Okuda San Miguel's Kaos Temple in Llanera Oviedo, Spain.
It will be a 23-storey cultural landmark at the intersection of Carlton and Jarvis. And world-renowned street artist Okuda San Miguel will ignite Toronto with this giant mural celebrating diversity, knowledge, and nature — in the most dramatic way.
The ambitious canvas will emerge this July as San Miguel paints live each day — while suspended 23-storeys high.
Okuda’s large-scale mural is set to transform an untapped canvas (and likely, Toronto's Instagram posts as well). The mural is expected to be seen by over 100,000 commuters daily.
Its size and scope are rare.
“I have been working with STEPS for a number of years to bring art and community to our downtown streets and am very proud to support this new mural," says Ward 27 City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam.
This future landmark will be brought to life in collaboration with Knightstone Capital’s Parkside Student Residence, award-winning public arts charity, The STEPS Initiative, and the City of Toronto’s StreetARToronto program.
“We are a proud and passionate supporter of the international diversity within our student-centric residences," says David Lehberg, founder of Knightstone Capital.
"These international populations contribute to our thriving community and their global impact on our city, campuses and communities will be represented in this public art installation. The creativity, passion and diversity of our residents and the environment they call home will both inspire, and be inspired by this impressive artistic statement."
Okuda's signature pop-surrealism style will explore themes such as unity, knowledge, nature, diversity, and innovation.
Okuda San Miguel's 3rd Eye Dog in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
The famous painter was selected from a shortlist of the world’s top street artists not only because his aesthetic would push aesthetic boundaries of Toronto’s street art, but also for his excitement to enhance the neighbourhood and collaborate with community partners to make it more vibrant.
The mural is generously supported by Knightstone Capital Management, the City of Toronto’s StreetARToronto (StART) program, and the project partners: HealthCare of Ontario Pension Plan, Chartwells of Compass Canada, Turner & Townsend, Diamond Schmitt Architects, Crowe Soberman LLP, Single Digits, Foliot Furniture, Canadian Campus Communities, and Dulux Paints and the Canada Summer Jobs Program.
You can watch Okuda work (along with a team of locally-based artists), while suspended from great heights, the week of June 18th. Okuda’s residency starts on Thursday, July 5.
"I think it will bring some added life and you won't be able to look at it without smiling," says local resident, John O’Keefe.
