A New Wave of Expression: Ola Volo's Mural at London's Grand Theatre

This week, London's Grand Theatre at the corner of Richmond and Dufferin streets is coming to life with an eye-catching, thought-provoking mural that's hard to miss. Kazakh-Canadian artist Ola Volo is the talent behind this massive 18 by 16-meter artwork, which is set to transform the theatre's walls into a vibrant canvas.

For the past decade, the Grand Theatre had been hoping to find the perfect artwork to adorn its stage door wall. According to Lyndee Hansen, the theatre's executive director, the wall had long been envisioned as a blank canvas demanding a splash of creativity. Enter Ola Volo, who started on this colossal project last Monday and is expected to wrap up by the end of the week.

The mural’s design is nothing short of theatrical. It features a regal queen symbolizing Mother Nature, partially covered by a dove that signifies new beginnings. Volo’s use of pink and green beams mirrors stage lights, while lightning bolts on the queen's crown reflect power. At the mural's edges, trilliums, Ontario's official flower, add a touch of local flair.

Volo’s goal? To create something expressive and bold that takes up the entire space. She wants the mural to symbolize the power of taking up space and speaking up—a reflection of contemporary societal values.

But the magic doesn’t end with the finished mural. Throughout the week, Londoners have had the unique opportunity to watch Volo and her partner, Patrice Lacroix, work their magic. According to Volo, painting this mural feels like a performance on a grand stage. Onlookers become part of the creative process, witnessing the artwork come to life in real time.

Hansen, who walks past the mural every day, mentions the thrill of seeing such large-scale art evolve in front of her eyes. While many of us might only catch glimpses of the final product, Hansen had the privilege of seeing the drawn version before Volo began this full-scale endeavor.

Public art in this format encourages community interaction and inspires other artists. Volo believes that it takes guts to showcase one’s workflow, including the mistakes along the way. She hopes that her mural will embolden other creatives to embrace public art.

Volo’s journey in muralism began at the age of 21. Her style is inspired by Eastern European folklore and the natural beauty she encountered while studying art in Vancouver. Her goal has always been to bring her unique style to public spaces. Now based in Montreal, Volo sees this mural as an opportunity to foster a new wave of public art in London, a city she finds increasingly creative.

Volo hopes that this mural will serve as a bit of inspiration for more public artworks throughout the city. London, with its numerous empty walls, offers ample opportunities for other artists to express their creativity. As she meets more people in the city, her excitement grows for what the future holds in terms of artistic expression in public spaces. Volo isn't just painting a mural; she's stage-setting a movement, one wall at a time.