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

If you are looking for the beating heart of Ottawa’s street art scene, look no further than Hintonburg. Nestled within the Wellington West district, this neighbourhood has transformed into a canvas for some of the National Capital Region’s most talented artists.

Whether you are a photographer hunting for the next great "Instagrammable" wall or an art lover wanting to connect with local culture, this self-guided walking tour will take you past the essential masterpieces of the area.

Don't forget to open the OTTAWALLS Interactive Map to follow along and find exact locations for every stop on this list.

Why Hintonburg?

Hintonburg has a gritty, industrial past that has seamlessly blended with a modern, creative present. This friction makes it the perfect environment for urban art. Unlike the polished monuments of downtown, the street art here feels organic, often tucked away in alleyways, on the sides of auto-repair shops, or adorning residential laneways.

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

Your Hintonburg mural walk begins at 50 Bayswater Avenue, the studio and creative hub for the Urban Art Collective (UAC). Due to UAC's central presence, a high concentration of Ottawa street art is located nearby, making this stop a must-see spot along your route.

The first piece you encounter is the monumental collaborative work, "Pigeon People." This stunning mural, prominently displayed on the studio’s exterior, was contributed to by acclaimed Franco-Ontarian artist Mique Michelle. The artwork is a symbolic representation of the UAC’s founders, core artists, and community figures.

The Urban Art Collective (UAC) is an integral community space and a vibrant cultural hub. They sell local Ottawa art and truly set the tone for the city’s urban art scene. The OTTAWALLS interactive map has many of these UAC-adjacent murals documented, so pull out your phone and explore the immediate area for your next discovery!

This stop is not just a mural; it is the home base for creativity in Hintonburg.

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

No tour of Hintonburg is complete without spotting the work of ARPi (Rene-Pierre Beaudry). Known for his hyper-realistic depictions of local wildlife, ARPi’s work brings a touch of the wild to the urban landscape.

Keep your eyes peeled for his signature birds and insects. One of his standout pieces features vibrant flora and fauna that seem to grow right out of the brickwork. His work often plays with the geometry of the building, using corners and pipes as part of the composition.

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

Stop 3: The Working Class Tribute by Ryan Smeeton

As you move towards Wellington Street, you can't miss the towering work of Ryan Smeeton. Smeeton is a master of blending realism with abstract, graphic elements. One of his most iconic contributions to the neighbourhood is a large-scale tribute to Hintonburg’s working-class roots.

Often found on the side of industrial or commercial buildings, Smeeton’s murals remind us of the people who built this city. The scale is massive, so you’ll want to step back to the other side of the street to get the full photo.

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

Stop 4: Hidden Gems in the Alleys

The real magic of OTTAWALLS is finding the art that isn't on the main drag. Dip into the laneways between Holland and Parkdale. Here you will find smaller, often unsigned pieces such as stencils, wheat pastes, and graffiti tags that represent the ephemeral nature of street art.

Look for works by Daniel Martelock, often featuring whimsical birds. These "micro-murals" are like Easter eggs for the observant walker.

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

Stop 5: The Proudest Plumage Anchor

As you move past the busy Parkdale area, make sure to stop at the highly visible corner of Hamilton Avenue and Wellington Street. Here, you will find one of the neighborhood's most celebrated murals: "The Proudest Plumage" by Kalkidan Assefa (Drippin Soul). This vibrant, large-scale piece immediately grabs your attention, serving as a colorful landmark that firmly anchors this busy stretch of Wellington West. It's a definite favorite among local art enthusiasts and an excellent example of the bold public art defining Hintonburg's visual culture.

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!

Street art is temporary by nature. A mural you see today might be painted over tomorrow. That is why we built the OTTAWALLS Living Archive.

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 doesn't just show you where the art is; it tells you who painted it and the story behind it.

Help Keep the Archive Alive

Did you spot a new piece on your walk today? Or perhaps a mural mentioned here has been tagged or removed? You are the eyes of the archive.

Submit a Mural today and help us document the shifting landscape of Ottawa’s urban art. Your photos ensure that even if the paint fades, the art lives on in our digital gallery.