Graffiti Murals at Kensington Market and Around

Kensington Market is possibly one of the best graffiti spots in Toronto along with the famous Graffiti Alley. I started my tour from Augusta Avenue where an Alphonse Mucha style mural adorns a building with a beautiful garden car in its front. However, the famous car of Kensington market was missing from the spot today. Instead, a big van blocked a clear view of the mural. I was forced to take pictures from sides at a bit awkward angle. Later I found out that the car is still in its winter hibernation and will be back on the street later this month.

In the Kensington market, besides side alleys, a number of shops and buildings are covered in murals.

These murals are not limited to the Kensington Market and extend into the surrounding blocks too.

Murals in the side alleys represent a mixture of cultural backgrounds, styles, and themes. These are representative of the high cultural diversity in the area.

Some back alley murals portray a bit darker themes too.

Kensington market is bound by the old Chinatown on its east and south sides. Murals in these areas depict a number of dragon related themes.

I was surprised to find a portrait of former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie on the sidewall of a shop. Haile Selassie who reigned from 1930 to 1974, is considered an incarnation of God on earth or a prophet by the Jamaican Rastafari religion. Perhaps this mural is a dedication to that faith. Bob Marley, the famous Jamaican singer, and songwriter also belonged to this movement.