A stroll around the streets of the Exchange District will reward you with stunning visual imagery gracing the sides of heritage buildings. From street art to murals, the Exchange is home to beautiful works of art that add colour and personality to the neighbourhood.
Each piece of art contributes to the Exchange District’s vibrancy, rooting it as Winnipeg’s arts and culture hub. This artwork contains essential stories that blend heritage with modernity. Street art is a way to honour the stories of the neighbourhood and the buildings within it while telling new ones.
Use our roundup as a guide to learn more about artwork in the Exchange!
125 Pacific Avenue
Two prominent graffiti artists created separate but complementary murals on the outer walls of the Nonsuch Brewing Co. building.
A Louis Riel portrait done by Cash Akoza blends itself into the broader scene of a moose and Northern Lights by artist Vizsla Bacon. The Artists painted these collaborative murals in 2019 during Paint the Peg, an interactive event co-founded by Cash Akoza that decorated buildings and alleyways in the Exchange with original artwork.
Take a look next time you head to Nonsuch and enjoy a beer and some art!
457 Main Street
The mural “Women For Peace And Environment” was created by Filipino artist Bert Monterona for Mural Fest 2K7. The mural emphasizes the importance of peace and environmental sustainability, portraying women as crucial figures in nurturing these values. Bert uses his artwork to inspire community action and awareness about global warming, gender equality, and the protection of our planet. According to Bert, “This work of art makes a call for all women and men of good will to take responsibility for sustaining life, environmental protection, preventing war and building a culture of peace.”
Catch this mural between Bannatyne and William on the north face of the Confederation Building.
85 Princess Street
The murals in the Deer + Almond parking lot are a collaborative effort by artist Kenneth Lavallee and chef Mandel Hitzer. The original “Solar System Mural” transformed a bland cinderblock wall into a vibrant art piece by Kenneth in 2013. For the 2014 Nuit Blanche, Lavallee teamed up with artists Takashi Iwasaki, Dany Reede, and Natalie Baird to expand the murals onto the south wall of the Atelier Building, adding two figures in repose. In 2015, original artist Kenneth added the wavy strands of DNA (deer+almond) above the south wall figures. These murals celebrate community, creativity, and the lively spirit of the Exchange District during Nuit Blanche.
Photo by Daisy Wu
65 Albert Street
Photo by Daisy Wu
At 65 Albert Street, home to Soul Gallery, a mural reflects the building’s dedication to the arts. This stormy scene of a lion was painted in 2020 by Cash Akoza.
98 Albert Street
In early 2020, AtLRG Architecture commissioned Art City to create a mural for the exposed wall at 98 Albert Street. Using a colour palette inspired by nearby businesses and art installations, Art City participants painted playful, non-representational shapes. They brought them to life with eyes, aptly naming it “Everything Is Alive!” This colourful mural proudly adorns the intersection where Arthur and Albert meet Bannatyne, celebrating the community’s creativity and spirit.
468 Main Street
Photo by muralsofwinnipeg
At 468 Main Street, you’ll find a mural by Icelandic artist Sara Riel, painted in 2010 as part of the núna (now) Festival. This event facilitates exchanges between contemporary artists from Iceland and Canada, exploring cultural and postcolonial identities, collaboration, and ongoing settler/indigenous relations. Sara’s piece aims to capture the essence of Winnipeg. She painted it on the top floor of 468 Main Street and later installed it on the building.
474 Main Street
The Birt Saddlery Mural was brought to life in 2023 by Joseph Pilapil, a multifaceted creative known for his work with The Travelling Sign Painters. Joseph revitalized the iconic Birt Saddlery ghost sign by integrating its elements into a colourful new composition. His hand-painted piece brightens the once-weathered wall while accentuating the historic sign, perfectly blending the old with the new.
235 Notre Dame Ave
This striking piece on the St. Charles Hotel is a recreation of a ghost sign. It was painted around 1982 by Resti Manimtim, a signwriter for Fosh Signs. The mural features a 1940s version of the Pepsi-Cola logo, which was introduced to the US Market in 1893 and expanded into Canada in 1934. It was painted to match other ghost signs in the Exchange District, giving it a retro feel.
120 King Street
The historic Maw’s Garage was originally built between 1906 and 1907 as Western Canada’s first car dealership! In its current life as a parking lot, it’s still used to house cars and is home to two complementary murals depicting day and night at Old Market Square. The day scene, painted by Korey Asher in 1996, is complete with sunshine, song, and outdoor activities. The night scene, painted by Shaun Thompson, showcases more music and instruments amidst a starry sky.
312 William Ave
Artist Stephen Gladue created this mural in 2020 titled “Brian Sinclair,” honouring the Indigenous man who died in 2008 while waiting for emergency care at the Health Sciences Centre. Brian Sinclair, who was only 45, passed away from a treatable infection after being neglected for 34 hours, a tragic consequence of systemic racism. His death served as a wake-up call, prompting the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority to take accountability and implement anti-racist policies in healthcare.