Before Yorkville Murals Festival (YVM) officially opens Aug 23-24, Toronto-based artist birdO will be painting a giant Blue Jay live atop the Cumberland Parkade, transforming 26,000 sq ft of rooftop into Toronto’s most famous bird, the Blue Jay.
The Toronto Blue Jays are back on top of the American League East for the first time since 2016, and to mark the moment, birdO and YVM are bringing the team’s iconic symbol to the streets as a bold tribute to what’s ahead.
The live mural painting will take place over two days from August 1–2, marking the second collaboration between Yorkville Murals Festival and birdO on what will once again be Toronto’s largest mural.
In 2020, birdO created C-HAWK, a monumental seahorse atop the Cumberland Parkade, which coincided with YVM’s first-ever block party. Five years later, the rooftop is getting a bold refresh, this time featuring a powerful tribute to Toronto’s beloved sports bird.
Commissioned in partnership with American Express Local Gems, the mural marks the kickoff to YVM’s highly anticipated sixth edition, running August 23–24. This year’s festival embraces the theme “No Empty Spaces” – a call to reimagine overlooked corners of the city as canvases for creativity. birdO’s rooftop transformation perfectly embodies that vision, turning concrete into culture.
The festival will unveil five new murals, including birdO’s, alongside fashion-forward activations, a headline rooftop set by Kaskade, and a weekend of immersive cultural programming.
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