Back to Search
Patios without art are great, but patios with art are even better. Alexandra from the BIA here again, and if you agree with that last sentiment, you’ll want to read on!
You may have noticed that the patios in DTK look a little more lively this year - this is thanks to the brand new Art on the Edge installation brought to you by the DTK BIA and businesses of downtown Kitchener. 17 patios in DTK have been ornamented with art on panels facing the roadside, bringing a little bit more colour to your walks downtown this summer. Select local artists created the collection in a variety of styles and mediums, which were then finished with a weatherproof sealant and fixed to the patio fencing, giving each patio its unique look and feel.
Want to check them all out? Read on for installation locations, a photo of the art and artist backgrounds. We recommend stopping for a snack or drink at some of the spots below as well - check out our DTK patio guide for more information about all the patios in DTK. Let’s get into it!
| Location: Tamasha (45 King St W) |
"Art is my life and I strive to bring life to my art."
Artist: Ralf Wall • @raflar_the_artist
I have always pursued artistic expression my whole life. As a young child drawing animals and fantastic beasts to learning to play the piano. Eventually this formalized in college, learning both commercial and fine arts. I have balanced this throughout my career being both a graphic designer as well as a painter, muralist and instructor of the arts. Most of my time is currently spent at the Homer Watson House & Gallery, promoting the legacy of this beloved Canadian Landscape Artist, instructing there and managing all graphical marketing content. I spend the rest of my time painting in the great outdoors, participating in art festivals and even leading an art safari to Kenya. Art is my life and I strive to bring life to my art.
| Location: Crafty Ramen (276 King St W) |
| Location: The Real Deal (352 King St W) |
Hello! My name is Moumita and I am an artist based in Ontario, Canada. I love painting in watercolours, pastels, acrylics and inks and on just about any surface! I have never studied art professionally and I am constantly learning from my peers and predecessors. Though I had always been drawn to art, I had never thought of art as a career. But my love for art remained rooted deep inside me. In 2015, I moved to the city of Waterloo in Ontario from India. I started to pursue art in my spare time as I juggled my life as a new immigrant to Canada, raising a family and working as a consumer insights professional. Over time, I found that I was making more and more art and what was once a hobby now took up a significant part of my life. I learnt that sharing my love for art through teaching was very fulfilling and started teaching children and adults. I find happiness in every opportunity to create art be it for a live painting event or an exhibition or my workshops and classes. I seek to encourage others in their creative pursuits and share the joy of creating. While you are here, please take a look at my art and learn more about me!
| Location: Grand Trunk Saloon (87 King St W) |
Artist: Julian van Mossel-Forrester • @julianvmf
"Connecting with people and celebrating life – that is what my art is about. I tend to work with paint in a spontaneous and playful manner, with an adventurous use of colour."
| Luminous Reflections |
| Location: Mark’s Caribbean Kitchen (20 King St E) |
Artist: Roslyn Ramsay • @roslynramsay
Roslyn Ramsay creates visually compelling and emotionally engaging artwork with her focus on light interactions, motion and the energy of water. As a visual artist, born in Toronto, she maintains her studio in Kitchener Ontario. Her inspiration flows from experiences living on lakes in northern Ontario and Quebec and her travel experiences throughout North America with recent travel to Paris, France. The Doon School of Fine Arts (now the Homer Watson Gallery) in Kitchener was her first experience in watercolour as a teenager. Living in northern Ontario she studied oil and acrylic painting, printmaking, and watercolour through the Ontario Art Gallery mentorship program. She pursued Graphic Design studies at Canadore College including photography, ceramics and colour theory. Her commissioned paintings and portraits are held in private and corporate collections throughout Canada and the US.
