What My Colombian Roots Bring to My Work as a Toronto Mural Artist
Andreacataro is sitting in front of a colourful mural inspired by her Colombian roots in Toronto, accompanied by members of North York Arts
When people see my murals in Toronto, they often notice the colour first. The tropical plants. The movement. The vibrancy. What they may not immediately see is where those visual instincts come from.
I was born in Colombia. I grew up surrounded by lush landscapes, layered narratives, and a culture that expresses itself boldly through music, language, and art. Moving through life as a Colombian and later as a Latina Canadian shaped not only how I see the world but also how I create within it.
Working as a mural artist in Toronto means carrying those roots with me into a completely different climate, both literally and culturally.
Colour as Memory
Colour in my work is not decorative. It is memory. It is the Andes, the jungle and the coast. It is the feeling of humidity in the air, dense greenery, and the visual rhythm of markets and neighbourhood streets.
In Toronto's urban landscape, especially during long winters, colour can shift how a space feels. It can soften concrete. It can interrupt grey. It can create warmth where there is none.
That impulse comes from somewhere very personal.
Close up of tropical plant details in a Toronto mural reflecting Colombian heritage
Plants as Story
The plants that appear in my murals are not random. They are symbols of land, migration, and continuity. Tropical leaves painted onto brick walls in Toronto carry a quiet dialogue between where I come from and where I live now.
They are reminders that identity travels. That culture does not disappear when you move. It adapts.
Navigating Two Cultural Landscapes
Creating public art in Toronto as a Colombian, Latina Canadian artist involves constant translation, not of language, but of context.
How do you honour where you come from while contributing meaningfully to the city you live in? How do you avoid becoming a visual stereotype while remaining rooted?
These questions shape my design process as much as colour palettes or composition.
Public mural by Andreacataro in a Toronto urban neighbourhood setting
Adding to the City's Visual Language
Toronto is layered and complex. Its neighbourhoods bear witness to migration, resilience, and reinvention. My work does not aim to overwrite that. It aims to add to it. If you are exploring a mural project in Toronto and wondering what to look for in an artist, I have also written a guide on choosing the right mural artists for your project.
When I paint murals in Toronto, I contribute to the city's evolving visual language. I am offering a perspective shaped by Colombia, shaped by diaspora, and shaped by living here now.
Why This Matters in Public Art
Public art is not just about beautification. It reflects who belongs in a space. When culturally rooted perspectives are visible on walls, it expands the narrative of who gets to shape the city.
For me, being a Toronto mural artist means showing up fully. Not diluting where I come from. Not flattening my references, but allowing both landscapes to coexist in my work.
That coexistence is where my murals live. And it is what I continue to bring to every wall I paint in Toronto. I have written more about why culturally rooted public art matters in Toronto and how it shapes belonging across the city.