Downtown Artworks

Back Alley Art Gallery

Learn more about the art in the heart of downtown. The best way to explore arts and culture in Kamloops is to take a stroll. We have galleries and outdoor art installations, and featured here, the wonderful Back Alley Art Gallery. 

We offer year-round guided tours that add details and hidden facts not included here. Book a tour for your small group of two or for your organization of any size. Prefer to self-guide? We've got that covered too!

#1. 219 Victoria Street

Italian City

Italian City, 2012. Ken Wells.
219 Victoria St.

This is an Italian architectural mural with a special point of view best seen from the alley. The arch way creates a window to an active scene. The theme of this mural is a meeting place. 

The Jaguar Gate

The Jaguar Gate, 2017. Alex Moir-Porteous.
223 Victoria St.

This depicts an Olmec/Inca temple site, whose ruins have become overgrown by the forest. Drawing inspiration from diverse cultures to add depth and breadth to the Alley Art Gallery.
#2. 223 Victoria Street
#3. 231 Victoria Street

Tuscan Villa

Tuscan Villa, 2011. Ken Wells. 
231 Victoria St.

The concept of this mural was to improve the overall look of the building with different focal points.

Shoe Window Display

Shoe Window Display. Janice Gurney. 
241 Victoria St.

This mural recreates the look and feel of a traditional shoe store. Commissioned by the owner, the Big Boot Inn.
#4. 241 Victoria Street
#5. 245 Victoria Street

Abstract

Abstract, Tricia Selmer. 
245 Victoria St.

This abstract mural is located on the back of the former Tricia Selmer Gallery now on Jardine’s Domaine.

Tricia Selmer’s works hang in public and private collections internationally. Locally, her artwork is proudly displayed in the Brownstone Restaurant and at the Plaza Hotel.

Lady and the Shoe

Lady and the Shoe, 2002. Alex Moir-Porteous.  
249 Victoria St.

The owner commissioned this one to combat graffiti. The whimsical “House in a Shoe’ is accompanied by a Bodhi Tree on the back of the Golden Buddha.
#6. 249 Victoria Street
(Golden Buddha/Kennell’s Shoes)
#7. 255 Victoria Street (Wild Cave Gift Shop)

Italian Villa Courtyard

Italian Villa Courtyard, 2011. Ken Wells.
255 Victoria St.

The flying angel bricks on top show the artist’s names. 
Fact: All brick pieces are individually painted.

Downtown Scene

Downtown Scene, 2010. Ken Wells.
263 Victoria St.

This piece incorporates unique activities in which you can partake within our beautiful city. It is meant to represent the 200 block of Victoria Street. 
#8. 263-265 Victoria Street. (Tenisci Piva)
#9. 258 Seymour Street

No Parking

No Parking, 2018. Kelly Wright. 
258 Seymour St.

This mural was designed with the community in mind and required their contribution during the KCBIA’s 2nd Back Alley Block Party. This mural took four weeks to complete.

Urban Art

Urban Art, 2000.
273 Victoria St.

This mural was done before the KCBIA’s mural program. If you look up, you will see a little Lego Mario Bros. who appeared one night out of the dark.
#10. 273 Victoria Street. (Kipp-Mallery)
#11. 301 Victoria Street

Homage to the Leland Hotel

Homage to the Leland Hotel, 2017. Evan Christian. 
301 Victoria St.

This mural was designed to celebrate the rich history that Kamloops offers. The building that stood here until 1980 was the Leland Hotel, which was built in 1905, but met its end in flames. 

The Winking Man

Winking Man, 2019. Zach Abney. 
322 Seymour St.

This recent mural was created by Zach Abney. It’s located on the side of Royal Lepage Kamloops Realty.  “The Winking Man” communicates wisdom that comes from age and experience, while the facial posture of the man recounts a sense of both wisdom and glee.
#12. 322 Seymour Street.
#13. 319 Victoria Street. (Blue Grotto)

Kuan Yin

12. Kuan Yin (Kwan Yin), 2011. Alex Moir-Porteus. 
319 Victoria St.


The art represents the owner’s interest in Buddhist culture. 
This wall was very heavily tagged by graffiti, so the owners were happy to have a mural created here.

Music in Venice

Music in Venice, 2013. Ken Wells. 
329 Victoria St.

This is a view of a side street in Venice, complete with the canal. The business and building owners are incorporated in the mural, they are standing on their patio.
#14. 329 Victoria Street. 
(Eyes International/House of Carmond)
#15. 347 Victoria Street.
 (Castles & Cottages)

Underwater Scene

Underwater Scene, 2012. Kelly Wright.
347 Victoria St.

The owner wanted a seaside-inspired fantasy visual. It was originally supposed to be just on the lower half of the wall, but the artist became so inspired that he kept going. It took about 6 weeks to complete. 

Marilyn

Marilyn, 2013. Evan Christian. 
350 Seymour St.

Tribute to the iconic Marilyn Monroe. This was our first mural of this genre, and it shows the amazing detail that is possible with a good spray paint artist. Christian has completed many commissioned murals within the City of Kamloops and elsewhere.
#16. 350 Seymour Street.
#17. 353 Victoria Street. (Far + Wide)

Italian Countryside

Italian Countryside, 2012. Ken Wells. 
353 Victoria St.

Kamloops has a large Italian community. The owner gave the artist a number of photos of Italy from which Ken created this work of art.

Wheel in the Sky

Wheel in the Sky, 2016. Alex Moir-Porteus. 
357 Victoria St.

Located behind Carlos O’Bryan’s, this mural features a carnival with a Ferris Wheel in the center, which also inspired the name of the mural. This festive scene represents the boisterous and jovial atmosphere of Carlos O’Bryan’s restaurant.
#18. 357 Victoria Street (Carlos O’Bryans)
#19. 220 - 4th Avenue

Saxophone Man

Saxophone Man, 2018. Zach Abney. 
220 4th Ave.

