CreateSpace Public Art Forum 2025 Gallery
As part of the 2025 CreateSpace Public Art Forum presented by STEPS Public Art, youth and emerging artists from across the country participated in a national program to build relevant public art skills. After a series of online artist talks, peer engagement, networking, and mentorship opportunities, the final program deliverable was a chance to create artwork and practice responding to a public art call.
CreateSpace Public Art Forum Keynote by Adrian Stimson
Artist Adrian Stimson was also invited to provide a virtual keynote address to the CreateSpace Public Art Forum participants to hear directly from a professional artist with experience in public art.
Terms of References for the CreateSpace Public Art Forum
The online gallery below features the artwork and practice public art proposals created by the CreateSpace Public Art Forum participants and the next generation of artists.
Click the Term of Reference to jump to the public artwork proposals created by participants in response to the real sites and public spaces.
Halifax Harbour
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Brief Objective: To create a unique public artwork and activate Halifax’s Waterfront
Artwork Themes to Consider: The land and history of the land; Halifax’s past, present, and future arts and culture scene; and the site as a gathering place for community and tourism
The Wave Mirrors by Sama Al-Hayani
The piece I created represents the flow and reflection of others. It depicts a dolphin that reflects back-scattered reflections of the individual. When viewed from multiple angles, it scatters the person’s figure over the silhouette of the animal. In a sense, I’m implying that this image be interacted with as a way to look at yourself from different angles and be proud of who you are, just like free-roaming dolphins.
Rhythm of the Harbour by Jasmin-Nicole Amoako
This installation engages the community through visual art, sculpture and sound elements. It honours the Mi’kmaq name of the land it would be situated on in Kjipuktuk. The installation highlights the importance of community by introducing an interactive component where people can interact by playing the chimes. The art itself showcases the beauty of the coastline and a sunrise, representing the idea of new possibilities.
Resting and Feeding Friends by Sameena Anis
My piece is a tall hedge cone (8ft tall) and enough space inside to fit three people. The cone is a friend that is alive; a hedge and a home. You can enter through the mouth, where there are two stools for a sitting area to reflect on your friendships, conflict resolution, and crying in isolation. There will also be doll plushies that “speak” to you, as well as a fridge and snacks from Community Fridges.
Our Great Harbour by Zoya Hussain
Our Great Harbour is a living map that connects Halifax’s history, environment, and community through interactive storytelling. Utilizing thermochromic paint, the mural transforms with water, symbolizing climate change and Halifax’s deep relationship with the sea. Inspired by Mi’kmaq storytelling traditions, the piece invites reflection, play, and dialogue. Through public collaboration and evolving narratives, the mural reimagines the Halifax Peninsula as a space for collective memory, resilience, and connection.
Standing on the Wrists of Our Troubled Friends by Liam Vu
Standing on the Wrists of Our Troubled Friends is a sculptural proposal for the Halifax Harbour, featuring two gigantic, metallic and multi-coloured hands breaking out of bedrock and reaching toward the sky. As people sit on the hard rocks that are below these gigantic hands, they are invited to reflect on the privileges we enjoy today thanks to the numerous individuals, groups and organizations that overcame oppression and fought for our collective rights and freedoms.
La petite barrière de corail by Milena Garzon Zurita
Mon œuvre a pour but de mettre en lumière la richesse de l’écosystème marin vivant que l’on retrouve sur les côtes des maritimes canadiennes. En illustrant des coraux colorés, l’œuvre « La petite barrière de corail » fait un lien direct avec la grande barrière de corail situé au nord-est de l’Australie qui souffre de blanchiment, c’est à dire la mort de cet écosystème de coraux, dans le but de sensibiliser les passants à la cause environnementale.
Stanley Park
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Brief Objective: To create a unique public artwork and activate the Stanley Park bike trail
Artwork Themes to Consider: Activities that occur along the trail/park; the rich culture of Vancouver; and the connection to land and natural landscape
A Silent Conversation by Melinda Wise
Made up of three distinct parts, these chair-like structures invite the viewer to sit individually and experience the space in a way that is intended to be a bit challenging. Only when the viewer is sitting down will they be able to see prompt words engraved onto the inner side of the chair. I have also given the viewer the option to experience the park with a QR code located on the back of the chair.
