Kirsten McCrea

Canadian artist Kirsten McCrea didn’t race cars—she made one roar with color, designing a bespoke F1 Academy livery that brought her bold, feminist-driven artistry from city walls to the racetrack.

EARLY YEARS

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, McCrea spent her formative years in Canada before venturing into the collaborative, fast-paced world of street art. She honed her craft in Montreal’s bustling street art scene, a place where muralists worked quickly, collaboratively, and without apology. It was here that she learned to navigate a male-dominated field with grit and creativity, building skills that would later define her career.[1][2]

OTHER INTERESTS

McCrea isn’t just a muralist—she’s also a publisher and entrepreneur. Alongside her husband and collaborator, Jp King, she runs Papirmass, an affordable art subscription service that democratizes access to her work.[3] Her projects blend history, pop culture, and pattern work, creating layered narratives that celebrate diversity and challenge the status quo. She’s as comfortable painting a mural on a Shake Shack wall in Toronto as she is creating a portrait series inspired by Le Tigre’s feminist anthem “Hot Topic.”[4][5] Between 2006 and 2008, she painted all 60 portraits of the feminist icons named in that song—a project that showcased her commitment to political art that doesn’t preach but still packs a punch.[6]

EARLY SUCCESS

McCrea was named a Top-30-Under-30 artist by Blouin Artinfo, a nod to her early impact in the art world.[7] After spending a decade in Toronto focused on art publishing and public murals, she relocated to Berlin, where she continues to work and live today.[8] Her detailed paintings and large-scale murals use ornamentation and patterning to reveal alternate histories, transforming mundane spaces into sites of what she calls “radical creativity.”[9] She’s been a full-time artist for over a decade, living her dream and managing projects that span continents.[10]

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2006–2008: Created “Hot Topic,” a series of 60 portraits of feminist icons based on Le Tigre’s song, exploring political art without being preachy.[6][11]
• 2015: Participated in the Chicago-Toronto Mural Exchange, showcasing her ability to use layered histories and patterning to celebrate diversity.[12]
• 2016: Delivered an artist talk at the Up Here Festival in Sudbury.[13]
• 2017: Guest lecturer at Ryerson University’s Sociology 525: Media & Images of Inequality.[14]
• 2025: Designed a bespoke livery for the Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans Academy Programme’s F1 Academy car, driven by Alisha Palmowski, in collaboration with 1Password for the Canadian Grand Prix.[15][16]
• 2025: Completed a mural for Midtown Mix at Shake Shack in Toronto.[17]

INSPIRATIONS

McCrea drew inspiration for her F1 Academy livery from driver Alisha Palmowski’s rise through motorsport—a journey that mirrors her own ascent through the male-dominated worlds of muralism and street art.[18] The livery project was about more than aesthetics; it was a way to celebrate women breaking barriers in spaces like motorsport, technology, and design.[19] Her “Hot Topic” series was similarly motivated—she wanted to create political art that honored feminist icons without being overstated, letting the portraits speak for themselves.[20]

REPUTATION

McCrea is known for bold, joyful, detail-rich works that blend history, patterns, and pop culture into visual narratives that demand attention.[21] Her reputation comes from her ability to transform unusual spaces—alleyways, restaurants, even racecars—into canvases that tell stories and spark conversation. She’s built a career on putting “art in new places,” creating moments of joyful engagement that focus attention and transform the mundane.[22] Her work has been featured in collaborations with brands, universities, and public art initiatives across North America and Europe. As a woman who’s thrived in street art and muralism, she’s become a role model for female artists navigating male-dominated creative fields.[23]

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Now based in Berlin, McCrea continues to push the boundaries of where and how art can exist. She’s working on follow-up projects to her “Hot Topic” series and remains committed to creating public art that celebrates diversity and opens pathways for women in creative industries.[24][25] Her advice for aspiring artists? Keep creating, stay bold, and don’t wait for permission to make your mark.[26]

REFERENCES

[1] About the Artist – Hello Kirsten
[2] About the Artist – CV – Hello Kirsten
[3] Interview: Kirsten McCrea Talks Papirmass & Work + Life + Art Balance
[4] “A Day in the Life” with: Toronto Visual Artist Kirsten McCrea
[5] About the Artist – CV – Hello Kirsten
[6] Kirsten McCrea’s art: Honouring feminists who challenge status quo
[7] Kirsten McCrea – Lineup – Up Here Festival
[8] About the Artist – Hello Kirsten
[9] About the Artist – Hello Kirsten
[10] Kirsten McCrea | Louder Than Ten
[11] Hot Topic – song by Le Tigre, video by Kirsten McCrea
[12] Chicago-Toronto Mural Exchange
[13] About the Artist – CV – Hello Kirsten
[14] About the Artist – CV – Hello Kirsten
[15] A Bespoke Livery by Female Canadian Artist Ahead of 2025
[16] Designing excellence: The story behind a bespoke F1 Academy livery
[17] About the Artist – CV – Hello Kirsten
[18] How the Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans Academy Programme and 1Password are driving female excellence
[19] “A Day in the Life” with: Toronto Visual Artist Kirsten McCrea
[20] Kirsten McCrea’s art: Honouring feminists who challenge status quo
[21] “A Day in the Life” with: Toronto Visual Artist Kirsten McCrea
[22] Hello Kirsten
[23] How the Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans Academy Programme and 1Password are driving female excellence
[24] Hot Topic – song by Le Tigre, video by Kirsten McCrea
[25] Hello Kirsten
[26] From Murals on ‘Odd Objects’ to Designing an F1 Academy Livery