May 9, 2021 / 216 Comments / Entertainment / By

If you’re looking to step up your Instagram game, look no further than Calgary’s street art scene.

Thanks to initiatives like the Beltline Urban Mural Project (BUMP) Festival, Calgary continues to be more colourful transforming buildings and bridges into canvasses that bring art into the community—and to your Instagram feed.

Here are a few places where you might find yourself stopping for your next photo-op:

Bee Together by Natalie Nehlawi

Created as part of the 2018 BUMP Festival, Natalie Nehlawi’s mural masterpiece continues to make a buzz in the city by activating our imaginations and paying tribute to a species that is vital to our ecosystem.

Where to find it: 1231 10th Avenue SW

Photo by @jagerandkokemor posted by @firstcalgary during their @lifeincalgary takeover

Sunnyside mural by Alex Kwong and Sergey Ryutin

Keep a look out for this magnificent mural the next time you’re riding the CTrain passed Sunnyside station. A short walk from the heart of Kensignton, this mural’s whimsical background provides the perfect artistic inspiration for any photoshoot.

Where to find it: 1002 4th Avenue NW

Photo by Alicia Van Hyfte

BRIDGE by Katie Green

The next time you’re taking a stroll down the Riverwalk in East Village, prepare to be startled by one of Katie Green’s masked murals. According to Green, the murals are meant to challenge Calgarians and to spark curiosity and conversations about what they represent.

Where to find it: East Village Riverwalk

Photo by Alicia Van Hyfte

#BeCubed by Michelle Hoogveld

One the most iconic and Instagrammable walls in Calgary, the mural outside Lukes Drug Mart is the perfect back drop for a shot of your decorative Luke’s latte or indulgent soft serve ice cream.

Where to find it: 112 4th Street NE

Photo by @jasmine.atay.creative during her @lifeincalgary Instagram takeover

No More Despair by Tyler Lemermeyer

If you’re big into biking, then you’re sure to love Tyler Lemermeyer’s bike-inspired mural. Another mural created as part of the 2018 BUMP Festival, Lemermeyer’s mural celebrates Calgarian’s love for cycling. This mural makes a great backdrop for a photo with your biking buddies or your cycling steed (or both!).

Where to find it: 735 12 Avenue S.W.

Photo by @jagerandkokemor posted by @firstcalgary during their @lifeincalgary takeover

Rocky Mountain wilderness mural by Van Charles Artwork

Curtis Van Charles Sorensen’s art brings the wonders of the Canadian wilderness into downtown Calgary. An inspiring piece of art that will leave your followers in awe of your outdoor adventures (even if that is just strolling downtown in search of awesome murals like this one).

Where to find it: 1410 11th Avenue SW

Photo by @sumitmunjall during their @lifeincalgary Instagram takeover

Abstract art by Nasarimba

Another creation from the 2018 BUMP Festival, Mikhail Miller and Rachel Ziriada’s abstract art adds pattern and perspective to the streets of downtown Calgary. The combination of primary colours and simple shapes mimic the artistic practice of cutting up paper and putting the pieces back together in a collage.

Where to find it: 1022 17th Avenue

Photo by Alicia Van Hyfte

SAMEWAYBETTER/READER by Ron Moppett

This mural mosaic can be spotted across from the East Village Experience Centre. With five-panels composed of what seems to be every kind of colour, shape and scenery, you’re sure to find your perfect photo backdrop here.

Where to find it: 553 Riverfront Avenue SE

Photo by @eastvillageyyc during their @lifeincalgary Instagram takeover

ᓲᐦᑳᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ by Kevin Ledo

Kevin Ledo’s stunning street art outside the City Centre Parkade celebrates Calgary’s diversity and indigenous roots with an image of Angela Gladue, a traditional fancy and hoop dancer. This motivating mural is entitled “sôhkâtisiwin” meaning strength and power in Cree.

Where to find it: 340 10th Avenue SW

Photo by @workforceawards during their Instagram takeover

Giving Wings to the Dream by Doug Driediger 

Created for CUPS in 1995, this symbol of hope and inspiration in Calgary’s downtown core has become an iconic mural to many. If you capture the art from just the right angle, it looks like the hands are reaching for the Calgary Tower.

Where to find it: 128 7th Avenue SE

Photo by @andybintheyyc during their @lifeincalgary Instagram takeover


Arts & Culture Attractions

Calgary continues to be more colourful transforming buildings and bridges into canvasses that bring art into the community—and to your Instagram feed.


Alicia Van Hyfte
Friday, August 23, 2019

216 thoughts on “Instagram-worthy Calgary art”

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