact between these two characters. The sight of this mural on Bank Street provides a sense of hope and liberation after a long winter spent indoors. Dom is a muralist and illustrator based in Ottawa who uses a combination of mixed-media techniques and traditional painting techniques to create his work. Dan was born and raised in Ottawa and works as a freelance designer, illustrator, and artist. He founded his own design studio in 2010 and is heavily involved in the city’s art scene as a whole.