The Bentway, in collaboration with Exhibition Place, has announced a colossal public art project by Canadian artist Rebecca Munce premiering this October: Petal and Stone.
Rotating Series
The inaugural commission in a new “Gardiner Wallworks” rotating series, the artwork will be presented along a massive 10,000 sq. ft. concrete wall built below the Gardiner Expressway, at the threshold between Bentway Phase 1 and Exhibition Place. This location prominently faces northwards to Toronto’s busy rail corridor, the high-rises of Liberty Village, and active construction of the new Ontario Line subway.
“We are so proud to see Petal and Stone transform another stretch of the Gardiner into a new urban canvas,” says Ilana Altman, Co-Executive Director of The Bentway. “As The Expressway, Exhibition Place, and our city continue to evolve, we see this project as a powerful reflection of that transformation, a new storyboard. Rebecca Munce’s work doesn’t just beautify the space, it invites us to move through a place alive with stories, history, and imagination.”
Petal and Stone by Rebecca Munce
Petal and Stone reinterprets the Gardiner’s concrete wall as a veil between The Bentway and the historic gates of Exhibition Place. Munce’s design, infused with native flora and spirit is reminiscent of the majestic architecture of Exhibition Place and its historic arches, towers and spires. It is the artist’s first foray into public art and her first project at monumental scale.
“Having the opportunity to create a large-scale public work at this space, tucked beneath the Gardiner, felt like working with a threshold between two parts of the city,” says artist Rebecca Munce. “With Petal and Stone, I wanted to open it just enough for people to imagine what might be on the other side — a mix of history, movement, and the living patterns of the place.”
Thousands of rail passengers and Liberty Village residents can view the mural daily
The mural’s size makes it visible to thousands daily, from GO Train and VIA Rail passengers, Liberty Village residents, and pedestrians crossing beneath the Expressway. As visitors pass by, Petal and Stone creates a visual rhythm that mirrors the flow of the city above and below.
“For anyone riding the GO into the city, Exhibition Place marks their first impression of downtown Toronto, a signal of arrival into the city’s core,” says Don Boyle, CEO of Exhibition Place. “This art project offers a colourful welcome and invitation. We’re delighted to partner with The Bentway again to continue opening up our grounds to locals and visitors alike.”
Bold reimagining of the Gardiner Expressway
The project continues The Bentway’s bold reimagining of the Gardiner Expressway as a creative platform, and follows successful co-commissions with Exhibition Place from artists Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Striped Canary, and Jessica Thallman.
Petal and Stone is on view from October 2025 through 2027.
lead photo Canadian artist, Rebecca Munce premieres Petal and Stone, this October.
images supplied by The Bentway
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