Downtown Art

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Public Art enhances and creates special public places, bringing people of all demographics together to build communities and connect. Murals, sculptures, public art, iconic architecture and grand landscapes create a more interesting and vibrant Downtown.

Downtown Art Guide

The Downtown Edmonton Public Art Guide directs and supports Downtown public art and identifies a range of potential initiatives to increase the presence of art and culture in the city’s core. Check it out for inspiration on how to incorporate public art and art programs/initiatives into various spaces.

Art Grants

The Edmonton Arts Council (EAC) provides various grants that support individual artists in the creation of work and artistic development, and grants that support arts organizations and festivals.

Edmonton Sign

Visit the “Edmonton” sign in Sir Winston Churchill Square! This innovative installation welcomes visitors downtown, serves as a vibrant photo backdrop and brings life to the heart of the city. In winter, the sign lights up the Square, while in summer, it travels to festivals and City-owned facilities. The Edmonton sign was funded primarily from the Downtown Vibrancy Fund with additional funding support provided through Prairies Economic Development Canada.

Experience this family-friendly, interactive art piece that transforms the negative space of the Edmonton letters into dynamic photo opportunities, showcasing local artists. Designed by Vignettes Showcase Inc™ in collaboration with Métis and Cree artist Michelle Sound and Nehiway/Dene/Métis artist Crystal Clark, it was inspired by the concept of what home means to everyone who occupies our shared land.

Measuring over 32 feet long, the sign features a shallow, sloped roof that echoes the expansive rolling prairie plains. Step inside to gaze through the roof panelling at the sky, framing the sun, clouds and stars. The reverse side displays a rotating mural, allowing local artists to express their interpretations of home.

Behind the word “Edmonton,” a series of programmable LED lights creates a stunning light display, fading in and out of hues of yellow and blue. Come see it for yourself!

Artist Overview and Inspiration

Crystal Clark

Crystal Clark is a Nehiwayak, Denesuline, and Métis artist with ancestral ties to the Haudenshone/Nehiway of the Michel First Nation. Her work is deeply rooted in her Indigenous heritage, reflecting her personal connections to the land, water, and all living things. Her art serves as a medium to communicate the interconnection of Indigeneity and the natural world, and to honour her ancestors whose histories are intertwined with Alberta’s landscape. Through her artistic practice, she confronts the attempted erasure of Indigenous culture and identity, while celebrating the resilience and beauty of her people.

Crystal’s approach to this project incorporates elements from her “landEscape” series, where she reimagines a world where land, water, sky, and the movement of traditional fancy dance shawls converge to create a sense of interconnectedness. Her use of layered imagery, woodpecker-inspired holes, and snowflakes—crafted from Cree syllabics—symbolize Indigenous spirituality, language resurgence, and the coexistence of humanity and the environment. This piece invites viewers to experience a unique worldview that acknowledges the interdependence of all beings and affirms that “we are still here.”

Michelle Sound

Michelle Sound is a Cree and Métis artist and mother, and a member of the Wapsewsipi Swan River First Nation in Northern Alberta. She was born and raised on the unceded and ancestral territories of the xwmƏƟkwƏýƏm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and SƏĺílwƏtaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Michelle holds a BFA from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Applied Arts from Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Her artistic practice explores themes of identity, family history, and Indigenous ways of knowing.

For this project, Michelle draws inspiration from Indigenous star knowledge and cosmology, reflecting the belief that we are all "star people" connected to the universe and each other. Her planned design of a star blanket panel will integrate Indigenous constellations and teachings of the moon, grounding the viewer in a sense of place and time that aligns with Indigenous epistemologies. The star blanket is not just a visual motif but also a metaphor for community, continuity, and connection to ancestors. Through her work, Michelle aims to remind viewers that no matter where we are, looking up at the sky can reconnect us with our ancestors and affirm that we are a continuation of their legacy.

These artists’ contributions to the project celebrate the diversity of Indigenous experiences and perspectives, offering a glimpse into the ways they honour their heritage and create a space for dialogue, healing, and understanding.

Downtown Art Map and Tours

ArtTourYEG provides an interactive map of Downtown public art and four self-guided art tours around Downtown to give Edmontonians and visitors the chance to learn about the eclectic art and architecture found in the core.

The art tours include:

Capital Boulevard
Churchill to McKinney
Jasper Avenue
The Quarters

You can also stop by City Hall or any Downtown hotel to pick up an ArtTourYEG brochure. ArtTourYEG is an initiative by the Urban Renewal section at the City of Edmonton.

Essential Tree by Realities:United

Migratory Paths by Catherine Ross

You Are Here by Hello Kirsten

Skaters’ Arch by Douglas Bentham

Find Unique Art Online at ArtTourYeg.ca

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