SIMONS YORKDALE
Nelio Riga
FEATURED
Simons
CLIENT
Toronto, Canada
LOCATION
Fall 2025
COMPLETED
Gensler
DESIGNER
Artist Contracting, Commissions Management, Project Management, On-Site Installation Supervision, and Documentation.
SCOPE
At Simons’ new Yorkdale location—its largest in Ontario at 118,000 square feet—art plays a central role in shaping the visitor experience. At the heart of the store is CIEL, a monumental ceiling mural by French artist Nelio, whose intuitive, geometric abstractions transform the architectural flow of the space into a sensory and meditative landscape.
Painted with acrylic using a single roller, CIEL extends the structural lines and colour tones of the floors below into a luminous, cloud-like composition. A glowing “sun” anchors the mural above the central staircase, subtly guiding vertical movement through the store and enhancing the overall spatial rhythm.
Commissioned as part of Simons’ ongoing commitment to public art, CIEL is accompanied by a curated “walk of frames” featuring 40 artworks by 24 artists. Together, these works elevate the Yorkdale flagship into a dynamic space where retail and contemporary art converge.
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