MURAL | Tenderness As Our Strength

Mural by La Pupila

The mural explores tenderness as a form of strength, depicting two women–flower creatures nurturing and harvesting roses. Like a flower—with both petals and thorns—we carry fragility alongside a profound force that allows us to grow and protect ourselves collectively.

“This mural reminds us that fragility and power can coexist. Like petals and thorns, tenderness helps us grow and protects us collectively,” shares La Pupila.

The artist’s depiction intentionally challenges traditional portrayals of women. Women are often expected to appear cheerful or decorative—to “smile.” This mural rejects that expectation, presenting feminine figures who embody quiet strength and tenderness without performance.

This is La Pupila’s largest mural to date and the most technically challenging wall she has worked on. The process was further complicated by the demanding surface texture, tight timelines, approaching cold weather, and several weeks of heavy rain.

Located on Brock Avenue, south of Dundas West in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

La Pupila is a Colombian artist based in Toronto. Her work explores feminine energy, often infused with an aura of melancholy. Through symbols, distorted forms, and evocative faces, she illustrates her fears and hopes. While deeply personal, her work is expressed through a poetic and gentle visual language that invites introspection and connection. It is an exploration of memory, emotion, and the transformative power of symbols.

It is not trivial to add a thoughtful mural to a neighbourhood—one that meaningfully contributes to the visual and cultural landscape of the area and helps make Toronto a better city to live in. The mural reflects shared community values of resilience, inclusion, and creativity.

Murals require time, funding, and extensive coordination between artists, property owners, grant officers, and partners. We thank everyone involved in this project making this happen.

This mural was produced by Underscore Projects in collaboration with Little Portugal Toronto BIA. This art piece joins the growing roster of neighbourhood murals and will be cared for by the Dundas West Open Air Museum.

Acknowledgements
This project was made possible with financial support from the City of Toronto, with additional support from Torcan Equipments, Benjamin Moore, and Merit Decorating Centre.

Photos by Ramon Vasconcelos