A key piece of the programming for the recently concluded Game On East End was an incredible community mural ‘State of Play’ by artist Phillip Saunders at 33 Davies Avenue, here in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood – and we’re excited to share that it’s now complete!
Artist Phillip Saunders (at right) with a community member painting the mural
Check out this vibrant sports-themed mural located at 33 Davies Ave in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood:
Mural Art by Phillip Saunders, Photo credit: Cass Rudolph and East End Arts
Seen in the mural are two large-scale soccer players battling for the upper hand in an intense moment of competition. An exaggerated low-angle perspective creates a powerful sense of scale, movement, and energy, placing the viewer directly in the action. Within the globe-like frame is a soccer stadium set beneath a beautiful blue sky filled with clouds, with the sun positioned just behind one of the players’ heads. Together, these elements create a dynamic backdrop that reinforces the excitement of the game. This mural is designed to inspire joy, excitement, and community pride while celebrating the passion, teamwork, and spirit that soccer brings to people of all ages.
Phillip Saunders in front of his mural at 33 Davies Ave in Riverside Toronto
Phillip Saunders is a Jamaican-born multidisciplinary artist and arts educator based in Toronto. His practice spans oil painting, charcoal drawing, mural-making, and digital illustration, and is rooted in an exploration of cultural identity, visual storytelling, and the relationship between tradition and contemporary expression. As an arts educator and community-oriented muralist, he is deeply committed to making art accessible and reflective of the communities it inhabits. His public works prioritize connection, representation, and shared cultural experience.
Watch this Reel of Phillip talking about “State of Play”. Check out @ps.loveishere on Instagram and his official website to see more of his work!
Special thanks to the City of Toronto’s Community Celebration Support Fund and World in a City Small Business Grant for financial support; to East End Arts and the Riverside BIA for project coordination and funding support to make this public art project possible; and to building owners for providing the wall space for public art. On behalf of all the project partners, thank you to the nearly 60 children, youth and family members from the neighbourhood and beyond who helped to paint many sections of this mural!
Head over to Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood and check out Phillip Saunders’s new piece! In the meantime, follow us on Instagram and check the Riverside Blog for regular updates on public art in Riverside!
You can also read about “Where the Sunlight Meets the River” by Cesar Alonso, another new mural in Riverside.