Maffeo Sutton Park Murals | Surfacing
Public Art in Nanaimo, BC
Vancouver Island Landscapes & Wildlife
Located in Maffeo Sutton Park in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Surfacing is a four-sided public mural installation created by Canadian artist Curtis Van Charles in 2022. Inspired by Vancouver Island's natural landscapes, the artwork transforms the exterior of a park building into a colourful celebration of the region's forests, mountains, valleys, and coastal environments.
Each wall combines vibrant landscape imagery with detailed black-and-white illustrations of native plants and wildlife, bringing a distinctive contemporary perspective to one of Nanaimo's waterfront parks.
Celebrating Vancouver Island's Natural Landscapes
The concept behind Surfacing was to represent the diverse environments found across Vancouver Island, with each side of the building inspired by a different landscape.
The north wall celebrates the forests, the west wall represents the mountains, the south wall depicts the valleys, and the east wall is inspired by the ocean.
Together, the four murals create a visual journey through the island's natural surroundings, inviting visitors to experience the landscapes, vegetation, and wildlife that make Vancouver Island unique.
Creating the Four Mural Designs
Each mural combines bold, full-colour landscape illustrations with intricate black-and-white details depicting plants and animals associated with its environment.
The contrast between vibrant colour and detailed monochrome imagery creates a distinctive visual style, encouraging visitors to appreciate both the larger landscape and the smaller natural elements within it.
Designed to be experienced from every direction, the four murals transform an everyday park structure into a cohesive public art installation that celebrates the natural beauty of coastal British Columbia.
Explore the Maffeo Sutton Park Murals
The photographs below follow the artwork counterclockwise around the building, beginning at the front and revealing each of the four landscape-inspired designs.
Official Recognition
City of Nanaimo | Surfacing (2022)
Curtis's Maffeo Sutton Park murals are featured by the City of Nanaimo as part of its Urban Design Roster program. The project celebrates Vancouver Island's natural landscapes and wildlife through large-scale public artwork.
Explore More Van Charles Art
Curtis Van Charles is a Calgary-area Canadian artist creating large-scale murals, public art installations, and original commissioned artwork for businesses and private collectors.