My murals for St. John’s Year of Arts 2024 were created for the vertical street lighting pole boxes in downtown St. John’s. I came across the open call while I was in the process of moving to the city, and it felt like the perfect opportunity to connect with a place I was about to live in.
To develop the concepts, I spent time researching the local culture, landscape, and everyday stories that make St. John’s so distinctive. I was drawn to the city’s deep connection to mystery and folklore, its strong fishing heritage, its vibrant artistic spirit, and the way encounters with moose are such a familiar part of life in Newfoundland.
One of the pieces, Moose and a Lady, was inspired by the many playful local stories and social media posts about “moose on the loose.” I wanted to turn that idea into something poetic and quietly whimsical, so I imagined a woman and a moose walking peacefully together along the iconic Jellybean Street (city’s most colourful houses are found there)
The fishermen scene takes a more classic coastal approach, but I made sure to include elements that would immediately evoke Newfoundland. Iceberg, whale, and the pitcher plant (Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial flower) help anchor the illustration in the local landscape and identity.
I was also fascinated by local legends, including stories of mermaids and mysterious creatures with webbed hands and feet. Knowing where the artwork would be installed, I created the image of a webbed girl walking her fluffy fish-dog as a playful nod to Water Street and its connection to the sea.
Together, these works celebrate St. John’s through a mix of local humour, folklore, and coastal symbolism, with each mural designed to reflect a different facet of the city’s character.
