Art lovers take note as the Town of Osoyoos has continued to add splashes of colour to its walls with its growing network of murals.
From beating hearts to quail, and from Bugs Bunny to water skiers, here is a guide to the vibrant murals of Osoyoos for you to discover during your stay!
74TH AVE, JUST WEST OF HIGHWAY 3, DOWNTOWN OSOYOOS
This iconic town mural, located on the side of Pioneer Car Wash, has become a staple piece of art in Osoyoos. Visible from Highway 3, many locals and tourists alike will be spotted taking photos in front of this marquee mural that bears the town’s name and many of its popular activities.
Painted by locally-based artist Mavik in 2021, the vintage styling and very Osoyoos-specific imagery contained in each of the letters beautifully capture the sun-soaked vibes of this beachside resort town.
85TH STREET, BETWEEN MAIN ST AND 78TH AVE, DOWNTOWN OSOYOOS
This mural was unveiled in late November 2021 as a commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of Osoyoos, from 1946-2021. You can find it along the back side of the Field’s building, accessed via the 85th Street plaza.
As a cultural montage of the town’s history, the artwork was designed to incorporate the First Nations, Portuguese, and Indo-Canadian communities that have helped Osoyoos grow, as well as the French-Canadian and Hispanic seasonal workers who play a huge role in the harvest each year. The postcards also showcase the landscape of the region with its many orchards, vineyards, mountains, and lakes.
The postcards mural was an initiative by the Rotary Club of Osoyoos, in partnership with Wide Arts National Association, and painted by Okanagan-based artist Endrené Shepherd.
Goodman Park
This mural located at Goodman Park was a commissioned piece painted by local artists Sharon Leonard and Nancy Gray, with the paint sponsored by The Town of Osoyoos. It depicts the agricultural history as well as the local fauna of Osoyoos. You can spot quail, rattlesnakes, burrowing owls, Zucca melons, grapevines, the historic Haynes homestead, and sw̓iw̓s Provincial Park with a scenic depiction of the lake and rolling hills of Osoyoos!
NEEDS GYM AT CORNER OF 85TH STREET AND 78TH AVE
Needs Gym has added a splash of colour to one of the outer walls of their facility and you might recognize some of the faces that grace the mural.
Everyone’s favourite Looney Tunes have come out to play — painted into the beach landscape of Osoyoos. From a sun-tanning Tweety Bird to a jet-skiing Wile E. Coyote, this is a fun-loving mural that is worth a stop!
85TH STREET & 78TH AVE, DOWNTOWN OSOYOOS
The Royal Canadian Legion Number 173 hall is a beautiful 1940s-era art deco building, and its previously white & blue facade made a perfect canvas for a tribute to our nation’s veterans. Painted by locally-based artist Mavik in September 2021, in honour of the poppy’s 100th anniversary, the front and sides of the hall are now a bold and beautiful reminder of those who served Canada in times of war, military conflict, and peace.
SPARTAN DRIVE, BETWEEN MAIN ST & 78TH AVE
This wall formerly consisted of a small mural that featured angel wings, but has since been painted over and expanded.
It now features a much larger piece from Mavik that highlights a beating heart, with the phrase “In times of darkness, listen to your heart.”
This beautiful imagery and message can be found just off Spartan Drive on the side of Art Therapy.
CORNER OF 85TH STREET AND 74A AVENUE
If exploring the aisles of the iconic Home Hardware in Osoyoos wasn’t enough, you now have a reason to venture behind the store to check out some of the beautiful artwork that has been added to the facility.
Painted during the summer and fall of 2022, there are now three unique pieces that brighten up the space behind the store. Art lovers will find a cherry red 50’s truck — with whitewall tires and a branded cargo bed — carrying two adorable dogs in one piece, a two-storey sunflower in a second piece and a third featuring colourful flowers, butterflies and birds.
This trio of art pieces in conjunction with Home Hardware were also painted by local artist Mavik.
74A AVENUE, BETWEEN MAIN STREET AND 85TH STREET
Mavik continues to leave his stunning mark all over this Town with another beautiful piece outside of Heaven on Earth Total Body Care & Wellness. This mural is located out the spa’s back entrance and sends the perfect vibes of relaxation, spiritual healing and rejuvenation.
7214 97TH STREET AT SESSIONS OUTDOOR SPORTS
There are many reasons to visit Sessions Outdoor Sports, a new adventure store in Osoyoos this summer, but one of them is certainly the vibrant outer walls.
Located just a stone’s throw away from the downtown core, it is hard to miss this colourful building when driving along 97th Street, painted by local artist Alexander Lopez. The storefront features colourful paintings of some of the adventure activities that Sessions specializes in including running, hiking, biking and pickleball.
68TH AVE & 85TH STREET, OSOYOOS
The brightly coloured Sonora Community Centre is a centrepiece for the community in more ways than one.
The Osoyoos Portuguese Commemorative Mural was unveiled on the front of the Sonora Community Centre in 2009 as a monument to the local Portuguese families and their contribution to the economic growth and development of Osoyoos and the South Okanagan. Made up of 400 tiles, the mural was created by local artists Katie Foster and George Mocci, and depicts Portuguese orchard workers picking apples in their Osoyoos orchard.
The mural project was initiated by the Osoyoos Arts Council to commemorate and celebrate these entrepreneurs, and was incidentally a bit of a pioneer itself, coming in at the forefront of the mural scene in Osoyoos.
7506 MAIN STREET, OSOYOOS
Alexander Lopez has also added his signature work to the courtyard of the Richter Pass Beach Resort.
This mural, added ahead of the 2023 season, brings some added flavour and pizzaz to the courtyard, with artwork that contains several nods to the beach season and surrounding area.
This includes ice cream, sunglasses, cactus, grapes and even a subtle unicorn floaty.