Place of Masks by Brandon Baghaee
The work references the Indigenous village X̱wáýx̱way (meaning Place of Masks) that used to be at the park before being forced out. The Jamaican Jonkonuu festival inspires the mask to not appropriate, and the figure references the House Hat character and is a satirization of colonial power, linking and remembering the colonization of Indigenous people in Stanley Park and Jamaicans in the Caribbean.
Stanley Park Culture Collage by Hannah Bourne
This sculpture is an amalgamation of features that can be found in the park. I included the salmon for its importance to the Coast Salish peoples, blackberries because they are a non-native species, and a human hand to incorporate people as part of the park’s new naturalness. The work is a celebration of urban and forest space and the blend of stories that make the community what it is today.
As We Move by Delali Cofie
As We Move is a sculptural artwork that uses its dynamic form to evoke motion and reflect the activity of its environment. This masquerade sculpture will be created using textiles and metal weaving to resemble a living form and texture of the many trees the park is home to. Using donated clothing from the Vancouver community, the artwork will invite residents to engage in its creation by contributing materials imbued with personal histories, creating a visual link between community identity and the natural environment.
Rings of Serenity by Ellie Nakamura-Corfield
My hope is that this work can provide a sense of peace while biking along a path, that perhaps there’s a calming element as it immerses itself into the landscape. Perhaps it’s inviting viewers to climb and interact with, perhaps people question why it’s there, and hopefully whenever the time comes, it slowly erodes with the landscape, always changing with the weather.
Slahal - The Bone Game by Tiera Cruickshanks
It is my hope to foster the diverse communities that make up Vancouver through this project, Slahal. The game itself unites all Coast Salish communities, offering conflict resolution or entertainment. The drumsticks dividing the bench represent the many people involved in the game, inviting the public to engage and participate in the songs and tradition.
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@trickedgold
Many Canoes by Khushi Jetley
Many Canoes explores the deep connections between Indigenous communities and immigrants who have shaped Vancouver. Featuring six suspended paddles adorned with imagery from Indigenous, South Asian, and East Asian traditions, the piece symbolizes migration, resilience, and shared stewardship of the land. Through tactile carvings and QR-activated audio stories, the installation invites reflection on cultural exchange, belonging, and the intertwined histories of those who call this land home.
Nature's Sundial by Wasifa Noshin
I created a tree sculpture using a variety of different shapes and sizes. A portion forms a right-angle triangle to function as a sundial. There’s a wooden bench similar to the sundial so viewers can sit and observe or be at one with nature. There is a QR to interact and mark on the lighter wood piece, but encouraging not to mark up actual trees surrounding the area, to preserve the ecosystem and tree life.
Forged Rebirth; Moonlit Dusk by Carla Sierra Suárez
Forged Rebirth; Moonlit Dusk is the embodiment of the conversations between fire, water, nature, land; and those who have the honour to inhabit it. Inspired by the histories of Stanley Park such as Siwash Rock, Prospect Point, the Coast Salish People’s and their basket weaving traditions, “the big hollow tree”, as well as the geomorphic history of the land itself.
Gathering by Xiang Tan
With abstract human figures embracing each other, Gathering celebrates the coming together of diverse communities in Vancouver. The sculpture serves as a reminder of fostering stronger relationships through empathy, collaboration, and mutual support. Its weather-resistant material, Corten steel, symbolizes strength and resilience. Coated with vivid and bold colours, it draws inspiration from the diversity of cultures with each hue representing a different aspect of community, history, and belonging.
Unity Wave by Atika Tariq
The Unity Wave is a dynamic public art sculpture that celebrates the deep connection between land, water, and community in Vancouver’s Stanley Park. Inspired by the park’s coastal beauty, its wave-shaped form symbolizes resilience and unity. Blending art with functionality, it features tempered glass panels reflecting cultural heritage, while integrated seating invites reflection. Sustainable and enduring, the Unity Wave fosters connection, appreciation, and a lasting dialogue with nature.