The Commodore Grand Café & Lounge opened in 1927 and is both a licensed restaurant by day and a club by night. The Commodore is known for their diverse range of music, from DJ’s that specialize in hip-hop and electro to playing soft rock and jazz throughout the week. The mural honours the jazz roots of the Commodore.

Bonjour la Francophonie

Bonjour la Francophonie, 2023. Turbo Bambi. 
260 4th Ave.

The mural depicts a vibrant celebration of Francophone culture, capturing the essence of diversity through a vivid array of colours. Turbo Bambi’s signature characters interact harmoniously, symbolizing unity with the French communities of British Columbia.
#20. 260 - 4th Avenue.
#21. 465 Victoria Street. (TNRD)

JuiceBox 1998

JuiceBox 1998, 2018. Robin Hodgson & Jack Morris. 
465 Victoria St.

This mural echoes the contemporary architecture of the TNRD building and honours the cutting-edge vision of the architects Peter Cardew and Nigel Baldwin. This mural took 5 days to complete. 1998 refers to the year the building was constructed.

Films On My Mind

Films on My Mind, 2019. Zach Abney, Assist Nancy Kuchta. 
503 Victoria St.

This mural was completed in the summer of 2019. It features several scenes from films shown at the Paramount Theatre. The first film screened was in 1955; Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. 
#22. 503 Victoria Street. 
(Paramount Theatre)
#23. 520 Seymour Street (Service Canada)

Sports in the Loops (Organized Chaos)

Sports in the Loops (Organized Chaos), 2016. Ken Wells. 
520 Seymour St.

The title is “Organized chaos”, this idea drove the concept and the idea that without rules sports of all kinds would not be possible.  Since Service Canada is in the building, the owner wanted to have a mural that depicted the Canadian spirit, and what better than sports. 

Billy Miner Train Robbery

Billy Miner Train Robbery, 2010. Alex Moir-Porteus. 
120 5th Ave.

This mural was completed in the summer of 2010 by Alexander Moir-Porteous.  This mural is dedicated to that piece of Kamloops' history. The artist made a great effort to ensure that this mural was historically correct.
#24. 120 - 5th Ave. (Cactus Jack’s)
#25. 422 Victoria Street. (Bench Jewelry)

Fantasy Garden

Fantasy Garden, 2010. Alex Moir-Porteus. 
422 Victoria St.

First official mural in the Back Alley Mural program. In 2010, the business at the time, Karateristics wanted a fantasy image. The path between the oak trees portrays a portal to the fantasy garden.

Moving Art

Moving Art, 2015. Ken Wells. 
167 4th Ave.

Ken worked with the art gallery owner to create a design that suited the wall. Fun details you’ll notice are the feet of people carrying the painting and fish that have fallen out of the painting. 
#26. 167 - 4th Ave. 
#27. 126 - 4th Ave. (Central Station Pub)

Alley Oasis

Alley Oasis, 2013. Kelly Wright. 
126 4th Ave.

The owners wanted to create this mural to go with the Oasis pub in the alley. The art wraps around the corner of the building and continues around to the walls under the pub’s patio. 

History of Brewing

History of Brewing, 2016. Kelly Wright. 
355 Lansdowne St

One of three murals completed in the 2016 season, the Red Collar’s History of Brewing is an ambitious examination of the history of brewing up to the present. It also pays tribute to Red Collar’s mascot dog.
#28. 355 Lansdowne St. (Red Collar Brewing)
#29. 366 Victoria Street. (Jonathan Buchner Gems & Jewelry)

Bee City

Bee City, 2017. Collaboration by Alex Moir-Porteous, Ken Wells, Evan Christian, Marianna Abutalipova and Kelly Wright. 
366 Victoria St.

The Kami Inn parking lot was the location for the 2017 SpringFest celebration. During the weekend event, a collaborative mural was painted on the side of Jonathan Buchner Gems & Jewelry to showcase Kamloops as a bee-friendly city. 

The Mystic

The Mystic, 2017. Ken Wells. 
316 Victoria St.

The intention of this mural is the promotion of peace and love throughout the world, without knowing who you are sending it to, or who is receiving it. So send it out into the universe – knowing it will be received with gratitude.
#30. 316 Victoria Street
#31. 226 Lansdowne Street. (Ray's Browns Lock and Key)

Matt Berger 2020 Olympics

Matt Berger 2020 Olympics, 2021. Kelly Wright, Landon Muzio, Clay Walker. 
226 Lansdowne St.

Canadian Tire sponsored this commemoration of Matt Berger’s 2020 Tokyo Olympic journey. Berger was part of Team Canada, and this mural celebrates his Kamloops roots where he  learned to skateboard.

Dragon Storm

Dragon Storm, 2015. Alex Moir-Porteus. 
238 Lansdowne St.

This mural, painted on the back of All Aboard Games, is based on a dragon from the Dungeons and Dragons universe. The artists and business owners came to an agreement on the design and incorporated the gaming business’s characteristics within the painting.
#32. 238 Lansdowne Street. (All Aboard Games)
#34. 540 Victoria Street. (Delta Hotel)

Electric Alley

Electric Alley, 2024. Rachel Lewis, Kelly Wright, and Brayden Conley.
540 Victoria St.

Electric Alley is part of the Illuminate Kamloops initiative/tour, put together by Tourism Kamloops and the City of Kamloops. The Electric Alley installation aligns with the city's alley activation initiative to revitalize overlooked spaces. By infusing the alley with light, a welcoming and safe environment is created for locals and visitors alike, encouraging exploration and community engagement. 

Photo: Mary Putnam
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