Toronto Artist Creates Playing Card Deck Inspired by City’s Architecture
Toronto artist Alina Sloan is designing a 52-card deck celebrating the city’s iconic buildings, with 27 designs completed as of March 2026. The project blends Sloan’s artistic passion with her background in architectural engineering.
From Engineering to Art
Alina Sloan graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in architectural engineering in 2024.1 After briefly working in the field, she decided to pursue art full-time, seeking a way to integrate her engineering knowledge into her creative work.
The Toronto Architecture Card Deck
Last fall, Sloan began developing a deck of cards featuring Toronto’s most recognizable structures. “I was sort of brainstorming what the cards would be, and I was like, ‘This would be really cool,’ because I love architecture. And then I could learn more about the city that I moved to…and really connect with people about what they like about the city, and learn more about the history,” she explained.
Her process involves researching buildings online, sketching initial designs, and then creating the final illustrated and colored cards. Sloan shares her progress and the history of each building on social media.1
Progress and Favorite Buildings
As of March 2026, Sloan has completed 27 of the 52 cards, aiming to finish the entire deck this fall. She is also designing the back of the cards, a process she describes as still “brewing.”1
Sloan’s favorite buildings featured so far include the Rogers Centre, the Cube House, The Royal Conservatory of Music, and OCAD’s Rosalie Sharp Centre for Design.1
Community Input and Future Plans
Even as Sloan initially selected buildings independently, she has incorporated suggestions from online viewers and local historians. She acknowledges the challenge of balancing buildings that are commercially recognizable with those that are beloved by Toronto residents.1
Sloan plans to offer the completed deck for sale on her website and potentially in local Toronto stores, as several have expressed interest.1 In addition to the card deck, she creates commission pieces, prints, and stickers, often with Toronto themes.
Looking ahead, Sloan intends to create vintage-style art and postcards of Toronto, anticipating opportunities related to upcoming events like the World Cup. She was inspired by the art she encountered during a recent family trip to the Olympics in Milan.1
Sloan will continue to share her progress on social media.