Guitars as a blank canvas for local artists. Photo via Downtown Kingston BIA.

A large-scale public art initiative coming to downtown Kingston this summer will see 10 custom-designed guitar sculptures installed throughout the downtown core.

According to a release from the Downtown Kingston Business Improvement Area (BIA), issued on Tuesday, Jun. 23, 2026, the installation, titled Play Me Kingston, will transform downtown into an open-air celebration of music.

The BIA said that each sculpture, created by local and regional artists, reflects Kingston’s rich musical identity and cultural legacy, turning the city’s streets into a free, walkable gallery for residents and visitors.

According to the release, the project is about celebrating the roots of music in the limestone city, and will honour two milestones: the 10th anniversary of The Tragically Hip’s final concert on August 20th, and the inaugural RoadTrip Music Festival, taking place Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in downtown Kingston. Together, they anchor a summer defined by Kingston’s enduring connection to music and performance, the BIA stated.

Each sculpture is designed by an artist, with local music as the guiding inspiration for their concept and visual storytelling, according to the release. The roster spans established muralists and fine artists alongside two of Kingston’s most promising young talents — including a 17-year-old multimedia artist from South Frontenac and a 12-year-old painter and entrepreneur from Inverary.

The BIA shared the participating artists:

  • Sergio Jaua — Venezuelan-Canadian painter exploring identity, memory, and migration
  • Colin Green (Broke Canvas) — Kingston-based street-art and mixed-media artist
  • Cher Reynolds — fine artist working in large-scale abstract and metallic textures
  • Yasaman Mehrsa — Iranian-Canadian muralist and visual artist based in Toronto
  • Rowynne Grant — queer multidisciplinary artist based in Kingston-Katarokwi
  • Tammy Leonard — Kingston-based painter, singer-songwriter, and guitar builder
  • Caitlin Ball — 17-year-old multimedia artist from South Frontenac
  • Sydney Cox — 12-year-old painter and founder of heARTspire, from Inverary
  • Sarah Cannon — Kingston-based magic-realism artist with public works across Canada
  • Alanna Hakim — Kingston-based textile and stained-glass artist and educator

“Kingston’s identity is inseparable from its music — the artists it has produced and the energy that continues to bring people together to this day. Play Me Kingston turns our streets into a gallery that anyone can walk through, free of charge, all summer long,” said Marijo Cuerrier, Executive Director of the Downtown Kingston BIA.

“The guitars are made to last, and our hope is that many of them will continue to live in the downtown core after the season passes.”

The BIA detailed that businesses can sponsor one of the guitar sculptures, and that “once the primary event is over, at the beginning of November, sponsors can choose to keep the sculpture for themselves or donate to the Downtown Kingston BIA to be used for future outdoor installations.” Further information on the sponsorship program can be found here: https://downtownkingston.ca/playmekingston.

Kingstonist has inquired with the BIA as to when the public can expect to see the guitar sculptures installed in the downtown core. The BIA shared that the guitars will be installed from early August until the end of October.