2026 Canoe Mural Project: Street Art Edition
On Display in River Mill Park all Summer
Where street art meets paddle culture!
Hull Ya! The 2026 Canoe Mural Project: Street Art Edition brings together artists to transform real canoes into bold, street-art-inspired works influenced by the iconic landscape paintings of Tom Thomson.
Each canoe becomes a three-dimensional canvas, reinterpreting this iconic painter’s work to create truly unique murals that reflect the culture, landscapes, and stories of the local area. During Canada Day festivities in downtown Huntsville, these canoes will be painted live—giving the public a front-row seat to the creative process as the artworks come to life.
The finished works will be exhibited at River Mill Park in downtown Huntsville throughout the summer of 2026, inviting residents and visitors to explore the area while celebrating creativity, local identity, and Canada’s enduring canoe heritage.Meet the Artists
Following an open call that attracted 45 submissions, seven artists were selected to participate in this year's project:
Shalak – Sunset Clouds
Bruno Smoky – Piece to be announced
Anthony Haley – In The Northland
Mique Michelle – Chill November
Miguel Albino – Decorative Panel (III)
Dominic Laporte – Poplars by the Lake (1916)
Ray Vidal – Red Leaves (1914)
SPONSOR
Thank you to our generous sponsor
Algonquin Outfitters
ARTIST BIOS
Shalak is a Canadian-Chilean visual artist dedicated to painting, muralism, spray paint urban art, and canvas art. For over a decade, she has manifested her artistic expression on walls across the world. Shalak has participated in numerous artistic projects and exhibitions in Canada, Chile, Brazil, UK, Holland, Germany, Sweden, Senegal, Palestine, Jordan, Israel, Belgium, Spain, Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico, USA, Paraguay, and the Dominican Republic. She is a co-founder and co-director of the international art collectives “Clandestinos”, the “Bruxas”, and the “Essencia Art Collective”.
Bruno Smoky - The artist Bruno , also known as "Smoky", dedicated his life to visual art. Since childhood, drawing and creativity was always part of his daily routine. In 2004, he began painting on walls with spray paint in Brasilandia where he grew up, a precarious neighborhood of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Smoky has gained international and professional recognition through his artistic journeys though out Brazil, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Argentina,Paraguay,Sweden,USA, Germany, Nederlands, England and Canada. He is always in search of artistic exchanges, learning and teaching art is part of his life style. He has worked in various organizations and NGOs teaching the history of graffiti and its role in society to at risk youth. He is the coordinator for the Essencia Arts Collective, and a founding member of the Clandestinos Crew. Recently, Smoky has moved to Toronto, Canada together with his wife and artistic collaborator, Shalak, and continues his art practice.
Anthony Haley is a muralist, portrait artist, illustrator and live painter based out of Hamilton with a strong connection to Huntsville. I have had the pleasure of having been featured in galleries and museums across Ontario, Vancouver and Wisconsin, USA. I've had the chance to have my art in film, featured in episodes of "Zack Bagan's Haunted Museum", and in the film "My Fake Boyfriend" on Amazon TV.
Mique Michelle is a Proud Franco-Ontarian woman from West Nipissing, Mique brings her colourful northern touch to walls all around the world styled with her local edible and medicinal plants, garnished with creatures of the north, Mique’s murals can always be used as tools for alternative education.Mique’s goals are to ensure that we all have access to the tools necessary to voice our messages and advocate for our rights. Mique’s murals have that northern touch. Host of the television show #couleursdunord on TFO, Mique is always ready to meet new communities and collaborate on their walls.
Miguel “El Yunk” Albino (1982) is a visual artist born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. With over two decades painting, his roots come straight from graffiti and the streets, shaped by the fast pace of the city and the realities of growing up in a developing country. His work moves between the chaos of urban walls and a deep connection to the natural world, where street textures meet tropical biodiversity through bold colour, loose brushwork, paint drips, and animal imagery. He has spent years painting large-scale murals, working on commissions for companies, TV productions, and public spaces across Venezuela.
Dominic Laporte is an award-winning muralist and illustrator working at the intersection of portraiture, the natural world, and community heritage. As co-founder of DRIFT Mural Co. with partner Anaïs Labrèque, he creates large-scale, place-based murals rooted in expressive realism. His bold, layered style blends traditional painting with contemporary influences, using transparency, gesture, and vibrant colour to build depth and movement. Drawing on local narratives and environmental themes, his work responds directly to place—balancing strong visual impact with quieter moments of discovery. Dom has completed over 120 murals worldwide for clients including the Royal Canadian Navy, Parks Canada and Lexus.
Ray Vidal is an award winning multidisciplinary artist, muralist, and arts educator based in Toronto, Canada. With 10 years working experience as a community arts educator and 6 years as a freelance muralist. He is dedicated to fostering a more connected community through accessible arts programming, workshops, mentorships, and mural & public art initiatives. Focusing on transforming overlooked spaces into bold, community-driven public art that generate community impact and placemaking. Completing over 35 plus public art projects around Ontario, Calgary and California. Collaborating with clients such as LCBO, Google, TTC Subway, BMO Canada, Flap Canada, Peel Children's Aid Society, Bell Canada, Mount Sinai Hospital, City of Toronto, City of Mississauga, City of Pickering, Town of Oakville, Town of Tillsonburg and City of Yuba.