Manuel Murillo

Artistic practice

Mexican-Canadian visual artist and muralist based in Ottawa. I began painting murals in 2012, with early work developing across different places and countries. My established commissioned practice has grown primarily in Ontario, especially in recent years. Through Murillo Murals, my work spans large-scale painting, illustration, portraiture, site-specific design, live painting and community-facing art.

Professional art experience

1. 2018–now

   Founder & Lead Artist, Murillo Murals

   Primarily Ontario

   Lead mural commissions from concept and client consultation through design, scaling, materials, production and completion. Projects range from private interiors to multi-wall commercial environments, public-facing activations and large architectural surfaces. Comfortable collaborating with assistants when scale or schedule calls for additional support.

Selected murals & site-specific commissions

1. 2026

   Tacozzo Restaurant Mural

   ByWard Market, Ottawa, ON · approx. 11.3 m × 1.8 m (37 ft × 6 ft)

   Interior mural combining architectural and figurative elements, including Arab and other racialized characters within the visual story of the space.

2. 2026

   THEO Student Apartments, Standing Logo Mural

   305 Rideau Street, Ottawa, ON

   Large standing logo mural painted directly on a metal surface. Required precise scaling, measuring, layout and hand-painted reproduction of THEO's visual identity.

3. 2026

   “Crime City,” Private Residence

   Gatineau, QC

   Detailed black-and-white illustrated cityscape incorporating Ottawa-Gatineau landmarks and the client's personal history, designed as an immersive mural with many small details to discover.

4. 2026

   “Fresh Ritual,” Private Residence

   Orléans, Ottawa, ON

   Botanical interior mural featuring stylized birds of paradise arranged in a clean, graphic composition that responds to the architecture of the room.

5. 2025

   “Alebrijes Hallway,” América Latina Grocery & Eatery

   Kitchener, ON

   Three-wall immersive mural featuring original alebrije characters designed and illustrated by Murillo. Created for a recurring client following an earlier large-scale commission.

6. 2025

   My Crepes Café & Gelato

   Montreal, QC

   Playful site-specific restaurant mural using food imagery, colour and graphic forms to transform the café environment.

7. 2025

   Fergus Silo Mural

   Fergus, ON

   Large-scale mural painted on an agricultural silo, adapting the design and execution process to a curved architectural surface.

8. 2024–26

   Social Cue Sports Bar, Multi-Wall Sports Mural

   Mississauga, ON · Phased commission

   Major multi-wall project spanning more than seven large surfaces, with one wall reaching approximately 7.5 metres in height. Featured large-scale portraits of iconic athletes including Muhammad Ali, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

9. 2024

   Canadian Gluten Free and Keto Bakery

   Kitchener-Waterloo, ON

   Interior commissioned mural created for a local gluten-free and keto bakery.

10. 2024

    “Candy Land,” Exotic Empire, Conestoga Mall

    Waterloo, ON · approx. 25 m long

    Immersive retail mural using playful imagery, a mirror and neon lighting to create an interactive photo and selfie area.

11. 2024

    “Temple in Bloom,” Megumi Mazesoba

    Yonge and St. Clair, Toronto, ON

    Sakura-themed multi-wall mural transforming the restaurant through cherry blossoms, Japanese architectural imagery and a temple-inspired scene.

12. 2024

    Las Mexicanas Food Truck

    Ontario

    Custom exterior mural painted directly on a food truck using exterior-grade paint and materials selected for durability.

13. 2024

    Dessi Hakka Restaurant, Multi-Wall Mural

    Oshawa, ON

    Multi-wall restaurant commission designed to create a cohesive visual identity across several areas of the interior.

14. 2024

    “We Are the People,” América Latina Grocery & Eatery

    Kitchener, ON · approx. 25 m long

    Large-scale mural centring a migrant worker, with imagery around him representing memories, culture and experiences carried across places. Created for a Latin American grocery and community-facing business.

15. 2024

    Revel Realty, St. Jacobs Mural

    St. Jacobs, ON · approx. 4.6 m × 3.7 m

    Large-scale mural featuring landmarks, architecture and visual references connected to St. Jacobs and the surrounding community.

Exhibitions, live art & public programming

1. 2026

   “Vallarta Windows,” Art Exhibition

   T's Pub, Ottawa, ON

   Exhibition of a series exploring queerness, memory and visual references connected to Puerto Vallarta.

2. 2026

   Live Painting, Capital Rainbow Refuge Fundraiser

   Ottawa, ON

   Invited live-painting artist for a fundraising event supporting LGBTQ+ refugees and newcomers.

3. 2025

   Live Painting, AIDS Vigil

   National Arts Centre, Ottawa, ON

   Live painting presented as part of Ottawa's AIDS Vigil programming.

4. 2025

   Art Battle Competitor

   Ottawa, ON

   Participated in a live competitive painting event, producing an original work within a timed public setting.

5. 2024

   Winter Art Walk, Uptown Waterloo BIA

   Uptown Waterloo, ON

   Commissioned by the Uptown Waterloo BIA to hand-paint seasonal window installations for four local businesses as part of the Winter Art Walk.

Community & professional experience

1. 2025–now

   Navigation & Training Coordinator

   MAX Ottawa, Ottawa, ON

   Community-based role within a queer health and wellness nonprofit. Develop and deliver training, support community navigation and collaborate with local organizations to improve access to information, services and community support.

2. 2023–25

   Practical Support Navigator

   AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo & Area · Kitchener-Waterloo, ON

   Provided community navigation and practical support while working closely with local organizations and people from diverse backgrounds.

Education

1. Visual Arts Studies

   Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes (INBA), Mexico

   Training in drawing, painting, composition and studio-based visual art.

Selected artistic capabilities

• Large-scale mural painting
• Site-specific design
• Portraiture and figurative painting
• Illustration and graphic composition
• Scaling, measuring and layout
• Interior and exterior paint applications
• Metal and varied architectural surfaces
• Colour and composition
• Live painting and public activations
• Project planning and client communication
• Collaborative production and assistants
• Community-informed creative practice