In Luminous Reflections, I focused on light, motion and the energy of water in acrylic on four wood panels. I intuitively painted spontaneous abstract images of reflected light and colour on water. The black background elevates the colour contrast and emphasizes the linear motion of water and wave action. The concept of Quantum Entanglement, the idea that everything is connected, influences my work and suggests possibilities beyond what we immediately see. I strive to retain this transitional energy in my painting through emotive line and brushwork, exploring water’s shifting perceptions of reality.
| Location: Fat Bastard Burrito / Slices Restaurant (300 King St W)
|
Artist: Esther Slevinsky • @esther.slevinsky
Esther Slevinsky is an acrylic painter based in Waterloo, Ontario. In 2006 she graduated from ACAD (Alberta University for the Arts) with a Bdes in Graphic Design and Illustration. She worked as a mural artist on commercial and residential projects for two decades before transitioning to painting on canvas. Her work has been exhibited in group and solo exhibitions throughout Ontario, including a solo show entitled Homebody at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts in March 2020. Esther’s installation piece Chips and Cancer was part the CAFKA.23 Biennial in Waterloo Region.
For the DTK mural panel project I took the opportunity to merge my two past lives: creating public murals and pet portraits. Since the panel size is not too large, I wanted to keep the images graphic and high contrast, and keep the furry friends (and pigeons) the focus by using spot colour. I hope it inspires people to get out for a walk with their furry friends!
"While painting these panels I was also thinking of the connection of neighbours and community – all working in harmony."
Artist: Cathy Amos • @cathy.amos
Cathy Amos is a visual artist painting in acrylics. She follows her intuition and creates mostly representational work in rich and vibrant colours. Drawing on her past quilting experience, she includes patterns and shapes making her work exciting and joyful. Still life and landscapes are favourite subjects and inspiration is found by looking and then looking again. Cathy is an artist with The Art District Gallery and shows regularly online. She also enters exhibits and juried shows.
My concept for The Blue Ribbon project was 'connection'. It was created to connect all eight panels even though the panels would be spaced apart. The stylized and organic ribbon design flows as though caught in a breeze. The additional colours pop against the black background making this a whimsical and fun addition to patio season. While painting these panels I was also thinking of the connection of neighbours and community – all working in harmony.
| An Evening Out |
| Location: Ace Shawarma (82 King St W) |
"My path wasn’t linear. I studied graphic design, raised a family, and became a psychotherapist. Yet my heart remained tied to art."
Artist: Brigitte Huber • @brigittepaints
I’m a Kitchener artist and I love experimenting in art. I’ve been fascinated by plants, people, and open land since childhood and I developed an innate love for nature - something I want to share in my artworks. My path wasn’t linear. I studied graphic design, raised a family, and became a psychotherapist. Yet my heart remained tied to art. After retiring, I’ve embraced my true calling, dedicating myself to painting. I work in oil, watercolour, and mixed media.
In "An Evening Out", I aimed to convey the joy and thrill of an evening out – the urban glow, the dining experience, the social interactions. The backdrops are lively and colorful, and the individuals are gathered closely. A server sets a table. A family is placing their meal choices. Couples are relishing a romantic night together. Join them in their fun!
| Location: Big D’s Hot Chicken (85 King St W) |
| This series of artwork is inspired by the powerful symbolism of the dragon — a mythical creature that transcends cultures and generations. To me, the dragon represents imagination, transformation, and inner strength. I wanted to capture its dynamic energy and bring it to life in a way that invites everyone to connect with their own sense of wonder and creativity. Through bold colours, flowing lines, and expressive forms, each piece explores the balance between power and playfulness. Whether seen as a guardian, a dreamer, or a force of nature, the dragon becomes a reflection of our own emotions and limitless potential. I hope this work sparks curiosity and joy, reminding us all of the magic that still lives in our imagination. |
| Location: Meltwich (48 King St W) |
|
This collection of artworks is inspired by the elemental forces that many Asian cultures view as essential to achieving balance in life. The elements — Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind — are believed to influence not only the natural world, but also the energy within our bodies, emotions, and spirit. Through this work, I explore how these elements connect us to ourselves, to one another, and to the world around us. Each piece embodies a distinct quality of these forces — grounding, flow, transformation, movement, and strength — inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and reconnect with their own inner harmony. Using colour, form, and rhythm, I aim to create a visual meditation — a gentle reminder that balance begins within and radiates outward. This series is a celebration of nature’s wisdom and the enduring cultural traditions that honour the deep connection between human life and the natural world. |
"She believes that all art is beautiful, but its true essence lies in its ability to inspire joy and bridge the gap between art and the community."
