The Ultimate Self-Guided Street Art Walk in Hintonburg, Ottawa

If you’re looking for the heart of Ottawa’s street art scene, head straight to Hintonburg. Tucked inside Wellington West, this neighborhood has transformed into a massive outdoor gallery featuring work from the region’s most talented creators.

Whether you want to fill your camera roll with vibrant murals or you just want a scenic walk through a creative hub, this self-guided tour covers the essential stops.

Before you start, open the OTTAWALLS Interactive Map to find the exact coordinates for each piece on the list.

Why Hintonburg?

Hintonburg’s history as a manufacturing hub has blended naturally with its creative energy today. That mix is what makes the neighborhood such a great spot for street art. While downtown is full of formal statues and monuments, the art here feels more grounded and real. You'll stumble upon it in the most random spots, from narrow alleys and garage walls to quiet residential side streets.

A mural with a collage of faces and cartoon motifs with a Welcome to Hintonburg sign

Above, a piece by Jimmy Baptiste adorning the side of the Urban Art Collective in Hintonburg.

Stop 1: Urban Art Collective

You can start your mural walking tour in Hintonburg at 50 Bayswater Avenue. Since Urban Art Collective (UAC) is based here, there is an abundance of street art in Ottawa concentrated around this place. As a result, this point should definitely be included in your list of stops.

The first painting that will catch your eye is “Pigeon People,” which is an impressive creation. This mural, located outside the studio, was created together with Mique Michelle. The painting is a metaphorical portrayal of the founders and key members of UAC.

Hintonburg mural "Pigeon People" by Mique Michelle for the Urban Art Collective (UAC), featuring large-scale, colorful figures and collaborative Ottawa street art.

Stop 2: The Nature of ARPi

You can't really explore Hintonburg without spotting a piece by ARPi (Rene-Pierre Beaudry). He is famous for his hyper-realistic paintings of local wildlife, bringing a bit of the natural world into the city streets.

Keep an eye out for his signature birds and insects. One of his standout pieces features vibrant plants and animals that look like they are growing right out of the stone walls. ARPi is a master at working with the building itself, often weaving corners, pipes, and odd architectural shapes directly into his designs.

A graffiti frog mural by Arpi in Hintonburg, Wellington West, Ottawa

Stop 3: The Working Class Tribute by Ryan Smeeton

You can’t miss the massive work by Ryan Smeeton. He has a knack for mixing realistic portraits with bold, abstract shapes. One of his most famous pieces in the neighborhood is a huge mural that honors Hintonburg’s blue-collar history.

He typically chooses the walls of old factories or local businesses for these tributes to the working-class people who built the city.

Ryan Smeeton's work of art featuring a mechanic in Hintonburg, Ottawa on Wellington Street West

Stop 4: Hidden Gems in the Alleys

The best part of using OTTAWALLS is discovering the art hidden away from the main streets. If you head into the lanes between Holland and Parkdale, you’ll find smaller, unofficial works like stencils, wheat pastes, and graffiti. These pieces change constantly, which is part of what makes street art so interesting.

Keep an eye out for Daniel Martelock’s work, which usually features playful birds. These little "micro-murals" are scattered around like hidden gems for anyone paying close enough attention.

Daniel Martelock's bird on an electric box on Wellington Street West, Hintonburg, Ottawa

Stop 5: The Proudest Plumage Anchor

Once you pass the busy Parkdale stretch, stop at the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Wellington Street. You really can’t miss it. This is where you’ll find "The Proudest Plumage" by Kalkidan Assefa, also known as Drippin Soul.

It’s a bright, massive piece that acts as a landmark for this part of Wellington West. Local art fans love this one, and it’s a perfect example of the bold style that has come to define the look of Hintonburg.

Wellington West BIA mural on Hairfellas barbershop, funded by the City of Ottawa's Paint It Up Program. The mural was painted with youth from Jaku Konbit Ottawa's Youth Mentorship Program.

Use the OTTAWALLS Map to See More

This article only mentions a few murals but we've archived a lot more in Hintonburg on the map!

Open the Map: www.ottawalls.art/map or scroll down to the bottom of this page for a curated Hintonburg map!
Filter by Neighbourhood: Select "Hintonburg" to isolate the pins in this area.
Click for Stories: Every pin tells you about the art and artist.