New Floating Artwork Animates Toronto’s Inner Harbour
PUBLISHED: August 21, 2025
In This Blog:
- A new Temporary Floating Artwork commissioned by Waterfront Toronto is on view in the Harbour Square Basin now through early October.
- IT COMES IN WAVES, by Ben Johnston uses large, yellow, drifting letters to evoke the emotional and environmental rhythms that shape our lives.
- IT COMES IN WAVES is the fifth installment of Waterfront Toronto’s temporary floating art program, part of a broader public art program that creates dynamic cultural experiences by the lake, drawing visitors to the waterfront all year round.
- The work blends typographic form with spatial experience, using language not as a fixed object, but as a fluid, living element that shifts with wind, weather, and waves.
- Ben Johnson shares more about his inspiration, process and hopes for the piece.
There’s a new floating presence along the water’s edge at Harbour Square Park Basin called, IT COMES IN WAVES, a striking temporary installation by Toronto-based artist and designer Ben Johnston. On view until the beginning of October, IT COMES IN WAVES is the fifth installment of Waterfront Toronto’s temporary floating art program, part of a broader temporary public art program that creates dynamic cultural experiences by the lake, drawing visitors to the waterfront all year round.
In late 2024, a call for submissions was shared with 12 shortlisted artists for the 2025 installation. Seven proposals were submitted, and in February 2025, Ben Johnston’s concept was selected as the winner by an evaluation team, comprised of arts professionals and subject matter experts, including:
- Waterfront BIA: Dorsa Alizadeh-Shabani, Operations Manager
- The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery: Adelina Vlas, Artistic Director
- The Bentway: Alex Rand, Manager of Programming
- Artist: Hima Batavia, Freelance Artist and Lead Consultant at OCAD University
- Artist: Javid Jah, Freelance Artist and Floating Art Artist in 2024
The installation features large, powder-coated yellow letters measuring 30 inches in height, welded to a lightweight aluminum frame. The entire structure floats on the water using dock floats and is anchored in place with concrete blocks for stability. Solar LED lighting supports safety and visibility at night.
The artwork is fabricated by Trevor Wheatley and Cosmo Dean, along with a dedicated welding team.
Behind the Artwork: Interview with Ben Johnston
We spoke with artist Ben Johnston to learn more about his inspiration, process, and hopes for IT COMES IN WAVES.
Q. What inspired you to create IT COMES IN WAVES?
The phrase came to me during a wild and chaotic time, some emotional ups and downs, but also the birth of my son. It was a mix of joy, change, and a little bit of overwhelm. The idea of things arriving and fading – like emotions, like waves – just felt right. Water became the perfect metaphor, and the piece grew from there.
Q. What were the biggest challenges in making it float?
I’m used to solid walls, not moving water, that alone was a learning curve. The letters had to stay upright, legible, and safe, while still able to drift naturally. We had to work with unpredictability instead of against it, and in the end, that shifting quality became a key part of the work.
Q. What do you want people to feel when they see it?
Ideally, they pause. Maybe the phrase hits home, maybe they just enjoy how it moves. It’s always changing and shifting with the wind – like life. Some days it’s calm, other days it’s scattered. I wanted it to feel open, so people could bring whatever they’re feeling to it.
Q. What’s next for you?
I’ve got a few big murals coming up in Toronto, Hamburg, and Greece. I’m also exploring new mediums within sculpture, with an inflatable piece being installed shortly for Yorkville Murals, and more permanent public installations. I’m interested in how text can live out in the world... not just be read, but felt and experienced.
See IT COME IN WAVES in the Water
You can experience IT COMES IN WAVES now until early October in the Harbour Square Park Basin. The floating letters are best viewed from the promenade west of the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, the adjacent boardwalk, or nearby ferries and watercraft. All paddlers, kayakers, and boaters are asked to enjoy the floating artwork from a safe distance. Paddling too close or between the letter islands could cause damage to the artwork. Please respect all posted signage and help us ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
If you are interested in learning more about the artist and designer Ben Johnston and his other work, visit his official website.
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