Yellow Oasis Mural
A once-blank wall in Toronto’s Hillcrest Village has been transformed into an eight-storey cultural landmark. Yellow Oasis, created by Iranian-Canadian artist Yasaman Mehrsa, reflects the community’s rich cultural and environmental heritage and demonstrates how public art can bring beauty, safety, and pride to the public realm.
Source: Anushay Sheikh
Project at a glance
Location: 840 St. Clair Ave West, Toronto, Ontario
Lead Artist: Yasaman Mehrsa
Artist Assistant(s): Andrea Rodriguez, April Song, Hope Flynn, & Prachi Dhase
Year: 2025
Documentarians: Anushay Sheikh, Samarika Dhiman, & Pablo Rincon Diaz
Services: Public Art Management, Cultural Planning
Project Completion Media Release (September 3, 2025): From Concrete to Canvas: The Making of Hillcrest’s Yellow Oasis Mural
8
storeys of a building turned into a canvas
15
opportunities for local artists and arts workers
400
community members engaged in the project’s development
2900+
sq. ft of public artwork
90
gallons of paint used in the creation of the mural
30,000+
people experience this mural each day
About Yellow Oasis
Yellow Oasis draws inspiration from Garrison Creek, a buried waterway that once flowed through St. Clair West. Historically, a gathering place for Indigenous communities and later waves of newcomers, the creek symbolizes continuity, connection, and memory, themes carried forward in Mehrsa’s design.
What was once a repeatedly vandalized wall is now a vibrant mural and gathering space, turning a challenge for property owners and residents into a source of pride for the neighbourhood.
“We were facing ongoing vandalism and escalating maintenance costs. Partnering on Yellow Oasis allowed us to move from reacting to the problem to creating something that reflects our community with pride. Residents feel safer, more connected to the neighbourhood, and proud to be part of a lasting cultural contribution to the city.”
This project demonstrates STEPS’ commitment to working with municipal, business, and community-engaged groups across Canada to realize transformative cultural infrastructure and placemaking projects that strengthen civic life.
“Public art, such as murals, provides the finishing touch to the streetscape of a business area such as Hillcrest Village. This giant mural serves as a focal point and something to talk about. Hillcrest Village BIA is the yellow oasis of St. Clair Ave West, and this giant mural project continues that theme.”
“Running a business here, we’ve seen how public art can change the energy of the area. Where there was once tagging and tension, people stop to admire the art, take photos, and talk about its meaning. It feels like the street is being cared for. That’s good for everyone, especially local shops and restaurants like ours.”
Source: Samarika Dhiman
The mural was shaped through a robust and inclusive community engagement process designed to ensure the final artwork reflected the voices, histories, and pride of Hillcrest Village. From the outset, three artists, Andrea Rodriguez, Stephanie Babij, and Yasaman Mehrsa, were shortlisted for the commission. Rather than selecting an artist and design behind closed doors, STEPS facilitated a community-driven process where residents, businesses, and stakeholders directly informed both the artist selection and the development of the mural’s design.
“The Yellow Oasis mural is an expression of community, creativity, and leadership. I was excited to partner with STEPS in their mission to make our streets safer and more welcoming by bringing this project to life.”
Residents and visitors were invited to share their ideas, stories, and feedback about what themes mattered most for the mural. These activities not only gave residents a say in how the mural took shape but also helped build awareness, excitement, and ownership of the project before a single brushstroke hit the wall. By weaving together local stories and priorities, Yellow Oasis is firmly rooted in the lived experiences of Hillcrest Village, reflecting the neighbourhood’s cultural diversity, history, and resilience. These surveys capture the diverse cultural, social, and environmental perspectives of the neighbourhood.
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STEPS staff and artists connected directly with community members at local gathering spots, ensuring people who might not engage online still had a chance to contribute their voices. Cultural programming featuring collaborating artists, diverse food vendors, and local musicians created a festive environment where community members can meet the artists, share mural feedback, and celebrate the role of public art in Hillcrest Village, while free workshops offered local residents hands-on opportunities to explore mural themes and contribute artistic ideas that would help shape the design.
Past Events
- April 5, 2025: Community Artist Meet and Greet
- June 7, 2025: Yellow Oasis Creative Community Workshop
- June 27, 2025: Culture Makes Waves Community Event, timed with Canadian Multicultural Day
- September 11, 2025: Yellow Oasis Mural Launch
“Being part of Yellow Oasis has been a transformative experience. I’ve learned the technical aspects of large-scale mural work, but also the importance of care, collaboration, and storytelling in public art. This opportunity has helped me grow my skills and confidence, and it’s shown me what’s possible when artists like me are given space to learn, contribute, and be visible.”
Source: Anushay Sheikh
About the Artistic Team
Yasaman Mehrsa
Lead Artist
Yasaman Mehrsa is a Toronto-based visual artist whose work explores the relationship between humans and nature. Her whimsical, vibrant pieces express emotion and imagination, encouraging audiences to connect with the natural world around them.
“Yellow Oasis is a celebration of what lies beneath and beyond what we see, the creek that once flowed here, the trees that grew tall, and the animals that still move among us. Through this work, I wanted to show how nature continues to breathe life into the city, offering beauty, guidance, and renewal. Even in an urban landscape, the land holds memory, spirit, and the power to bring us together.”
Beyond Yasaman’s leadership, Yellow Oasis also created embedded professional opportunities for emerging and mid-career artists and cultural workers, reflecting STEPS’ commitment to capacity-building across the arts sector. These included:
- Artist Assistantships: Paid opportunities for emerging artists to gain hands-on experience in large-scale mural production, from design translation to technical skills like working at height and site logistics.
- Program Assistant Roles: Early-career cultural workers supported community engagement, outreach, and onsite coordination, building transferable skills in project management and public programming.
- Documentarian Opportunities: A photographer/videographer was engaged to produce a dynamic visual record of the project, offering professional experience in capturing the process, outcomes, and impact of public art.
- Performance Collaborations: Local musicians and performers have been featured at public engagement events and the mural unveiling, highlighting the interconnectedness of different art forms in community placemaking.
Through these roles, Yellow Oasis not only resulted in a striking public artwork but also served as a platform for mentorship, professional development, and visibility for the next generation of artists and cultural leaders.
Funders & Partners
Yellow Oasis was funded in part and supported by the City of Toronto’s StreetARToronto program, Eight Forty local condo residents, Toronto-St. Paul’s City Councillor Josh Matlow, the Hillcrest Village BIA, Toronto Friends of the Visual Arts, Bulmash-Siegel Foundation, Ontario Arts Council, Canadian Heritage, the TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment, Goodbye Graffiti and Dulux Paints, the project is part of a growing movement to use art as social infrastructure.
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