This cool mural running alongside the Toronto Reference Library begins at Yonge Street, where it very clearly announces Sherlock Holmes Walk.
However, having had entered from an alley, it’s presented how I saw it, backwards.
Various artists worked on this terrific mural, which is coated in a weather proof clear plastic/acrylic. It also makes tagging cleanable.
Unfortunately, it’s like shooting in a mirror, as you can see from the cement tile walk, car, buildings, windows, etc. in the shot. Holmes’ head, above these, is actually a close up where my body blocked all light. Find it in the second slide?
I did what I could to minimize the reflections: shooting on a very cloudy day, closing the aperture amap, shooting on angles and mini touch ups in post.
This is one of my 2 faves. It’s actually a lighter sepia, but without closing the aperture, it was also a lovely shot of the library’s windows and denizens.
My other Fave
Stunning in real life. As you can see, like shooting in a mirror. Yet, in real life, you don’t notice all the reflecting.
There were 2 more paintings by Poser and Old Hues, but they are very dark, and I just was not able to capture them decently.
Pics taken by Resa – November 24, 2025
Toronto, Canada
The artists names are under the pics
AND
A shout out to MISTY the cat, whose name is an “ER” short of MYSTERY. Her human, Dave Astor on Literature writes “Short essays about novels and other fictional works”.
PS: Check your SPAM Folder regularly!
Graffiti Lux Art & More 
Wow! This was an adventure! I love the Sherlock and the Wolf- but the whole presentation was awesome! Thank you again, Resa for taking me along.
You are so welcome, Violet!
I just love finding and sharing art, so you coming along makes my day. Thank you!
Nice to see some activity again on this blog. I agree with Vi qiite an adventure and some of those styles are inspiring
Thanks Matt … yes, I love it here, but life has been beyond hectic. I believe things are calming down now.
It sure is a wonderful colab mural, and I’m thrilled you got to see it.
Imagine how lifeless this world would be without these colorful artists. Great post! Have an awesome weekend.
I agree, Eunice. A world without art seems like a world without flowers and birds and Brady (and cats).
Have the best time! x
This art is fantastic, Resa! With apologies to Dr. Watson, the only other thing Sherlock Holmes Walk needs is to be near an…”elementary” school. 🙂
And thanks so much for the mention of Misty the cat and my blog! Very appreciated!
OUCH! 😂
Yes, an elementary observation, Dave.
It was a fun mural, and I kept thinking … Misty-ery. Funny how the cats of all my blog pals make an impression on me. I must be a cat lady.
Welcome!
Being a cat person is the way to go, Resa! 🙂
I agree 100%
MEOW! 😻
🙂
Wow–this is a fabulous walk, Resa. I know you’re very concerned about the photo quality, but I think we still were able to savor the flavor of this wonderful mural-way. I was struck by the one by Melika Saeeda–though all of them are wonderful. I’m sure it’s different to see them up close and in person. What a wonderful project!
Thank you, Merril!
Yes, Melika Saeeda’s piece is quite unique. I adore it.
I don’t blame the venues that host these larger murals for coating them. It makes sense, and I will always do my best taking the pics.
It really is a fab project. I’m so excited to see what gets done this summer. In the meantime, my photo files are bursting with art.
what a find! ths is an amazing installation –
Agree, Beth! So happy you got to see it.
What a great walk. I love the Hound of the Baskervilles with Sherlock. All the artwork is fabulous, and your photos are superb.
Thanks about the pics, Tim! I did my best.
It’s a fab mural and I was all a-tither when I found it.
I love the Hound of the Baskervilles with Sherlock, too! xx
This walk along the Sherlock Holmes Walk was fabulous!
A heartfelt thank you for bringing me with you, dear Resa.
Oh , you are so welcome Luisa! It’s my joy to share the art I find, and this was definitely a special mural. ❦🎨❦
Sending a big hug 🤗
How very cool is this, Sorceress? Very. Guess I didn’t happen to walk near it when I was there in April.
Considering the situation, you managed more than well to capture these gorgeous works of art.
Only complaint is your choice of colour for the artists names under the pics. Very hard to read 😉
xoxoxoxoxoxo
It’s right downtown, near Yonge and Bloor.
