Nine art pieces are now on the exterior of Portage Place Shopping Centre along Portage Avenue. The artworks are the second edition of Urban Art Gallery, an annual competition designed to bring art to downtown storefronts. Downtown Winnipeg BIZ with support from the mall, led the installation.

"This type of installation brings people and communities together, builds common experience, and improves the visual quality and texture of the area – these are priorities of Portage Place," said Dave Stone, general manager of the downtown mall.

The colourful pieces represent an ongoing effort to improve the look and feel of Portage Avenue, a stretch of road that was once an important economic hub in Canada.

"We are thrilled to see our store frontage uplifted with great community artwork." said Stone.

New artworks on the exterior of Portage Place are part of the latest Urban Art Gallery, an annual competition that showcases Winnipeg art on store-fronts. (CBC) Each piece of art was made by a local Winnipeg artist. Their works include photographs, visual art and poetry, all along the theme of 'home.' it's part of the association's "ongoing efforts to beautify the public realm," Downtown Winnipeg BIZ said in a news release.

Winnipeggers now have a chance to see the difference art can make in the downtown, said Stefano Grande, executive director of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ.

"(The artworks) will help to stimulate a conversation about the importance of good design and enhanced store frontages in the heart of our city," said Grande.

The artists whose works were featured are all local to Winnipeg: Svetlana Russco, Isabelle LaFreniere, Leslie Franklin, Blaise Lachiver, Genevie Henderson, Ildiko Nova and Lesley Nakonechny.