Little Jamaica: Studio M Mural
This summer 2025, Studio M located in Little Jamaica will be receiving a new mural designed by muralist Krystal Ball and we want you to be a part of it!
About
This mural, which will appear on the front and side wall of Studio M located in Eglinton West, draws inspiration from Jamaican culture. It explores the evolution of the island’s music, from roots and reggae to dancehall, while highlighting the impact of Rastafarian culture and visual storytelling through iconic “dance” posters. It pays homage to the 1990s, widely considered the golden era of Jamaican music, and reflects the energy, creativity, and resilience of the culture.
Meet The Muralists
Krystal Ball is a Jamaican-born multi-disciplinary artist now residing in Toronto. She is a mixed media artist whose work explores identity, culture, and resilience through vibrant combinations of textiles and paint. With over 15 years of experience, Krystal has exhibited internationally and led impactful public art projects, including the Mural of Hope series in Dominica in collaboration with UNICEF and the I Have a Right Foundation. She has worked with major brands such as TIFF, TO Live, and the Toronto Raptors. Her murals, such as those at Toronto’s BAND Gallery and Harbourfront Centre, celebrate diversity and community, often incorporating elements of augmented reality to add interactive layers. Her gallery work reflects her personal journey as a Caribbean immigrant, and she has served as a Cultural Advisor to organizations looking to engage authentically with the Caribbean art market.
Born in Scarborough, Ontario.
Curtia Wright is a multidisciplinary Fine Artist, Mural Artist and Arts Educator based in Toronto, Ontario. She received her BFA at OCAD University in the Drawing and Painting program in 2015. Her murals fuse elements of fantasy, sci-fi and surrealism with vibrant transportive colours used to animate their environments. Her work uses the human figure to showcase narratives often centring around her lived experience. The work she creates looks at mental health, metaphysics, and the ephemerality of dreams and memory through a sci-fi lens. She has collaborated on public art projects with Community organizations, Commercial and Private mural commissions across Canada and Internationally.
Be A Part of The Mural Creation
We have an opportunity for 5 Black youth (aged 18 – 25) to be mentored by Krystal and Curtia through the process of creating a mural highlighting the cultural heritage of the Little Jamaica neighbourhood. Youth will get the change to gain mural arts knowledge from highly experienced Toronto muralists, best of all, you don’t have to be experienced yourself to participate and you’ll receive compensation for your involvement! We encourage anyone with an interest in designing murals to apply.
DETAILS
- The program runs from July 14th – July 18th on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (weather permitting)
- We will begin with an orientation and introduction to the artists and muralists Krystal Ball and Curtia Wright that will occur online
- Followed by an in-person safety session by Curtia Wright during the first paint day.
- Along with 2 more in-person paint sessions
Time commitment: 3 hours per day from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: Studio M – 1672 Eglinton West
This project is being done in collaboration with Art Starts and is supported by the City of Toronto's StreetARToronto program.
