Raymond standing outside a window. Inside the window there are framed artworks on the wall and text that says "Downtown Vibrancy", with the Nina's logo.
Back to blog

Edmonton Downtown Vibrancy Exhibition

This summer artists from the Nina celebrated everything they love about downtown Edmonton with a special exhibition in our City Centre Mall window gallery. Eleven different artists were featured in the eclectic display, which included a variety of artistic mediums, from drawings to ceramic tile mosaics.

Some artists were interested in the architecture of downtown Edmonton, depicting the Alberta Legislature Building, the neon sign museum, the city skyline, and the Walterdale Bridge. Many took pride in the city’s sports teams and chose to make art to cheer on the Edmonton Oilers. Aaron Harvey combined both these themes in his drawings of Rogers Place and Telus Field.

Aba Garbrah loves Downtown Edmonton for its festivals and people. She chose to draw performers at Africarnival and made a painting of herself at ATB Place on Jasper Avenue where she has a mural installation.

Raymond Keung has lived in many different cities before settling down in Edmonton. He says he loves how easy it is to walk around and take transit in Edmonton, and he loves eating at restaurants in Chinatown. His painting of the old Harbin Gate was included in the Downtown Vibrancy exhibition as well as in the Edmonton Chinese Writers Club’s book, Edmonton Heritage Stories.

If you’re heading to downtown Edmonton, keep an eye out for artwork by Nina artists! You can see rotating exhibitions from the Nina Collective in our City Centre Mall window gallery on the corner of 100 Street and 102A Avenue throughout the year. A curated selection or original artwork and merchandise is available at the Art Gallery of Alberta gift shop and the Edmonton Arts Council Shop. ATB Place on Jasper Avenue has a large vinyl mural by Desiree McCook that can be seen from outside in their second floor windows. Head downstairs to the food court where you can find two original murals by Aba Garbrah and Mark Traficante, as well as two vinyl murals by Jamie Laventure and two by Raymond Keung.

Coloured pencil drawing of the white Walterdale Bridge in front of multi coloured buildings of downtown Edmonton

Walterdale Bridge by Levi Perreault

Coloured pencil drawing of two performers wearing cultural outfits at Churchill Square. You can see the distinctly shaped City Hall and Art Gallery of Alberta buildings in the background.

Africarnival by Aba Garbrah

Coloured pencil drawing of the downtown Edmonton skyline at sunset. The black buildings are reflected beneath them, and hand lettering at the top of the image says EDMONTON Canada

Edmonton Downtown by Zack Stewart-Kruize

Stylized coloured pencil drawing of the Edmonton River Valley with two cars on the Walterdale Bridge and the city skyline. Aaron has written the names of different sports venues almost like a map, including Rogers Place, Kinsmen Field House, and the baseball diamond.

Downtown Edmonton by Aaron Harvey

Thank you to the City of Edmonton for supporting this project.

City of Edmonton logo