Art In Oshawa: Always Evolving, Always Creating

The art scene in the great city of Oshawa is constantly evolving, always creating. December sees the inaugural Holiday Window Walk in Downtown Oshawa. Several local artists, in association with the Oshawa Art Association and Oshawa Tourism, have been commissioned to transform the windows of businesses into a winter wonderland. It's the perfect inviting tie-in as one strolls between the retail restaurants, venues, and civic buildings. Businesses involved include many who are key to the unique culture of the city, which, of course, was on full display at the 2025 Convergence Music & Art Festival back in September.

One of the Holiday Window Walk displays by @oliviamorinart on display in Downtown Oshawa.

Businesses such as Worlds Collide which has a history of over 40 years in the city; The Market at 70 King which is located in the heritage building of the former Genosha Hotel, a place where Ian Fleming and Roald Dahl stayed; and the Canadian Automotive Museum, established in 1962, which houses one of the best collection of vehicles including the 1914 Galt Gas-Electric, Canada’s first hybrid, and the 1987 Magna Vehma Torrero, one of only two concept cars built by the Canadian company which included such futuristic (for the ‘80s) add-ons as satellite navigation, external cameras, video entertainment systems, and a fax machines.

In Oshawa cars, innovation, creativity and art are all part of the same journey. Much of it thanks to the late Col. Sam McLaughlin, President of GM Canada. The family were great supporters of the arts, which includes the founding of the Robert McLaughlin Gallery, which will have its own seasonal celebrations by way of events and exhibitions.

Time your visit to the Gallery to see the many exhibitions on view with the Holiday Tea Event running from Friday, December 12, to Sunday, December 14. The Tea will be hosted by Berry Hill Co., which also runs one of the city’s best bistros, located at 82 King Street East. The Art Gallery also has a gift shop with items by local artists for sale.

Come for the tea, stay for the snacks at the 2025 RMG Holiday Tea Event.

Local art and artists are also the focus of The Neighbour’s Art Hive; opening celebrations are Thursday, December 11, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. The Neighbour’s Art Hive is a pop-up installation that transforms the Gallery into a complete active studio environment in association with the wonderful people at The LivingRoom Community Art Studio.

The Neighbour’s Art Hive offers the opportunity to create, rest, and connect, building up into creative community development, social connection, and personal wellbeing, all through the act of creating art of all levels. Materials will be provided, and the finished works can be brought home or hung up in the gallery for the run of the project, which is from December to February 2026.

So in December, art can be experienced both indoors with the Gallery’s Art Hive and outside in the surrounding neighbourhood via the Holiday Window Walk. Take time to stroll the downtown core and admire the many holiday window displays created by local artists and murals that showcase the city’s heritage. The window displays can be found on the windows of many downtown businesses, and the murals can be found on buildings located throughout the downtown, including on the McLaughlin Bandshell in Memorial Park and the former Oshawa Power building opposite. Some murals of note so to speak include the ‘Borsberry Music Hall’ by Brian Romagnoli, which depicts Borsberry Music Hall, a 700 seat theatre that was located on the north side of King St., just east of Simcoe St., in the early 20th century; and “Turning The Wheel’ by Dani Crosby which depicts the essence of the John Borlase Mill which was once located on the intersection of Hwy 2 and Oshawa Creek.