Browse Items (4 total)
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In Bloom Together
This beautiful mural depicts an array of foliage including some basic looking leaves and some vibrant and detailed flowers. This mural was done on the side of a large wall and was made using paint; no special spray paint or wheat paste was used here. This mural to me combines the urban aspect with the natural organic side of the city. The abstract flat blocks of color behind the intertwining vines and flowers are a stark contrast to the very urban layout of the building and the parking lot.
Given that this mural was done on the side of MidCity Kitchen where there are often farmers markets and community organizations, the flowers are a nice addition to the overall feeling of nature and connectivity to community. I also really enjoy the colors used in this piece. The yellows, deep greens, teal, bright red and orange all give off a very positive feeling almost like the feeling of unity and beauty and I can’t help but feel very joyous looking at it.
The movement of this mural is mostly vertical, with the stems of the leaves and plants going from the bottom of the building all the way to the top for the most part. I think the little variations and different directions play into the natural side of things saying that not everything is perfectly linear in nature. I notice there are large blocks and organic shapes of color on the very background to give it more depth, so it isn’t just on a one colored background.
I was lucky enough to see this mural start, and, in that process, I noticed the artist had painted the whole wall white first, probably because the original color is a deep red brick and then made colored outlines of all the flowers first. This confused me because I would have expected the background colors to be done first, so it was interesting to see that process. This mural provides the space with a much more vibrant and welcoming vibe and improves the overall aesthetic of the area.
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Ven, Seremos
This mural is large and takes up most of the wall/side of the building, but does not fill the entire wall. The visuals in this mural are arranged mostly clustered on the right-hand side of the wall, somewhat symmetrically. The butterflies spread out and reach along the left-hand side of the wall, away from the main part of the mural. The hands and flower draw the initial attention because of their larger size in comparison to the smaller butterflies. This mural gives the illusion of three-dimensions because of the overlapping elements. Some of the components of the mural are also physically attached on top of the wall, rather than being painted straight on. This really gives the illusion that the mural actually is three-dimensional because the hands, flower, and first butterfly all feel like they are coming out at you, contrasting from the flatter vegetables on the bottom, especially when viewed from a side angle. The shading of the flower gives the appearance that it is opening to the left side, as well as showing that the butterfly is actually flying into the center. The artist used natural forms (plants and animals) of various sizes to create this mural. Most of the forms in this mural are created using sharp, clean lines to create borders and outlines that separate the different elements from each other. Within each component (example, leaf coming off flower), the lines are a little bit softer and appear to be more blended in. This mural has four dominant colors: orange, purple, green, and blue. The darker colors of purple and green in the flower and hands help contrast it from the brighter orange used in the butterflies, and the lighter blue circle acts as a good background for the main part of the mural to help it stand out from the dark black wall. The vegetables painted at the bottom of the mural continue to use these colors, which helps everything feel connected. Depending on which side the mural is viewed from, the light creates a shadow from the 3D aspect of the flower and hands on one side, and the other side appears to be less shaded and more blended into the wall. During the daylight, the lightness of the butterflies is especially emphasized in contrast to the darker shades in the rest of the mural. Walking up close to this mural, you can see the components that come off of the wall, which provides a more uneven texture rather than the entire thing being flat. I imagine the parts of the mural that are directly on the wall had to have been done with some type of brush due to how clean the borders are and how there is no appearance of any drips from spray paint. There is some repetition in the three butterflies, as well as the leaves on the flower and the symmetry of the vegetables on the bottom of the mural. -
Beauty is Everywhere
The mural uses curvy lines to form organic shapes like the petals, leaves, and butterfly wings. The outlines are bold and clean. The curved lines and rounded forms give the mural movement and liveliness. The colors used in this mural are saturated and high contrast. It uses intense reds, yellows, purples, oranges, greens, and blues. The bright blue background makes these colors stand out even more. There are complementary color pairings that create energy and depth in the mural. Although the surface of this mural is flat, there is texture through the layered colors and shaded tones when looking at the flower petals and butterfly wings. The overlapping creates visual texture on the mural, making it look full. The texture of the building’s surface adds a specific look to the paint on the wall, making it look a bit rough, which intensifies the organic feel of the mural. The mural has a sense of brightness across all elements because there is not one single light source used. This makes the mural feel more festive. This mural was painted on an exterior wall and is surrounded by a wooden pergola and hanging plants. The design has an arrangement of flowers, butterflies, and other foliage. This mural does not have a single focal point; instead, the viewer looks across the wall from one flower or butterfly to the next one. -
Wild Seed Mural
Witt Siasoco's Wild Seed Mural beautifully explores the balance between nature and urbanization, presenting themes of growth, resilience, and hope. At the center of the mural is a young boy kneeling with quiet determination, either planting or picking a bright yellow flower. His small act of care in the middle of an industrial landscape symbolizes life’s ability to thrive, even in the harshest conditions, and reminds us of the potential for renewal in unexpected places.
The boy’s vivid red hat and blue-and-white striped shirt immediately catch the viewer’s eye, standing out against the muted black-and-white tones of the sprawling city behind him. This contrast makes him a powerful symbol of hope and change. The yellow flower he tends adds another layer of meaning, representing vitality and possibility, and together, the boy and the flower tell a story of resilience and the ability to find beauty in unlikely spaces.
In the background, construction equipment subtly frames the scene, hinting at the tension between nature and urban development. While machinery often represents destruction, here it suggests that growth and transformation can coexist with progress. Siasoco’s artistic choice to use organic, flowing lines for the boy and flower contrasts sharply with the geometric and mechanical feel of the cityscape, further emphasizing this tension.
The mural’s large scale and layered details draw viewers into the scene, inviting them to reflect on their relationship with the environment. The vast cityscape in the background highlights the enormity of urban challenges, yet the boy’s small but meaningful act serves as a reminder that even the simplest actions can spark change. The piece inspires hope for a future where urban and natural elements are not in conflict but work together in harmony.