The Halton Hills public art archive houses the Town's current and past projects, providing valuable insights into the artworks, artists and the impacts of public art on our beautiful and vibrant community.
Connected Communities by Denitza
A project commissioned for Halton Hills’ 50th Anniversary, Connected Communities is a visual tribute to Halton Hills, celebrating the diverse and interconnected elements that define the Town.
Look for recognizable landmarks within the artwork, while taking in the vibrant hues of Halton Hills throughout the seasons in this window mural located in the atrium of Town Hall.
Cultural Impact Banners by Kelcy Timmons Chan
The artwork on the banners installed at the entrance of the Library & Cultural Centre is a whimsical interpretation of the building's main facilities in bold and vibrant colours. It gives visitors a look at the happenings insides the John Elliott Theatre, the Helson Gallery, and the Halton Hills Public Library.
Find the banners at the main entrance of the Library & Cultural Centre (9 Church Street) in Georgetown.
The Bell Box Mural Project
In partnership with Bell Canada, several Bell boxes have been painted throughout Halton Hills.
Check out the Bell Box Murals page to see the boxes painted so far.
Under Wraps by Halton Hills Artists
Several utility boxes in Halton Hills have been vinyl wrapped and feature a variety of artist designs.
Check out our Under Wraps page for box locations and information about the local artists.
Explore the public art projects undertaken by the Town of Halton Hills. Some of the projects were temporary and can only be experienced through this archive and memories. Other artworks are currently installed in the community and can be visited. Artwork details and locations are included for each project below.
|
Connected Communities by Denitza: 2024 - 2025 |
|
In October 2024, the Town of Halton Hills hosted a celebration in recognition of a new public art installation marking the municipality’s 50th anniversary. Contemporary painter Denitza was the successful applicant for this project, selected from a pool of applicants responding to the Call for Artists to produce an artwork responding to the theme of Connected Communities: celebrating the people, places, nature, environment, and the urban and rural areas that make up Halton Hills. Denitza’s creation is a large-scale vinyl mural that adorns the large windows in the publicly accessible Town Hall atrium. Artist Denitza noted that the intent was to create a visual tribute to Halton Hills, celebrating the diverse and interconnected elements that define the Town. Look for recognizable landmarks within the artwork, while taking in the vibrant hues of Halton Hills throughout the seasons |
|
Cultural Impact by Kelcy Timmons Chan: Library and Cultural Centre Banners: 2024 – 2025 |
|
Kelcy Timmons Chan’s artwork on the banners installed at the entrance of the Library & Cultural Centre, Cultural Impact is a whimsical interpretation of the building's main facilities. Both panels mimic the exact architecture that exists in the real spaces in bold and vibrant colours, giving viewers a sneak peek into the centre and all the creative ways that one can participate. The panel under the Cultural Centre sign depicts the John Elliott Theatre and highlights the performers, the stage, the audience, as well as the backstage technicians, epitomizing how a show is brought to life and the many parts that are involved. The panel under the Library sign shows the art gallery and public library. On the top of the panel, workers are bringing in a large painting for installation and the signature stained glass window from the space is featured. The bottom of the panel depicts the public library where folks are learning, reading and sharing books. The figures in Kelcy’s work are always the colour purple nodding to the queer community and represent that any person can be any gender. The similarity and simplicity of the people is to highlight that they all have something in common that bonds them as a community; in this case, it’s their love of arts, music and culture. |
|
Bell Box Mural Project: 2022 - 2025 |
|
The Bell Box Mural Project uses existing Bell Canada infrastructure as canvases to enliven the streetscape and feature the work of artists. The first boxes were painted in 2022; this is an ongoing mural project initiative in partnership with Bell Canada. Check out the details and stay tuned for additional painted box locations on the Bell Box Mural Project page! |
|
Under Wraps: 2021 – 2025 |
|
Under Wraps re-imagines utility boxes as canvases to enliven the streetscape. Discover the box locations and learn about the artists and their Under Wraps artwork. |
|
Community Colouring Pages by Arielle Rahal: 2022 – 2023 |
|
A funding recipient of “The Artist Next Door,” Halton Hills artist and colouring book creator Arielle Rahal transformed five plywood panels into canvases for the public to colour and enjoy. Two panels were painted as part of Culture Days 2022, and three panels were painted as part of the Downtown Georgetown BIA’s, Downtown Palooza event in 2023. Halton Hills residents and visitors of all ages contributed to the final products.
|
|
Art Around Acton: 2022 |
|
In 2022, the Town of Halton Hills Cultural Services Department partnered with the Downtown Acton BIA to bring you 'Art Around Acton'. Residents and visitors can still experience a variety of temporary and permanent public art activations in Downtown Acton. Window DisplaysDon't miss artwork by three local artists displayed in the windows of downtown businesses.
