Artist Mega McGrath’s mega-cool Metrotown project

If you’ve been to the patio food court at Metropolis at Metrotown, you’ll notice beautiful art pieces installed around the outdoor space.

The murals were created by Vancouver-based painter and designer Mega McGrath.

Her colourful, dreamy designs that often look like giant floral patterns come with a deep meaning. McGrath tells Burnaby Beacon that her work is heavily influenced by “moments of stillness and observing nature.”

“I love those few seconds when you’re observing a flower; you notice the way the light shines through some of the petals—for a few seconds the noise from the streets drowns out and you’re staring at pure life and pure beauty,” she says.

“I can never seem to make these moments last, so my work is an attempt at recreating that stillness and moment of connection with the world around us. I’m also deeply inspired by writing and poetry, and how I can use colour and nature to exalt certain truths.”

The patio project at Metropolis at Metrotown came after McGrath’s work with Ivanhoe Cambridge on a 60 ft. mural at Guildford Town Centre, and they agreed to make plans for a 2021 patio instalment.

“The time came and that project actually got blown up to cover all 3 of their centres in BC. So I was asked to art direct the outdoor dining for Metrotown, Tsawwassen Mills, and Guildford Town Centre. We ended up creating a design language that could be extended and applied to all 3 centres. It was an amazing project,” she says.

The designs at Metrotown were inspired by her new exploration into abstraction, adds McGrath.

“Usually, I’m focused on hyper detail and text but my work from 2021 has been about breaking free from those constraints and seeing what I can do with pure shape and colour. It’s more so about breaking free from my perfectionist tendencies—and letting myself be inspired and move with the flow of nature instead.”

The outdoor patio at Metropolis at Metrotown is on the plaza outside the Coast Capital Savings mall entrance and will be open until August 26.

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