“Florita Rosa”
Location: Museum of Boulder
2205 Broadway Boulder, CO 80302
2023 Street Wise x Black Love Mural Battle at [placeholder] festival
Photos by Max Brager, Leah Brenner Clack, and Dona Laurita
Selah Laurel created a three-dimensional mural during our Street Wise x Black Love Mural Battle at [placeholder] festival this fall. Her incredibly unique “Florita Rosa” combines painting and sculpture.
The artist creates a base for the three-dimensional elements of the work by painting the figure's face, neck, and shoulders on the canvas. The figure’s regal elongated neck stems from her slim shoulders. Her otherworldly blue skin dotted with clusters of freckles radiates from her body. Only the figure’s button nose and red pursed lips remain visible.
A bouquet of blues, yellows, purples, oranges, and pinks splashes across the canvas, replacing the figure’s hair and eyes. Selah fabricated each flower using foam sheets and tennis balls, spray painting each on-site to create a one-of-a-kind arrangement.
Rather than create a portrait of a specific person, Selah seeks to construct a mirror for viewers to envision themselves within her artwork. This mural is part of the artist’s “Florita” series inspired by a drawing she created for her young cousin. It serves as an expression of her multiracial family, speaking specifically to her Latina roots.
Head to the Museum of Boulder to view Selah's mural! You'll find it on the west side of the parking lot.