Black Futures Garden mural flourishes in Ted Rogers School lobby
A vibrant mural depicting Black Flourishing as a thriving garden has taken root in the lobby of the Ted Rogers School of Management thanks to an art installation project commissioned by the school.
The selected artwork, titled Black Futures Garden, was created by artist Queen Kukoyi (external link, opens in new window) (they/she), a member of Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Design Fabrication Zone. It was permanently installed on the wall in the atrium of the Ted Rogers School building on September 12, 2026.
In June, the Ted Rogers School invited proposals from self-identified Black artists, collectives and creators based in Canada for an art installation exploring the concept of Black Flourishing. The school was seeking works that centred on community-based joy, well-being and authentic identity; the richness of Black history and contemporary culture in Canada; and visions of a future rooted in community centrism, liberation, and collective well-being rather than institutional pressure.
The Black Futures Garden artwork responds to the theme of Black Flourishing by imagining flourishing as an ecosystem, rather than an achievement. It offers an invitation to everyone who passes through the space to imagine futures where Black life is abundant, celebrated and continuously flourishing.
“Academic and corporate spaces have historically underrepresented Black community voices, histories and futures,” says Cynthia Holmes, Dean, Ted Rogers School. “This project is a deliberate act of a placemaking initiative to transform a prominent public space within the Ted Rogers School into an environment where Black students, faculty, staff and visitors feel an authentic sense of belonging, identity and shared future.”
On an average day, approximately 5,000 to 8,000 people come through the school’s lobby. This initiative directly supports TMU’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive and representative environment, and serves as a tangible symbol of recognition and respect for the contributions of the Black community.
The artwork
The Black Futures Garden mural transforms the Ted Rogers School lobby into a living landscape that celebrates Black Flourishing through intergenerational storytelling. Each plant, bird, celestial element, structure and flowing landscape intertwine with past, present and future Black children, elders, women, men and gender-expansive figures, representing generations existing together within one interconnected environment.
Botanical forms are inspired by African textile traditions that evolve into plants, flowers and trees, creating a visual language that connects ancestral knowledge that grows directly from history. “The mural invites students, faculty, staff and visitors to imagine Black Flourishing as a shared ecosystem rooted in memory, care and possibility,” Kukoyi explains. The mural’s colour palette incorporates rich golden yellows, deep navy, charcoal, black and subtle teal accents to create warmth, depth and strong visual impact within the space.
“Rather than centering productivity or exceptionalism, Black Futures Garden celebrates everyday moments of care, imagination, kinship and possibility, inviting viewers to envision a future that is collective, joyful and continually growing,” Kukoyi explains.
“My approach prioritizes inclusive design from the outset, ensuring the artwork contributes to a welcoming public space where people can see themselves reflected, engage meaningfully and experience a sense of belonging,” adds Kukoyi.
The artist
Kukoyi is a Black, gender-queer, neurodivergent, award-winning multidisciplinary artist, creative technology artist, and public art practitioner with over 20 years of experience in community justice. Their work explores healing, identity, cultural heritage, and Black speculative futures, drawing from Igbo spirituality, ULI-inspired cultural markings, and Afrofuturism.
As a co-founder of Oddside Arts (external link, opens in new window) , a collective that merges art, technology, and wellness, Kukoyi prioritizes Black, Indigenous, and queer communities, fostering collective storytelling and imagining futures where creativity drives change.
Kukoyi has been a member of TMU’s Design Fabrication Zone since September 2020, where access to technical mentorship, digital fabrication, vector-based design, 3D printing and woodworking has supported the evolution of their public art practice. The DFZ has also provided an important environment for Kukoyi to develop more accessible and sustainable approaches to making as an artist living with disability and chronic illness, knowledge that continues to inform both their individual practice and their work with Oddside Arts.
Selection process
A total of 22 artists submitted proposals to the Black Flourishing Art Installation Project. A Guidance Circle constituting faculty members, staff and students from TMU evaluated the submissions based on theme alignment (30%), artistic quality, originality and impact (30%), feasibility, accessibility and safety (20%), and public space and balance of freedom and sensitivity (20%).
The Guidance Circle was made up of Ted Rogers School staff (Rita Lingner, Habibah Haque, Sana Mulji, Gloria Fernandes, Celeste Saddler and Alethia Davis), faculty members (Carlyle Farrell and Carene Boucher) and students (Suvatha Dharumachanthiran and Victor Etti); Office of the VP, Equity & Community Inclusion staff (Antoni Shelton and Kelly Raskin); and Office of Social Innovation staff (Lisa Afriyie).
The public unveiling of the Black Futures Garden mural at the Ted Rogers School will take place during Black History month next year.