Pompei(i) | Pompei Street Festival
Painted for the 2023 Pompei Street Festival, this mural plays with the illusion of dimensionality while visually connecting the modern-day city of Pompei with its past (more on this below).
Location: Pompei, Italy • 8.1 m x 2.6 m
To map out the design, I created a grid using measuring tape and a chalk line. From there, I began loosely sketching the outlines of the shapes, improvising their exact heights and sizes to create a dynamic variety across the composition. Once those were done, I retraced over them to create dark and crisp lines.
My mornings were fuelled by a special perk: coffee from Alban Cafe, a lovely coffeeshop across the street whose barista turned the mural into latte art!
Image by Lucy Palomba
On the left of the design, the dimensional blocks are carved into the ground, reminiscent of an aeriel view of the ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii, which had been buried beneath 10m of ashes. Across the mural, they slowly rise up, stretching upwards into the thriving modern city of Pompei, with its buildings and bustling daily life.