A Mirror of the Land by Peyman Zandi
This work is taken from examples of important events in Vancouver throughout history, from Indigenous art and culture to recent centuries. Symbols include: the first European explorer to enter Burrard Inlet, the site of present-day Vancouver; fur trading post of the Hudson’s Bay Company; the first transcontinental train arriving in Vancouver; Orpheum Theatre; Vancouver’s first television station (CBUT); Vancouver International Film Festival; Vancouver International Jazz Festival; Vancouver Grizzlies; 2010 Winter Olympics; and Vancouver International Busker Festival.
Community Chinook Salmon Koinobori by Mirim Koh
The biking route would be best described as a very brief place of gathering for people from different backgrounds. The koinobori captures the travelling wind and shows the visitors the direction the wind. The finial of the flag holds the message of “community” in an Indigenous symbol. The chosen route is located where people travel along with the wind and, hopefully, the koinobori reminds us of the history the land holds.
Hamilton GO Station
Location: Hamilton, Ontario
Brief Objective: To create a unique mural public artwork and activate the side of the wall located in Hamilton.
Artwork Themes to Consider: The history of Hamilton; the rich arts and culture scene in Hamilton; the land in which the city is situated
Perspective is Everything by Bassem Abdelfattah
In this flashing moment, you see perspective. Homes, stories, people living neighbourly, against the infinity of the landscape behind it. In a moment like this, we understand that we can never fathom how complicated life actually is, because we wouldn’t be able to come up with enough unique stories for each life that could be in this image. I hope this piece motivates viewers to seek that view often, because it never gets old, or to see it for the first time.
Respect the Locals by Rooha Ahmed
Respect the Locals promotes community gardening in Hamilton, focusing on invasive plant removal and planting native species. Research commissioned by the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club finds a decline in biodiversity due to issues including, but not limited to, plant diseases, litter, invasive species and excessive poaching. Native species are essential for ecosystem stability, supporting animal habitats and Indigenous practices. The mural illustrates people coming together to cultivate a lively community and environment.
Growing Together by Madeline Cheung
The City of Hamilton sits on land covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant between the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek peoples. In the spirit of mutual cooperation, the “dish” represents the land, and the “spoon” represents the individuals living on the land who share resources and bear equal responsibility in ensuring that the “dish” never becomes empty. Growing Together looks to the continued prosperity of the city as a place where we can all grow together.
Better Together by Cassandra Cunningham
This project considers the history of Hamilton through the lens of intersectional unity, centering symmetry, colour and pattern. The design contends with BIPOC histories using futuristic elements to ground the design in the present while acknowledging the land and its connection to the residents of Hamilton. The artwork conveys the message that we are all better together, and that all equity-seeking groups benefit from mutual support and understanding of one another.
Devil's Church by Damien Morrison
I wanted the art piece to be centred around some of the main landmarks in the city, so I chose St. Paul’s Cathedral as I admire its gothic architecture and the Devils Punch Falls, as apparently, Hamilton is known for its waterfalls; not only did the name give a contrast with the church, but it’s the most dynamic falls in Hamilton.
Giving by Jc
With a love for encouragement and nature, Jc is passionate about bringing the best out of communities with her work. Hamilton’s community relies on Turtle Island so that its arts, culture, history, land, and people can thrive. This project emphasizes the Sassafras leaf surrounded by a warm sun-like pattern, symbolizing the bond between the Indigenous community and Hamilton.
Bits of Hamilton by Chantelle Dorafshani
My mural design aims to create a flourishing and bountiful space that represents the rich culture, natural world and communities of Hamilton. A variety of elements, such as local wildlife, plant life, historic structures and community activities, are collaged together within the mural. Faces can be seen, adding personality and showcasing the diversity that can be found within Hamilton. The bright, vivid colours represent the friendly and energetic nature of the city and its people.
Exploring the Hammer by Jerome Duah-Kessie
My vision is to create beautiful wall imagery that will make commuters, visitors, and Hamiltonians feel at home and welcomed. I want the history and landmarks to be represented as individuals pass by the mural. I plan to present and create a bold loud piece that grabs your attention.
