Lifetime Developments unveils two new murals by Ben Johnston

Last week, we attended the unveiling of Liberty Village’s latest public art. Lifetime Developments commissioned Ben Johnston to paint two murals, Hustle and LoveLiberty, on the brick walls of the Liberty Market Building in Toronto.

Local residents and businesses, as well as Brian Brown, Vice President, Lifetime Developments, Lenita Lopes, Special Assistant for Adam Vaughan, MP Spadina-Fort York, and Han Dong, MPP Trinity-Spadina were in attendance to commemorate the occasion.

Brian Brown, Vice President, Lifetime Developments

“Lifetime Developments acquired the Liberty Market Building in 2004 when the area was still raw and undeveloped, before its evolution into a thriving and vibrant community,” said Brian Brown. “Liberty Village has experienced tremendous growth in the last decade and has changed dramatically from when we started building here. It exudes an incredible energy and a lot of life, yet maintains its historical roots through the architectural style of the buildings within it.”

The Liberty Market Building is now occupied by approximately 200 different tenants and is the unofficial heart of Liberty Village. Tenants include a variety of businesses and services, including a gym, cafes, takeout spots, real estate offices, and many small businesses.  

“What we wanted to do was really acknowledge the history of the village, but also recognize what it’s become,” Brown continued. “When this building was built in the ‘40s, it was built as a munitions factory and then years later it became more of a warehouse. It’s really changed into a really vibrant, very energetic, very youthful neighbourhood, and it’s got a very entrepreneurial culture, it’s got a very dynamic spirit to it.”

“We think that Ben Johnston’s done a fantastic job capturing the spirit of the neighbourhood, capturing what it is to live here, to work here, to be a part of this community,” Brown added.

The Hustle mural was already unveiled and can be seen when entering the main alleyway of the Liberty Market Building from the east side. The mural covers brick and a garage door, and is next to a map of the building, so it can’t be missed! LoveLiberty is just a few steps away on the north side of the alley.  

“Our goal for these murals was to stylize the text in a way that interacts with each wall face -the red brick for LoveLiberty and the freight elevator doors for Hustle- and plays into the raw, industrial feel of the Liberty Market Building,” said Ben Johnston. “We wanted the verbiage and aesthetic for each mural to stand the test of time and pay homage to the Liberty Village community and the people who live, work and play here.”

Johnston has become locally famous and well known online for his unique script style, in fact, Brown said that he discovered his art on Instagram. Another recent piece by Johnston that you may recognize is located in the new YMCA in the Canary District.  

“As a member of Parliament for Spadina-Fort York, it is my sincere pleasure to welcome Ben Johnston’s new mural in the heart of Liberty Village,” said Lenita Lopes on behalf of Adam Vaughan. “Ben’s globally renowned style has the ability to bring urban space to life. Not only do his pieces add visual depth to an area, they serve to solidify the positive value of public art in cities across Canada.”  

Learn more about Lifetime Developments and Liberty Village

It’s clear that Lifetime Developments has made a significant impact on what Liberty Village has become in recent years. One of Lifetime Developments’ completed residential projects in the neighbourhood is Liberty Market Lofts, which made headlines when it first launched thanks to the lofts’ soaring 17’ ceilings.

Watch a video of the making of Ben Johnston's two new murals here!