TTC and partners unveil mural celebrating Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Pedestrians walking along Church St. and Asquith Ave. may find themselves transported back to 19th-century London, with the completion of a mural celebrating the life, writing, and characters of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Developed in partnership with the TTC, City of Toronto’s StreetARToronto (StART) program, the Toronto Public Library (TPL) and the Friends of the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection, the mural spans construction hoarding between 830 Church Street and the Toronto Reference Library. Phase one was completed in December 2023, while phase two of the mural was finalized in October 2024.

“Public art brings vibrancy and life to our City. This lovely mural highlights the large collection of Sherlock Holmes-related literature at the Toronto Public Library,” said Mayor Olivia Chow. “I encourage people to explore the artwork and the collection that inspired it.”

TPL is home to one of the world’s largest research collections devoted to Arthur Conan Doyle’s life and works. Many items relate to Doyle’s most famous fictional character, Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes Walk is the north-south walkway on the library's east side.

The mural was installed on hoarding that was put up due to construction for the TTC’s Bloor-Yonge Capacity Improvements Project. The site will be home to a future fan building to enhance air circulation at the newly renovated station. 

“The TTC is proud to collaborate with our partners in making a public space for all Sherlock Holmes fans to enjoy” said TTC Chair Jamaal Myers. “We will continue to look for ways to collaborate with the community as the Bloor-Yonge Capacity Improvements Project moves forward.”

“At the TTC, we know that public art plays a vital role -- it helps to beautify our stations, reduce graffiti and vandalism, and provides an opportunity for communities to tell their stories,” said TTC Interim CEO Greg Percy. “We are pleased to support this mural, and I want to extend my gratitude to the artists who made this project come to life.”

The recently completed phase two of the project was led by Toronto-based artists PHADE, SKAM, and JETR. The mural, rendered in a Victorian/Edwardian style, conjures the stormy streets of 19th-century London. The centre of the mural features old English style lettering of "Sherlock Holmes Walk," filled with silver, outlined in black, and accented with vibrant highlights.

The TTC’s Bloor-Yonge Station Capacity Improvements project will expand and rehabilitate the existing subway station to improve efficiency and capacity and reduce crowding during rush hours. More information can be found at www.ttc.ca/blooryonge.

The City of Toronto’s StreetARToronto (StART) is an initiative includes a suite of innovative city-building programs intentionally designed to showcase, celebrate and support street, mural and graffiti artists and art throughout Toronto. More information about StreetARToronto, including a map of street, mural and graffiti art is available at https://www.streetartoronto.ca/.