Lets Dance by Parastoo Haddadi
My painting, featuring dynamic female figures adorned with symbols of nature and culture, reflects the vibrancy, growth, and cultural diversity of Hamilton. The warm and vivid background mirrors the energy of a city that has evolved beyond its industrial roots to become a hub of art, culture, and a thriving multicultural community.
The Land, the Women and the Story by Asma Haghnegahdar
The design starts with the cultural symbols and matriarchal society model of Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek First Nations communities as they lived where Hamilton and its surrounding lake are placed. The lake and trees represent the land and connection that the First Nations communities have with this place. Hands and steelwork equipment showcase the commonality of labour unions and the steel industry historically present. An equitable future is written and spoken with voices of all the people who live in Hamilton being accounted for.
Public Service Announcement by Madelynn Imes
This mural reflects Hamilton’s contrasts—its vibrant arts culture against an industrial backdrop, its identity caught between past and future. Engaging with its surroundings, it explores complexity rather than escape. Using UV-resistant acrylic and epoxy resin, it incorporates Braille and raised textures for inclusivity. This artwork is a reminder that cities, like people, are constantly evolving, changing, and searching for what comes next.
Attiwandaronia Freedom Dreams by Jamaica Brown
As we collectively grapple with issues like genocide, climate change and political instability, themes like freedom and liberation are often at the forefront of our minds. While we may be considering these concepts on an individual level, there’s no change – of mind or material conditions – without collective visioning and collective action. The aim of this project is to collect the stories (aka freedom dreams) of the people of Hamilton.
Resilience: Steel & Seed by Azia Kalaw-Dacpano
Resilience: Steel & Seed embodies Hamilton’s transformation, merging its industrial past with its growing green initiatives. Made of steel, the panel acknowledges the city’s manufacturing history while the engraved native flora and fauna symbolize the land’s enduring spirit, reflecting the Dish With One Spoon Covenant and the city’s responsibility as caretakers. This piece invites contemplation on Hamilton’s identity, where industry and nature intertwine, creating a balanced future.
FORTITUDE, RESILIENCE, STRENGTH (Find — — — in times of need) by Kyra Kaushal
In difficult times, a community needs to come together and share its strength. Four figures (red, orange, green, and blue – colours that represent diversity for a number of communities, LGBTQ+ and Indigenous heritage especially) sit with folded legs holding hands in pairs. The features of the figures are pretty diverse yet neutral. Not gendered, or clothed in many identifiers of self; instead open for interpretation by the viewer.
Hamilton: A Living Landscape by Laira Macapagal
This mural is a tribute to Hamilton’s vibrant natural landscapes and biodiversity. Inspired by the region’s rich wildlife and its natural landscapes, the piece intertwines bold colours and intricate details to evoke a sense of wonder and environmental stewardship. Through interactive QR codes, viewers can explore the delicate balance between urban life and nature, fostering deeper appreciation and awareness of local conservation efforts.
Three Generations by Mackenzie Beirnes-Daniels
This mural honours the strength, resilience, and spirit of Indigenous women across three generations. It highlights their unwavering strength in the face of oppression, generational trauma and violence. The figures symbolize both the pain of the past and hope for healing. The bear, a totem of protection and courage, reinforces this theme, and elements of Woodlands style link the work to other Indigenous tradition.
Flourished Machine by Luiza Marinescu
This mural is a representation of the Indigenous plant life found in the city of Hamilton. Researching and surrounding ourselves, the native flora of the land invites beauty into our lives. In an otherwise industrial and machinic world, it is important that we take the time to appreciate nature, and the way it brings us together.
Waterways by Elena Mercuri
My design was inspired by Hamilton’s proximity to water, and how water can represent movement and travel. It felt appropriate to connect this industrialized canvas back to the land through a limited colour palette and implied imagery of moving water. The movement within the mural is intended to be very randomized yet repetitive, connecting it to the various commuters who utilize the transit station and their means of moving through the city.
Hamilton of the Past by Thompson (Tom) Nguyen
I envision a community coming together to learn about the history of Hamilton landmarks where each have significant history to the land involving architecture, famous founders, and background history of the land. The idea is to have participants interact with the projected piece by using their phones and the app to explore Hamilton’s relics of the past and learn about what has changed from the past until today.
