Article content

The first time Clauda Salguero proposed a mural for busy intersection in downtown Ottawa, officials nixed the idea.

“I sent a sketch and the first comment was, ‘This is an intersection. There might be an accident,'” recalls the Ottawa artist who now specializes increating art that engages the community. “They told me to think of something not as colourful, not as bold.”

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Butterfly mural Ottawa's biggest yet Back to video

“They told me to think of something not as colourful, not as bold.”

Since then, she estimates, she’s designed about 20 murals in Ottawa and is thrilled to see the attitude changing, thanks in part to a growing belief that murals help prevent graffiti and can bring a neighbourhood together.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or

Salguero’s latest public piece is not only the biggest mural yet tackled in the nation’s capital but also one of the most dazzling. It’s the stylized butterfly that adorns one wall of the Ottawa Community Housing apartment building at the corner of Rideau and Wurtemburg streets. The artwork stretches up nine storeys and incorporates different shaped eyes in a bold and colourful display of diversity. It was officially unveiled last month.

“This mural is a dream come true for me from many points of view,” said the Colombia-born artist. “I hope this is the beginning of the city letting things like this happen, because there is so much talent in this city. So many people want to do big, colourful things but there’s too many regulations.”