JASPER – Two down, one to go.
The UpLift! Jasper Mural Festival is reaching its final phase this year as muralist Tyler Toews completes his work at the east entrance to town.
Toews is the only artist to return to UpLift! His previous work, titled “Melt,” was the only UpLift! mural affected by the wildfire. While the piece is mostly intact, it will remain inaccessible for several years until the Patricia Street plaza is restored.
To help compensate Toews, organizers invited him back this year to complete another mural of a Rocky Mountain landscape at the east entrance underpass.
“It’s an honour to be brought back, and the way it happened, I was here before the wildfire and then coming after the wildfire, so somehow being connected to this kind of really important moment in Jasper’s history, it’s an honour to be a part of that,” Toews said.
His anamorphic style of painting that plays with perspective will allow him to better paint the underpass wall since motorists will only be able to see the mural at an angle.
“It’s not a simple wall,” Toews said. “It’s got a bunch of different aspects and [it’s] underneath the train bridge, which gives a bunch of logistical challenges, but it’s going to be great. Looking forward to what comes of it.”
Motorists will be able to see him working throughout the Victoria Day long weekend, and he will likely complete his work on Wednesday (May 21).
Toews added how his mural was “going to spread some love.”
For the other two murals, Argentinian muralist Fio Silva created one of a phoenix behind Whistlers Inn, and Spanish artist Tirso Paz, also known as Bublegum, created a mural of a mountain lion behind the Earls restaurant.
Founded in 2022 by Logan Ireland and Oliver Andrew, the UpLift! Jasper Mural Festival has previously created 12 outdoor murals throughout town, with the goals of boosting tourism during the shoulder season and enhancing the cultural fabric of Jasper.
See for updates on the mural and upcoming events.