Coalescing by Isabella Nicastro
A coalescing of Hamilton’s environmental beauty and its increasingly urbanized landscape, this mural seeks to merge the industrialization of the rapidly expanding city with its natural flora and fauna. Centring community engagement and encouraging accessibility in public art, this brightly coloured and illustrative piece will provide necessary vibrancy to the space while highlighting Hamilton’s history as a city.
Vignettes by Paige Paton
Vignettes captures Hamilton in fleeting, luminous moments; grainy Super 8 frame stills layered into a lasting visual archive. Printed on alu-panel, the mural weaves together daily life, history, and community, revealing beauty in the mundane. Nostalgic yet immediate, each frame honours the city’s pulse, where people and place intertwine. In an age of endless digital imagery, Vignettes slows time, elevating the ordinary into something worth remembering.
Mukwa and Elder by Trey Auger-Robinson
Mukwa and Elder is a poignant exploration of the connection between nature and ancestral wisdom. Through vibrant colours and intricate patterns, this piece embodies the harmony between the great oak tree (Mukwa) and the wisdom of Indigenous elders. It reflects the strength, resilience, and nurturing spirit of both the natural world and Indigenous knowledge, inviting viewers to contemplate the vital relationship between humanity and the earth.
Nature's Embrace by Emilia Salazar
This piece is a reflection of the natural beauty that can be found in predominantly urban areas. This work aspires to connect people from the community with their outdoor environment. Through lively colours, it invites the viewer to consider natural resources as an important part of our everyday lives. It also symbolizes how nature can unite individuals in a community and strengthen their appreciation for nature’s beauty.
The River Lotus by Vismay Sanghavi
This work is a reflection of the vibrant and beautiful history of immigrants within Canada. Being an immigrant myself, I always found that while people and culture may have been and still are very different from my home country, many things stayed consistent, one of these being simple modes of transportation. Hamilton’s very own Great Western Railway and the GO Train bring together the modern and historical to remind viewers of the immense growth of Hamilton and Canada with the help of multiculturalism and diversity.
Marching to Green by Nijah Smith
The goal of Marching to Green was to highlight a shift in Hamilton’s establishment as a major shipping port and steel works hub, with a wartime manufacturing and worker rights history. As an increased understanding of green space preservation emerged, Hamiltonians worked to rehabilitate its waterways and protect and promote its diverse parks. I wanted to illustrate how Hamiltonians pushed its manufacturing industry into a sustainable future synchronous with nature.
Dish with One Spoon by Sri Theyvi P
The mural is based on the Indigenous Wampum agreement between the Anishinaabek and Haudenosaunee Confederacy. This agreement encourages the sustainable use of resources of the lands, here specifically that of the nearby Great Lakes, and the reciprocal relationship between the peoples that live on it and the land. The different hands reaching for the dish show the reality of the land today: a diverse group of settlers from different countries, who, in coming to live here, should also accept and practice this shared responsibility.
Lucid Portraits by Myuri Srikugan
Human connection can happen anywhere even at a GO Station. This project captures three individuals, from film to vinyl, each navigating their own journey. Set in different natural elements, the portraits reflect their unique paths and deepening relationships with the environment, reminding us that connection to nature and each other can flourish in unexpected places.
Echoes of Our Ancestors by Charm Turner
In the chaos and uncertainty of our world today and what we are leaving behind for our children to fight for, I wanted to bring peace, vibrancy, history and tales that lead us to this point in our time to encourage perseverance, trust and a strong sense of history that has gotten lost between the cracks in our society. I wanted to captivate the audience and intrigue their senses and curiosity with this visual narrative that honours the deep connections between the Indigenous people, the natural world and the spirits.
Interesting Facts about Hamilton by Chiara Xie
This map illustration highlights Hamilton’s fascinating history, blending fun facts with a respectful nod to its Indigenous roots by referencing the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant as the title. From the historic incline railway to the city’s role in the origins of Tim Hortons and Bell’s first telephone, it invites viewers to explore Hamilton’s past and its transformation into a vibrant, dynamic city.
