Martello Alley

Martello Alley Art Gallery - Unique art, decor and craft locally made Well that alley-way adventure literally just got a lot more intriguing, and colourful!
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Martello Alley - An Artful Adventure

The labyrinth of alley-ways in downtown Kingston are like little adventures we can explore everyday - full of surprises, intrigue and history. A turn here, a stone wall there, secret little balconies with a view of a court yard or a sculpture quietly, humbly hanging above your head - these are all gems that are unique to Kingston! We are excited to introduce y

ou to "Martello Alley"! When you venture down Martello Alley at 203 B Wellington Street, prepare to have a smile that only great art and creativity can create! Reminiscent of, and inspired by La Rue du Trésor in Québec this is an adventure with an wonderfully artistic ending! We are an artist collective offering eclectic works that are sure to brighten any day. Selling original art work as well as prints, this is a space designed for any budget and any style/size of space. Our work will adorn the walls of the alley tempting you further in to stroll the court yard; a work in progress that promises to be beautifully rich with local history and seasonal landscape design. Then wind up at the atelier where you will find a gallery and artists with their works in progress to welcome you at the end. Drop by and see what's new, meet an artist and have a cup of coffee with us. We would love to meet you! Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/MartelloAlley to read up about our artists and what's happening at Martello Alley! Thank you for shopping local and supporting Kingston arts! The Artists of Martello Alley

09/01/2026

Comme vous le savez, Martello Alley est situé au centre-ville de Kingston. Ce que je trouve vraiment amusant, c’est que les visiteurs qui viennent du Québec nous disent souvent que notre petite boutique leur rappelle Montréal. Et ce n’est pas un hasard! 😄

Nous avons toutes sortes de souvenirs et d’objets qui, de façon parfois assez subtile… ou pas du tout! 😉, donnent l’impression d’être à Montréal sans jamais dire explicitement « ceci est Montréal ».

Ces deux dames de Montréal ont été agréablement surprises et ravies de découvrir tout cela. Et elles ont été complètement épatées par la réalité augmentée que nous utilisons ici pour donner vie à certaines de nos peintures! 🎨✨

Je suis tellement heureux de voir que Martello Alley est devenu quelque chose de bien plus grand que ce que j’avais imaginé.

Pour ceux et celles qui vivent dans la région de Kingston et qui n’ont pas encore découvert notre petite boutique, venez nous voir! Après seulement 11 ans, notre petit magasin est devenu l’une des attractions touristiques incontournables de Kingston — et, selon TripAdvisor et plusieurs autres sources, le meilleur joyau caché de l’Ontario! ❤️

📍 Venez découvrir par vous-même notre petit coin de Montréal… à Kingston! 🇨🇦❤️

08/27/2026

🎉🎶 We have some VERY exciting news to share! 🎶🎉

We are absolutely thrilled for Jackie Findlay, one of the talented artists in our collective at both Martello Alley and Martello on Brock!

Jackie just sent us this wonderful email:

“Hi David,

It’s official! Never dreamed of this when I was at The Alley last summer. It really helped to perfect my songs by playing there!

Thanks a million!”

And now we know what she was working toward! ❤️

🏆 Jackie is a 2026 InterContinental Music Awards Winner in the North America – Alternative category! Her song “Awakening” was selected among the finalists in this year’s competition. (InterContinental Music Awards⁠)

The InterContinental Music Awards celebrate exceptional independent artists from around the world, recognizing excellence in songwriting, performance, production and innovation across a wide range of musical genres and cultures. The 2026 awards also introduced new categories recognizing Rising Stars (Youth) and AI Music.

We couldn’t be happier for Jackie. It is especially meaningful to know that performing at Martello Alley last summer helped her develop and perfect her songs.

This is exactly what we love about being a local artist collective — giving talented local creators a place to share their work, connect with people and grow.

Congratulations, Jackie! We are so proud of you! 🎶❤️🏆

And who knows… maybe a little bit of that Martello Alley magic helped along the way! 😉
Kingston Kingston

08/19/2026

🎸 Yes, we have some Tragically Hip merchandise at Martello Alley! 🇨🇦

If you’re a Hip fan—or just love a little piece of Canadian music history—we’ve got some fun Tragically Hip-inspired goodies, including keychains, fridge magnets, stickers, prints and more.

And there’s something especially fitting about finding Hip-related art right here in Kingston, the hometown of The Tragically Hip.

The band formed in Kingston in 1984, with all five original members attending the same high school. From those early days in Kingston, they went on to become one of the most beloved and influential Canadian bands of all time. Their music became woven into the fabric of Canadian life, and their legacy was cemented by their remarkable final tour and the emotional 2016 hometown concert. (The Hip Gift Shop⁠)

But here’s the Martello Alley twist: our Tragically Hip merchandise is created by local artists and makers. ❤️

That’s what we’re all about. Martello Alley is a locally owned, independent gallery and shop in downtown Kingston, and everything we sell is made by local artists and artisans. When you buy something here, you’re not just taking home a souvenir—you’re helping support the creative people who live and work in our community.

