This mural was a commissioned piece done in 1987 for the owner of the restaurant, Bobby Sniderman. It was created stylistically to honor those public murals of the past that advertised businesses of the ’40s and ’50s. Interestingly it is now a mural of the past itself, having been painted 34 years ago. The fact that it is still there is nothing short of a miracle, since development has been active in the area. Murals typically have a lifespan of 10-15 years on average.
Explore
Senator Restaurant
- Paint
- 1987
- 249 Victoria Street, Toronto
About the artwork
About the artist
Wrigley painted his first mural recreationally in 1974 at the McDonald’s where he worked. This sparked an idea that stuck with him until he launched his company in 1980. What followed was a succession of commissions that helped broaden his horizons, expanding to exterior projects on a much larger scale. In the years that followed he has received mural commissions from around the world, including countries like the United States, Mexico, France and Japan.
Born and raised in Montreal, he has maintained a studio in Toronto for over 30 years. Wrigley began his foray into the American market in 1990 and moved his studio to Miami Beach, where he resided from 1992 to 1994. Today the majority of Bill’s clientele are from the United States.
Fun facts
- Bill Wrigley is an avid cyclist, classic car enthusiast and manufacturer of performance boomerangs.
- This mural is Bill Wrigley’s second oldest outdoor mural in Toronto.
Engagement questions
- Do you feel nostalgic for storefronts made of public murals?
