Public Art Beyond Walls

Some projects begin with a wall. This one began with a truck.

The City of Nichols Hills launched a public art program with its inaugural project that selected me and three other artists, Taylor Clark & Mack Brim, Chase Spivey, and Tara Juozitiz to create artwork for four of their sanitation vehicles.

I've painted murals and designed artwork for a variety of spaces, but I never imagined one of my designs would travel through an entire city.

Nearly a year after the initial call for artists, countless meetings, revisions, and design drafts, Portal to Peace finally became a reality.

The design draws inspiration from the work of South African artist Esther Mahlangu, whose bold geometric patterns first captured my attention during my visit to Art Basel in Miami Beach last year.

My trip to Miami Art Basel with Oklahoma Contemporary was well worth the research.

I was fascinated by the way she uses pattern as both decoration and language. That influence can be seen throughout the piece in the repeated diamonds, circles, lines, and radiating forms that wrap around the truck.

Portal to Peace was designed to offer a moment of pause amid the routines of daily life. Through repetition, symmetry, and color, the piece invites viewers to find a sense of balance, even if only for a moment, amidst the chaos of everyday life.

I've always been interested in how color and pattern can change the way we experience a place. While public art is often associated with murals or sculptures, I love the idea that it can also exist within the systems we interact with every day.

Repeating circles, diamonds, and lines seamlessly wrap around the vehicle from every angle.

What makes this project unique is that it doesn't stay in one location. The truck travels throughout Nichols Hills as part of its regular collection routes, bringing art directly into neighborhoods and becoming part of the city's daily rhythm.

There's something special about encountering art where you least expect it. A sanitation truck may not be the first place someone looks for beauty, but that's exactly why projects like this matter.

The new trucks will travel throughout Nichols Hills as part of the city's regular sanitation routes.

I'm grateful to the City of Nichols Hills for trusting me with this opportunity and excited to see Portal to Peace continue its journey through the city.

Special thanks to Melissa Scaramucci for spearheading this project, encouraging me to apply, and to Metro Emergency Upfitters, who completed the vinyl installation with finesse.

Watch their installation process here and see more photos below: