Murals That Never Happened (and why that's okay, in some cases)
Not every mural makes it to the wall, and honestly, that's okay. Sometimes projects fall through. Budgets shift. Walls get repainted. Permits get held up. At other times, a dream client disappears halfway through the planning process.
I used to take these moments personally. Now, I see them as part of the creative cycle. Let me tell you about a few that didn't make it:
1. The Monochromatic Paradise at a BIA
This was a call for submissions. I have many like that; you put hours of work into something extraordinary, only to have them insist on seeing a sketch. I disagree with this practice. It is unpaid work, and it doesn't pay off. I still think this would look amazing on a wall. If you are interested, please let me know.
Mock-up of a submission for an open call
2. The Typographic Wall That Went a Different Direction
I pitched a bold typographic piece with flowing florals. They liked it, but ultimately chose a another artist. And that's okay. Art is about fit, and I'm glad they found theirs. Plus, I still love the concept and may revisit it one day.
3. A private client who ghosted me.
This one hurt. It was meaningful. A lot of work had been done in preparing the estimate, the mural agreement, and two meetings. I also visited the space, discussed it back and forth, and even sent a first sketch (a low-res one, but still, a no-no). Because they said, 'Let's do it.' I have trusted the process. Usually, I do not work without an agreement, but I saw they were very interested... and then... NADA. They stopped replying, and here I am.
Mock-up for a garage door in Toronto. Tropical Mural
4. The big wall finalist
This year, I had the fantastic opportunity to be a finalist for a massive wall. The theme was Yellow Oasis, and the community spoke via votes; I lost. For this one, I am thrilled that my friend Yasaman got it, because I had the incredible opportunity to still assist her in creating this wall.
Mock-up for Yellow Oasis by STEPS
✨ Still dreaming of a wall that tells your story?
If one of these ideas made your heart skip a beat, let's talk. Some of these designs are still looking for a wall to call home; maybe yours? 🎨
Whether you have a café, a clinic, a community space, a garage door, or a giant concrete dream, I'd love to explore it with you.
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