Leslieville Photo Wall

Neighbourhood: Leslieville · Address: 1053 Queen St E, Toronto, ON · Hours: Open 24 hours · Price Range: Free · Editorial status: Not yet verified

Why Visit

Whether you're a photographer or just want the perfect backdrop, the Leslieville Photo Wall’s bold patterns make every shot pop. It’s become a go-to for anyone wanting truly eye-catching Toronto street art in their feed.

What Makes It Unique

Unlike other popular murals downtown, this wall’s geometric design and large scale look good from any angle and in any weather—no harsh shadows or dated references. Its location right on Queen Street East makes it easy to stumble upon and snap a shot without waiting in line.

If you want to see a version of Toronto that feels improvised, messy in the best way, and completely alive, go wander the Chinatown laneways between Spadina and Kensington. Start around the Kensington Ave laneway and just let yourself drift. These narrow back routes cut behind shops, garages, apartment buildings, delivery doors, and old brick walls, and they’re covered in layers of community art that change all the time. One stretch might have a careful mural with Chinese cultural symbols, lucky cats, dragons, handwritten characters, or portraits of local elders. Then you turn a corner and there’s political wheatpaste, stencil work, tags over older tags, posters half-peeled by rain, and some totally weird little drawing someone put up overnight just because they felt like it. That’s really the appeal here. It doesn’t feel arranged for visitors. It feels used. People are taking out recycling, restaurant staff are moving boxes through the back doors, someone’s bike is locked to a pipe, and in the middle of all that, there’s art everywhere. Some of it is sharp and intentional, some of it is funny, some of it is angry, and some of it is just colour splashed onto a wall that needed it. The laneways carry a lot of Chinatown’s personality because they show what people actually leave behind, add to, argue with, and repaint. If you like photography, this area gives you a lot to work with. The walls are tight, the light bounces strangely off brick and metal, and there’s always a contrast between the artwork and the everyday back-alley stuff around it. Fire escapes, green bins, old garage doors, grocery deliveries, faded signs, fresh paint. Weekend mornings are the best time to go because it’s quieter, the light is softer, and you can take your time without feeling like you’re in the way. Later in the day, the neighbourhood gets busier and some laneways turn into active shortcuts for locals, which is fine, but less ideal if you want to stop every ten feet and stare at a wall. A couple of practical things: wear decent shoes because the ground can be uneven, and don’t expect one single destination marker or perfect route. The point is to wander. Some lanes will feel packed with work, others might look almost empty until you notice a doorway covered in stickers or a tiny mural tucked beside a dumpster. Keep going. That’s why it’s worth returning, honestly. The art shifts constantly, and even when the walls haven’t changed, your path probably will. Also, be respectful. These are public laneways, but they’re also part of people’s daily lives. Don’t block garage entrances, don’t climb on anything for photos, and don’t treat residents like background scenery. Grab a coffee or bun nearby, walk slowly, look closely, and give yourself permission to get a little lost between Spadina and Kensington. It’s one of those Toronto walks that never really repeats itself.