Aruba Mural Festival 2024

Aruba! This wasn’t a smooth sailing job by any means. I had to navigate high-voltage electricity cables, an uneven ground surface that kept threatening to tip my scissor lift, and weather my English skin couldn’t handle. But I LOVED my time in Aruba. I felt incredibly lucky to be invited to this paradise, where the people and hospitality were so vibrant and warm. There’s something magical about the colour of the ocean in the Caribbean.

This mural draws its meaning from several sources:

Firstly, the palette combines the blue, yellow, and red (with a tiny glimpse in the star) of the Aruban flag. The yellow in the flag partly recalls the island’s former gold industry and the unique four-pointed red star is an emblem of Arubans’ pride in their island and their struggle for liberty.

The gold lady herself embodies the spirit of the carnival that takes place in the town of St. Nicholas (where this is painted) every year.

This is the first mural I’ve painted entirely without spray paint! All the practice with the spray gun in the studio has paid off—I have so much more control with it now. I didn’t have to wear a mask to navigate spray fumes, just some protection against paint particles. In the sun, not having a full-face mask was such a blessing. Definitely a case of progress, not perfection.

The wall was in full sunlight from 9 AM to 6 PM, and the heat was intense—I even gave myself sunstroke one day! To manage this, I adjusted my schedule to work in two shifts: the first from 6 AM to 10 AM and the second from 5 PM to 11 PM. While this was exhausting for my sleep routine, it had its perks. I got to enjoy the beach and the stunning island during the day and even sneak in a piña colada.

Thank you, Aruba, for showing me this wonderful part of the world and treating me so beautifully. The work you’re doing to transform St. Nicholas is inspiring and speaks to the power of street art.

Danke, Aruba Ariba!