Junction Triangle Art Walls

The railway-framed laneways and industrial walls of the Junction Triangle have become one of Toronto's most active semi-legal graffiti and mural zones. The former factory buildings on Sterling Road and Bloor West carry some of the city's most technically accomplished large-format work.

Neighbourhood: Junction Triangle · Address: Sterling Rd and Bloor St W, Toronto, ON · Hours: Open 24 hours · Price Range: Free · Editorial status: Not yet verified

Why Visit

Junction Triangle Art Walls offer some of Toronto’s most striking large-scale street art, set among active railways and old factories. This is where local and international artists regularly refresh the walls, so there’s almost always something new to see.

What Makes It Unique

Unlike more curated mural alleys, these laneways are in a state of constant artistic flux, thanks to their semi-legal status—so pieces get layered, altered, and sometimes painted over. The sheer scale here is unusual, with entire building sides covered, and the mix of text-based graffiti and art murals is legit, not staged for Instagram.

If you want to see how Riverside has changed without losing its edge, walk Broadview from Queen up toward Dundas and keep your eyes on the walls. The stretch around the restored Broadview Hotel has turned into one of the most rewarding mural walks in the east end, not because it’s polished or packaged, but because it feels like the neighbourhood kept adding colour one wall at a time. The hotel helped kick it off by commissioning two major exterior pieces, and then nearby businesses clearly got the memo. Now the whole area reads like an open-air gallery stitched into side streets, brick facades, parking lot walls, and the backs of old commercial buildings. What makes this spot good is that it’s compact enough to do casually, but dense enough that you’ll keep stopping. You’re not marching from one landmark to another for blocks with nothing in between. You’ll turn your head for one mural and then notice another across the street, half-hidden above a garage door or wrapping around the side of a building you’d otherwise walk right past. Some are huge and meant to dominate your frame; others feel more like discoveries. It’s ideal if you like taking photos, but even if you’re not carrying a camera, it’s the kind of area that makes you slow down and actually look at the city. The Broadview Hotel itself is a big part of the draw. It’s one of those buildings that still anchors the intersection, and the mural on the east face is especially worth seeking out. Best tip: go over to Morse Street if you want the cleanest angle. From right beside the hotel, it’s too close and broken up by street clutter, but from Morse you can actually take in the whole composition without craning your neck. Late afternoon is the sweet spot. Golden hour hits the brick, the colours warm up, and the shadows start adding texture instead of flattening everything out. If you’ve got time, head up to the rooftop bar in the Broadview after your walk. Even if you just grab one drink, the elevated view gives you a totally different read on the murals nearby. A few of them don’t really make sense from street level because they’re partially blocked or stretched along awkward walls, but from above you can finally see how they fit together. It also helps you notice how much artwork is tucked into this little corridor. Realistically, give yourself 45 minutes if you’re just strolling, longer if you’re the type who stops every ten steps for photos. Start near Queen, wander north, and don’t be afraid to dip a half-block east or west when something catches your eye. This isn’t a formal attraction with lineups or an entry point. It’s just there, all day, free, mixed into regular city life — streetcars rattling by, people grabbing coffee, dogs pulling their owners down the sidewalk, and murals watching over all of it. That’s what makes it worth coming back to. The walls change, the light changes, and the neighbourhood always gives you something different.

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