We have hundreds of unique pieces of locally made art, gifts, souvenirs, prints, jewellery, pottery, woodwork and so much more. And, of course, you never quite know what you’re going to discover when you wander down our little French-inspired alley!

📍 Martello Alley
203 B Wellington Street, Kingston
🕙 Open almost every day, 10 AM–5 PM

Come have a look, discover some local talent, and maybe take home a little piece of Kingston—and a little bit of The Hip—with you.

Because, as Kingston knows better than most, some music never really leaves us. 🎶❤️

ShopLocal SupportLocalArtists MadeInKingston CanadianMusic LocalArt KingstonArtists OntarioMade

08/18/2026

Well, that’s another painting sold with the help of Augify! 🎨📱

A customer was impressed by how some of the paintings in our stores can literally “come to life” when scanned with the free Augify app. She asked if I could animate my painting “La Bataille” — and told me that if I could, she would buy it.

So… I animated it, and she bought it! 😄

That makes SIX paintings sold in just over two weeks that were animated using Augify. And honestly, I’m becoming a pretty big fan of this technology.

Augify is a Montréal-developed augmented reality app that lets you scan artwork, products and other images and add animation and interactive digital content to them. It’s free to download and use, and customers can simply scan participating artwork with their phone to see something they wouldn’t normally see hanging on a wall.

We’ve been experimenting with it at Martello Alley and Martello on Brock, and it’s turning the shopping experience into something much more interactive and memorable.

If you’re an artist, gallery owner, retailer, restaurateur, museum, tourism operator, or really any business owner…

Why are you NOT using Augify? 🤔

I have no financial interest in Augify. I’m just experimenting with it, and so far, I’m pretty impressed with what it can do.

And apparently, so are our customers! 😁

KingstonOntario ShopLocal MadeInCanada CanadianArt ArtAndTechnology

08/16/2026

✨ Experience Martello Alley in a Whole New Way with Augmented Reality! ✨

We’ve been experimenting with something pretty amazing at Martello Alley—and now you can experience it for yourself! 📱🎨

We’ve added Augmented Reality (AR) to our stores using the Augify app. With the app on your iPhone or Android device, you can simply log in as a guest, scan selected artwork, and watch it come to life right in front of you! 🤯

And we’re not stopping there…

🚀 Coming soon: We’ll be adding AR experiences that bring the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s Montreal themes of our store to life too!

Best of all, Augify is completely FREE to use.

So, before you visit us, why not download the app and log in as a guest? That way, you’ll be ready to explore our artwork and discover the extra layers of our gallery experience when you arrive.

📲 Download Augify:
• Find the link in our Instagram bio
• Or search “Augify” in the App Store or Google Play Store

Come see what happens when art comes to life! 🎨✨

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08/10/2026

🎭 WHAT A WONDERFUL VISIT FROM “WHO IS ESTHER”! 🎶✨

A couple of days ago, we had the absolute pleasure of welcoming the cast of Who Is Esther to Martello Alley, where they treated us—and our unsuspecting visitors—to a little taste of their show!

And what a treat it was! ❤️

The cast brought so much energy, talent and enthusiasm to our courtyard. Our visitors loved it, and so did we! It was one of those spontaneous Martello Alley moments that makes you realize just how much incredible talent is happening right here in Kingston.

Who Is Esther is part of Kingston’s Kick & Push Festival and is a new urban musical by Randall Craig.

Meet Esther, a modern-day heroine who inspires people to believe that each person can make a difference.

And guess what? There are still performances coming up! 🎭

📅 Show Dates:
• August 10 — 1:45 PM
• August 14 — 7:00 PM
• August 15 — 12:45 PM
• August 16 — 5:45 PM

📍 Rehearsal Hall, Room 203
Tett Centre
370 King St. W., Kingston

If you’re looking for something different, entertaining and inspiring to do in Kingston, GO SEE THIS SHOW!

🎟️ Buy your tickets and come out to support these wonderful and talented performers. They certainly made our day at Martello Alley!

👉 Tickets & information: The Kick & Push Festival – Who Is Esther⁠

And who knows… maybe they’ll come back and perform for us again! 😉🎶

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Kingston Kingston

08/10/2026

APOLOGIES- I left out the clip showing Lucy’s painting Fred & Ethel on Brock Street.
So here is the amended video.

🎨 WAIT… DID THAT PAINTING JUST MOVE?! 👀

Yes! Something pretty exciting is happening at Martello Alley — we’re bringing artwork to life with Augmented Reality! 🤯

Download the FREE Augify app, log in as a guest, scan selected pieces throughout the gallery… and watch what happens!