Artist: Aoe Girard • @aoespencilAoe Girard is an artist, illustrator, and graphic designer driven by a passion for creating art that brings happiness and connects people with society. She believes that all art is beautiful, but its true essence lies in its ability to inspire joy and bridge the gap between art and the community.
Aoe's work spans a variety of media, including traditional techniques such as pencil, colored pencil, marker, watercolour, oil, acrylic, pastel, and ink, as well as digital media. Her illustrations often explore the beauty of nature, featuring themes of children, women, flowers, trees, and animals. Her art has been published in children's picture books, magazines, and product designs. In addition to illustration, Aoe creates paintings using watercolour, acrylic, and oil, which have been exhibited in local art galleries, restaurants, cafes, and outdoor venues.
| Location: Grand Surf Lounge (87 Ontario St S) |
| Location: KW Burger Company (281 King St W) |
Installation artist, cartoonist, printmaker, painter and more. Always working on something new.
| Night Paddle |
| Location: odd duck wine and provisions (93 Ontario St S) |
"His work explores concepts like light, consciousness, and human visual perception."
Artist: Alan Zeberek • @alan.zeberek
Alan is a multidisciplinary artist living in Kitchener, Ontario. His artistic practices primarily involve the use of acrylic paint, spray paint, as well as photo and video. His work explores concepts like light, consciousness, and human visual perception. Alan has a BFA from the University of Waterloo and has exhibited mural work in Waterloo, including the University of Waterloo campus.
“Night Paddle” to put it simply, this mural is about ducks. When we think of ducks common to our region, the mallard usually comes to mind. However, there are various duck species that exist around us, some of which may seem “odd” at first glance. This mural spotlights the mascot of Odd Duck Wine & Provisions, as well as several other ducks, some of which inhabit our Northern lands. The aesthetic of the work is paralleled with the identity of its neighbouring business.
"Annette’s subjects, often bees and flora, emerge with complexity and edge as a result of her unique technique of using wax in her oil painting."
Artist: Annette Kraft van Ermel • @kraftvanermel.art
Annette Kraft van Ermelis an award-winning Canadian artist based in Waterloo, Ontario. Annette received her BFA from York University in Toronto and paints full-time from her studio in Kitchener. Annette’s subjects, often bees and flora, emerge with complexity and edge as a result of her unique technique of using wax in her oil painting. Charcoal drawings are enveloped in wax and then emerge through layers of oil paint.
| Location: La Cucina (320 King St W) |
"I’m passionate about exploring surrealism, abstraction, and contemporary critique through my art."
Artist: Faki Kuano • @giftedfaki
Hi, I’m Faki Kuano, also known as GiftedFaki. I’m a self-taught artist from South Sudan, now based in Ontario, and I’m passionate about exploring surrealism, abstraction, and contemporary critique through my art. Over the years, I’ve sold over 100 original pieces, collaborated with organizations like KWFamous and Bring on the Sunshine, and even created a sidewalk mural for Downtown Kitchener’s Palette X Palette event.
| The Swim Toward Us |
| Location: TWH Social (1 King St W) |
"Through shifting forms and movement, the piece reflects transformation. Figures drift and merge, symbolizing how we evolve—both individually and collectively—toward a sense of community."
Artist: Jessica Penney • @jessica_penney_art
Jessica Penney is a figurative artist whose work teeters between abstraction and representation. Her practice explores how we navigate emotion through use of form, gesture & repetition. Her work invites reflection, using ambiguity and movement to evoke the complexity of human experience. Jessica studied at Ontario College of Art and Design, as well as L’École des Beaux Arts de St. Etienne, in France. She lives and works in the Waterloo region with her husband Stephen, and their two very active boys.
We encourage you to take a walk down King St and check out all the installations in person, as the images above only show one portion of the panels (up to 10 per patio) - Access the Google Map to all the above installations here. Thank you for supporting downtown and local artists!
Alexandra
Contact Us