Location: Acton Discount, 52 Mill Street East Artist: Elizabeth Bard Residing in Acton for over thirty-five years, Elizabeth loves nature, wildlife and enjoys gardening and photographing the many different perennials and birds that visit for future paintings. The collection is a seasonal and remembrance series. Tulips represent the coming of spring, poppies represent summer and to remember all the brave soldiers that gave their lives for our freedom. Sunflowers represent the arrival of fall and is the Ukrainian national flower, representing peace. -
Artist: Kathleen Bignell An Acton local, Kathleen has dedicated the last 30 years to a fulfilling career in teaching. She would often commute to work through the back roads of Halton Hills. Throughout the seasons she admired the light on the trees and fields. As she drove, she "painted" the landscape in her head. She has been yearning to get back to Creative Art. Now retired, Kathleen can pursue her painting passion and prefers working in Plein Air (outdoors). She loves to explore different mediums, but the buttery soft texture of oils is her most used and favorite medium. -
Location: ROXY, 6 Mill Street East Artist: Sonja Mortimer Acton based painter, Sonja Mortimer is a collage and mixed media artist. She is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art, York University's Fine Arts program and a former Visual Arts Specialist/teacher. Mortimer finds inspiration in nature’s persistence and resilience. The semi abstract landscape paintings are inspired by the infinite variety and combinations of twigs, bull-rushes, wildflowers and flowing grasses observed along rural side roads. Sonja translates her digital images onto canvas, taking into account the unique properties and challenges of converting light, colour and texture, from a digital format to canvas and acrylic paint. |
|
#hopeandhealingcanada by Tracey-Mae Chambers: 2021 |
|
Métis artist, Tracey-Mae Chambers has been building detailed temporary site-specific art installations across Ontario's outdoor and indoor spaces. The installations are constructed with red string, the colour of blood, passion and anger. The red string represents the connectivity between each other and our environment. The art illustrates the temporary nature of our lives and promotes discussion about truth and reconciliation and decolonizing public spaces in Canada. Watch the Virtual Artist Talk to learn more about this project and hear directly from artist, Tracey-Mae Chambers. You can also watch this video to see the artist install her work in Halton Hills in November 2021. The indoor and outdoor installations were on display at the Library & Cultural Centre for several months. |
|
After Nature by Ingrid Mayrhofer: 2020 - 2021 |
|
After Nature was the first project the Town undertook under the Public Art Master Plan. Banners were on display in six outdoor locations throughout Halton Hills. In response to requests from the community, the 2020 'After Nature' public art banner series was re-installed in select locations in spring 2021. About Ingrid MayrhoferIngrid Mayrhofer (BFA, MA, York University) is a visual artist, curator, educator and community arts practitioner. She has her own pottery studio in downtown Hamilton. Residents in Halton Hills may recognize her printmaking works from the After Nature public art banners that were displayed in multiple locations in Town in 2020 and 2021. Since her student years, Ingrid has placed her art production in its social context. In addition to her double studio major in printmaking and photography, she has worked with new media, and also employs printmaking techniques to create narratives for her pottery. Having moved away from overt “political” imagery in the nineties, she initiated a long-term hands-on intervention with culture and nature in 2000. Her practice includes numerous community art collaborations and curatorial projects, as well as international artists' exchanges. Since moving to Hamilton, she has participated in four public art banner projects there, as well as showing her work across Canada and abroad. Species represented in bannersAfter Nature highlights at-risk species in Halton Region and Ontario. Look for these species in the banner images and the natural world. |
|
Music Series at the Acton Farmers Market |
|
|
Public Art is created or overseen by a professional artist. Works can be either permanent or temporary. Public Art can help create healthy, vibrant and connected communities. For more information about the Town's Public Art Program, read the Public Art Master Plan and the Public Art Policy.
Location: Music store, 115 Mill Street East
Colour Unleashed, a banner series
Location: 