🐝 A bee flies and buzzes right out of Rosanna Salter’s artwork.

🐉 A dragon in Elaine Burke’s new painting flaps its wings and breathes fire! 🔥

🪿 Lucy Carvalho DeSousa’s Canada geese stroll around Market Square.

🦝 Karen Leggo’s raccoon family looks around as if they’re searching for trouble.

🏒 Two of my paintings come to life with kids playing King of the Castle and having a snowball fight. ❄️

🍷 And outside in the courtyard, one of my painted screens has a wine bottle that actually pours wine into the glass!

This is just the beginning. We’re having WAY too much fun bringing art to life — and it adds a whole new dimension to the gallery experience.

Come try it yourself! Download Augify, scan the artwork and see what happens. 📱✨

📍 Martello Alley — 203 Wellington Street, Kingston
🕙 Open daily 10–5

Come see the art… and watch it come alive! 👀🎨

08/10/2026

🎨 WAIT… DID THAT PAINTING JUST MOVE?! 👀

Yes! Something pretty exciting is happening at Martello Alley — we’re bringing artwork to life with Augmented Reality! 🤯

Download the FREE Augify app, log in as a guest, scan selected pieces throughout the gallery… and watch what happens!

🐝 A bee flies and buzzes right out of Rosanna Salter’s artwork.

🐉 A dragon in Elaine Burke’s new painting flaps its wings and breathes fire! 🔥

🪿 Lucy Carvalho DeSousa’s Canada geese stroll around Market Square.

🦝 Karen Leggo’s raccoon family looks around as if they’re searching for trouble.

🏒 Two of my paintings come to life with kids playing King of the Castle and having a snowball fight. ❄️

🍷 And outside in the courtyard, one of my painted screens has a wine bottle that actually pours wine into the glass!

This is just the beginning. We’re having WAY too much fun bringing art to life — and it adds a whole new dimension to the gallery experience.

Come try it yourself! Download Augify, scan the artwork and see what happens. 📱✨

📍 Martello Alley — 203 Wellington Street, Kingston
🕙 Open daily 10–5

Come see the art… and watch it come alive! 👀🎨

08/08/2026

🚨 YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN AT MARTELLO ALLEY! 🚨

Martello Alley is ALWAYS fun and exciting… but today was something else! 🎭🎨📸

We’re thrilled to be hosting a special pop-up performance by Esther, who will be performing at the Kingston Fringe Festival this weekend, starting tonight at the J.K. Tett Creativity Centre.

They asked if they could do a short performance right here in our courtyard.

Of course I said YES!!! 😄

And WOW! What a dynamic and talented group. Our little courtyard suddenly became a stage, and it was fantastic!

But wait… there’s more! 👀

Today we also welcomed Joshua from Blink Media, based in Argentina. He’s from Toronto but has come to Kingston to photograph some of our city’s most iconic, unique and—of course—hidden places for a feature on Kingston for Booking.com.

And naturally, Martello Alley was on their list! 📸

Welcome to Kingston, Joshua! There are SO many fascinating places to discover here, and I’m happy to help show you around my hometown and point out some of its hidden gems.

And speaking of hidden gems…

⭐ Tripadvisor rates Martello Alley as Ontario’s #1 Hidden Gem! ⭐

There’s always something happening here—and now there’s another reason to visit:

🎨 Selected pieces of art at Martello Alley can actually COME ALIVE!

Scan them with the FREE Augify app and watch the artwork move right before your eyes. It’s a whole new way to experience—and sell—art!

So if you’re visiting Kingston, don’t just walk past Martello Alley. Come inside and see what’s happening!

You never know what—or WHO—you might find in our courtyard! ❤️

📍 Martello Alley
🎭 Art • Music • Performance • Surprises • Hidden Gems

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram so you don’t miss what happens next!

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08/07/2026

🎨✨ Another painting has come to life at Martello on Brock!

Our latest Augify experience features “Night Skate – City Hall” by Pat Shea. Watch as the skaters glide across the ice, bringing this beautiful winter scene to life. You can almost feel the crisp evening air and hear the sound of skates cutting across the ice.

This is what makes Augify so exciting. It adds an entirely new dimension to art, transforming a traditional painting into an immersive experience right before your eyes.

Best of all, it’s easy to try! Simply download the free Augify app, open it, and scan the painting. In seconds, you’ll see the artwork come alive.

Photos are wonderful. Paintings are beautiful. But when art starts to move… that’s something you have to experience for yourself.

Come visit us at Martello on Brock and see the magic of augmented reality in action!

Address

203 B Wellington Street
Kingston, ON
K7K2Y6

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+16137672966

Website

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