Pablo Kalaka YWCA Abstract
- Title
- Pablo Kalaka YWCA Abstract
- Creator
- Pablo Kalaka
Pablo Kalaka was born in Chile in 1975 and was raised primarily in Venezuela. He is a painter by trade and has worked on many murals and illustrations for books. His art has been inspired by his Latin roots as well as his family’s political background. Kalaka has been creating street art in public places for many years in countries like South America, Central America, U.S., and Europe and in cities such as Caracas, Barcelona, and most recently Minneapolis. Kalaka has continued to live in the Twin Cites area since 2021 and has completed nearly 20 murals in Minneapolis and continues to do so to this day. - Date
- Date of Documentation: November 6, 2025
- Description
- This very colorful mural on the YWCA building in Minneapolis is a very energetic piece of art that brings life to the brick wall. The artist has chosen to use a very bright color palette with colors such as orange, pink, red, purple, black, and blue to make the wall stand out and give the dull brick more character. The mural is made up of many figures and shapes such as hands, lines, circles, and assorted curves that move and connect with each other and the other shapes. The design and use of these figures give the mural a playful tone with a lot of motion and moving parts making the wall very dynamic. Rather than a realistic scene, the artist goes for a more abstract approach for this mural and uses the color and shape to express more emotion and meaning. The big contrasts with the color palette and the many moving parts in the picture draws attention to the wall as a whole and not just to one specific or central part of the mural. The dynamic parts could be some kind of symbolism for a sense of community or teamwork. Overall, the mural gives much creativity and color to an otherwise bland and generic brick wall. The abstract style leaves messaging up to interpretation. The art work helps the building feel more welcoming with symbols of community, creativity, and togetherness in a very publicly visible area
- Subject
- The mural on the Minneapolis YWCA can be understood as a visual expression of empowerment, diversity, and community strength. It’s location on a building that stands for social justice and women’s equality already gives it a strong cultural and historical meaning. The mission and purpose of the YWCA of uplifting women connects directly with the mural’s bright and inclusive design. The artist uses flowing shapes, open hands, and bold colors to create symbolism for shared space and unity. The mural being in Minneapolis adds deeper context to the art work. In recent news, the city has been in the center or national talks about racial justice, equality, and equity especially following the events of the George Floyd murder in 202. Street art in Minneapolis has often become a way for communities to express powerful things like resilience, solidarity, and healing after major national tragedy. This mural fits in with this movement by using color and abstract shapes to show a sense of optimism rather than being another art piece that focuses on the pain and collective suffering of the city of Minneapolis. The mural’s abstract design allows people from many background to connect with it in their own way. The hand shapes may represent helping hands, community support, or empowerment. The overlapping shapes could symbolize how many people’s stories are linked and connected in many different ways.
- Source
- Kalaka. “Bio.” Kalaka, 2025, https://elkalaka.com/bio/. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
Lake Street Council. “Lake Street Art Drop with Pablo Kalaka.” Visit Lake Street, 6 June 2024, https://www.visitlakestreet.com/lsc-events-meetings-all/art-drop-june-2024. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
Files
Collection
Citation
Pablo Kalaka
Pablo Kalaka was born in Chile in 1975 and was raised primarily in Venezuela. He is a painter by trade and has worked on many murals and illustrations for books. His art has been inspired by his Latin roots as well as his family’s political background. Kalaka has been creating street art in public places for many years in countries like South America, Central America, U.S., and Europe and in cities such as Caracas, Barcelona, and most recently Minneapolis. Kalaka has continued to live in the Twin Cites area since 2021 and has completed nearly 20 murals in Minneapolis and continues to do so to this day., “Pablo Kalaka YWCA Abstract,” Museum in the streets: Murals in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, accessed March 10, 2026, https://mspmurals.omeka.net/items/show/93.