What was once a blank wall at the Art Gallery of Hamilton (AGH) is evolving into a large-scale artwork that celebrates creativity, exploration, and discovery.
Throughout November and December, Hamilton-based artist Heidi Berton has been transforming the rear wall of the AGH Creative Lab into a spectacular mural that embodies the playful atmosphere of the space and explores some of the iconic works in the AGH collection.
Visitors to the Creative Lab in December may be lucky enough to see Berton in action as she continues painting the mural, which she aims to complete before Christmas.
“I welcome the opportunity to chat with visitors as I work,” she says. “It’s fun to have conversations with people about the mural as it evolves, and I love the sense of life that comes to the room when children and families drop by.”
The AGH Creative Lab, which opened in 2025, is an area where kids can be kids and adults can enjoy a well-deserved break. It is a space where everyone can let their hair down, have fun, and relax.
A number of games and activities are available to engage kids, such as the light table, the glow-peg wall, and the building-block board. For those who love to draw, colour, and make crafts, different art stations are set up throughout the room. Childrens’ books are also available for young readers or parents who want to enjoy story time with their small ones.
“This is a truly magical space,” says Berton, who was one of numerous artists who applied for the opportunity to create a mural in the Creative Lab. “It was wonderful to be chosen for this mural, especially since the Art Gallery of Hamilton has been a special place to me for many years.”
Heidi Berton has a long history with the AGH. After she moved to Hamilton from London during high school, Berton began to volunteer at the AGH Shop and art camps at the Gallery.
She then studied at OCAD University, which prepared her for a career as a professional illustrator. Berton’s work can be seen in numerous magazines, books, and newspapers – including The Globe and Mail, Reader’s Digest Canada, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Cottage Life Magazine, just to name a few.
Over the years, Berton continued to visit the Gallery regularly and became quite familiar with the iconic works in the permanent collection.
“When I was coming up with the concept for the mural, I knew I wanted to incorporate references to some of my favourite works in the form of ‘Easter Eggs.’ I didn’t want the references to be too obvious, but if you look closely enough, you can find references to 20 works from the permanent collection in the mural.”
Berton brings her love of quirky characters and sense of playfulness to this large-scale work, which provides her with an opportunity to fill an expansive canvas and let her imagination spill across the entire length of a room.
“A lot of my illustration work is done digitally,” Berton explains. “Painting a mural like this allows me to get my hands dirty, and I love the physicality of going big and using my entire body.”
The mural is more than just another painting for Heidi Berton. It’s a work of passion that pays tribute to a very special art gallery in the heart of Hamilton.
“I love seeing how a room can be transformed with some paint and imagination. What began as a white wall becomes a mural that inspires reflection, laughter, and conversation. I hope that visitors to the Creative Lab find something new in the mural each time they look at it – and I hope it brings them smiles each time.”
The AGH Creative Lab was generously funded by the incite Foundation for the Arts.