Dogged Triumph by Helena Granger
Dogged Triumph depicts two dogs running through the water together, portrayed in traditional Anishinaabe woodland X-ray style. I often use dogs as a metaphor for expressing urban-Indigenous identity. Being a symbol of domestication, they act as an allegorical parallel to cultural assimilation. Nodding to this diverse population that resides in Hamilton, my goals as an artist are to create visual urban Indigenous presence and to celebrate our collective resilience.
Community by Jayden Charles
Sometimes it feels like we live in a society obsessed with individualism. I wanted to depict the opposite, the Hamilton I have lived in my whole life. Community is something I believe is really important, especially with the rise of fascism. I wanted to use this piece to depict a snapshot of the diversity, as well as a community sharing information in the city I call home.
Colouring Book by Emily De Boer
I have drawn a collage of Hamilton to be coloured in by the community, allowing them to take ownership of their city and made accessible through the making of the mural. The mural celebrates the botanicals indigenous to the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas area, its geographical anomalies, and the historical landmarks that speak to the history and future of Hamilton. I’m building a place for play where there wouldn’t be otherwise, amongst cement, alongside the road.
emilydeboer.com
@ladys_playground
Hamilton: Forged in Steel by Ola Alake
This artwork pays homage to the roots and places of interest in Hamilton. It starts with a nod to Hamilton being the “steel capital of Canada” through the arch of the Burlington Skyway Bridge between Hamilton and Burlington on the QEW. The African Lion Safari is represented by the lion while the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is represented by the airplane. Finally, there’s an invitation to see the Botanical Gardens which are represented by the flowers.
The Wallflowers of Hamilton
Hamilton is remembered by most as the industrial “Hammer” of the east coast. It is rarely celebrated for the lush greenery and Indigenous plants admired by her locals. To celebrate this under-appreciated beauty, Almas Abou Chakra has created an Arabic calligraphy piece, where each letter comes together to create a community panel of Hamilton wallflowers.
Flow of Time by Serene Chan
Flow of Time is a large-scale mural that explores Hamilton’s evolving identity through three interconnected sections representing the past, present, and future. This dynamic composition visually narrates the city’s deep-rooted Indigenous history, industrial legacy, and vibrant arts and culture scene. The design incorporates fluid, interwoven elements to symbolize continuity and transformation, ensuring a seamless visual experience that resonates with the community.
Forged in Steel: Hamilton's Legacy by Oluwatise Albert-Talabi
Forged in Steel: Hamilton’s Legacy honours the city’s vital role in shaping Canada’s steel industry while recognizing the contributions of all workers, including those with disabilities. The interlocking gears symbolize unity, resilience, and progress—values strengthened by an inclusive workforce. Just as every cog is essential in machinery, so too is every individual in building Hamilton’s legacy, ensuring a future where accessibility and opportunity go hand in hand.
The Digital Waterfall by Ayomide Popoola
The Digital Waterfall is an interactive LED digital mural inspired by Hamilton’s beautiful waterfalls. It glows at night, creating a magical experience, and runs on solar energy for sustainability. As people walk or drive by, the artwork mirrors their movement in flowing water patterns. Splashes, ripples, and light follow their motion, blending nature and technology to create a playful, ever-changing experience for the whole community.
Hamilton Desk by Asia Ruggiero
Hamilton Desk celebrates the city’s rich cultural heritage through a desk scene featuring historic and locally significant motifs embedded in posters, books, and mugs. Designed to invite community engagement, the artwork evolves as residents contribute their stories and perspectives to future additions. This interactive piece serves as a living archive, preserving history while reflecting Hamilton’s dynamic identity. By blending past and present, the mural honours the city’s heritage and invites ongoing dialogue, ensuring its continued relevance.
Funders
The 2025 CreateSpace Public Art Forum is supported by Canadian Heritage, Ontario Arts Council, and the Government of Ontario.
Le 2025 Createspace forum d’art public est soutenu par Patrimoine canadien, le Conseil des arts de l’Ontario et le Gouvernement de l’Ontario.
