In one week, a boarded-up storefront on Howe Street transformed from a bleak reminder of the economic and societal repercussions of the pandemic into a colourful work of art with a message.
Bloom Inward is a mural about looking inward to find strength during solitude. The artist, Priscilla Yu, says she was inspired by her own isolation experience at the beginning of the pandemic and designed the mural for anyone who feels alone.
Yu’s work is one of 40 murals that have recently transformed boarded-up storefronts throughout Vancouver.
Priscilla Yu says public murals are important because anybody can enjoy the art without having to pay admission to a museum.
The initiative, inspired by grassroots art projects in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and Gastown, is called #MakeArtWhileApart and is associated with the Vancouver Mural Festival.
The artists are paid honorariums and all of their supplies are covered, thanks to support from local business improvement associations, Vancity Credit Union, and the City of Vancouver.
See the transformation of storefronts in 12 of the murals below.
Mural by artist Mega McGrath reads “together for what’s to come” on a boarded-up Arc’teryx storefront.
The boarded-up storefront of Champs is transformed into a work of art by artist Oxana Gaidasheva.
A mural by artist Jason Mcrea reads “We have never been closer” on a boarded-up Foot Locker storefront.
People walk past a mural by artist Graciela Goncalves on a boarded-up Zara storefront..
Murals by artists Victoria Sieczka and Ali Bruce are seen on a boarded-up Banana Republic storefront.
A mural by artist Sage Lim is painted on a boarded-up Oliver Peoples storefront.
Mural by artist iheart on a boarded-up Venue Nightclub.
“Hang in there” and “keep going” messages are seen in the mural by artist Sandeep Johal on a boarded-up Luxury Optical storefront.
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Post image on Pinterest: “Hang in there” and “keep going” messages are seen in the mural by artist Sandeep Johal on a boarded-up Luxury Optical storefront. -
Post image on Facebook: “Hang in there” and “keep going” messages are seen in the mural by artist Sandeep Johal on a boarded-up Luxury Optical storefront.
A mural by artist Ben Knight reads “Woven by love” on a boarded-up Pottery Barn storefront on South Granville Street.
Mural by artist Shannon Elliott on a boarded-up Canadian Crafts storefront.
Mural by artist Taka Sudo on a boarded-up Muji storefront.
Mural by artist Taka Sudo on a boarded-up Muji storefront.
The Vancouver Mural Festival is not sharing a public map of the murals. Instead, they are encouraging folks to enjoy the murals from home via articles such as this.