Still downtown is not as seemingly large as it once felt. Online shopping has forced a lot of changes, which I’m watching here in real time.
Also…NOT HAPPY about what the city has turned Yonge and Dundas into. UCH/YUCK. “They” think we need to be a mini Times Square. We just need to be Canada.
Complaint!!??! Whyyyyyoouuuu… ⚡️💥 just kidding.
Yes, the credits are faint. I don’t like making captions under pics, I find it clutters the post. BUT, I understand, and will make them darker next time.
xoxoxo⚡️💥xoxoxo
I guess in all my walking around, I just didn’t end up there!
Yeah, I don’t know why they feel the need to be anything like any other bloody country. Especially the U.S.
Not a true complaint 😉
No, no, don’t change a thing! You do you. I can still see them.
xoxoxo 🧚♀️🪄xoxoxo
Did you get to see any art in you walking around?
If “he” did anything good fpr Canada, it’s make us embrace our own identity more fully.
LOVE ya!
xoxoxo⚡️💥xoxoxo
Yes, I did!
And yes, let’s give him that.
LOVE YA back!
xoxoxo 🧚♀️🪄xoxoxo
xoxoxoxoxo
💫✨ʁɞşα✨💫
⬻𓂀☆♡ 🎀 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑣𝑦 🎀 ♡☆𓂀⤖
—·∞·⌖·⊙·✛·∞·—
Yeah!
It is very 🎀 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑣𝑦 🎀 mural!
❦🎼❦
Thank you 𝐆𝒓𝑨𝕳𝔸𝙼 !!
What a fun and diverse mural collection. Thanks Resa!
Yes, it is diverse. thank you, Brad! 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑣𝑦
Far out. 😃
Oh, simply splendiferous! Resa, thank you. I love the Sherlock stories, and most of the TV/movie versions too. It must have been a giggle-worthy delight to stumble upon these amazing murals. The London skyline as a crown is a brilliant idea. I love that I can see the street-life reflected in that one mural. To me, that makes it 100 times better. Big hugs.
Agree, Sherlock Holmes is fab. Watson is a fun bonus.
It was more shriek giggle-worthy, as I cannot control my excitement when I find art.
Agree about the crown. EGR is one of the first street artists whose art I fell in love with, many years ago.
The reflections… well, yes, they are a lot of fun.
I am saving up pics for a post on just reflected art, or reflections in art. One day!
HUGS!!
Another amazing find and a brilliant collaboration by the artists involved. I too like the Hound images as I have a bit of a claim to fame because of Hound of the Baskervilles. When I was 8 years old I read that novel at school. It was also the centenary of the opening of my school so a reporter and photographer from the local newspaper visited and did an article. Well it was just my luck that the photo they used in print had me in it and the reporter noted the book I was reading with the quote “School celebrates 100th anniversary….but isn’t reading Hound of the Baskervilles a bit advanced for kids this age?” I’ve loved that tail ever since.
HotB is a great tale. So is yours.
Thanks Tyeth!
I’m thrilled you got to see this wonderful mural.
Ok, that was fabulous. Loved all of it. The women in sepia are gorgeous and I liked the Sherlock movie with Robert Downy Jr. The murals are outstanding and you did a great job capturing them. ❤️
So the game was afoot on foot. 😉
Resa, these murals are extraordinary. What immediately struck me was how perfectly Sherlock Holmes belongs in mural form because Holmes himself is built from fragments, clues, shadows, observation, and interpretation. Even the reflections you mention almost seem appropriate to the subject. Nothing is ever entirely straightforward in a Sherlock Holmes mystery.
I was very interested in the technical challenge of photographing the mural. The reflections from the glass and surrounding city create an interesting effect where modern Toronto almost becomes layered into the artwork itself. It feels a little like Holmes existing between fiction and reality. And your favourite sepia-toned images are wonderful. It has that Victorian atmosphere that fits Holmes so beautifully, while still feeling contemporary because of the urban reflections woven through it.
Great photography, Resa. The art is terrific but I know how hard it is to do the photos with glare and glass-like surfaces.