Two more building facades in Downtown Hollywood are being transformed into eye-catching works of art with the creation of stunning murals by three South Florida artists. A mural installation recently completed at 115 N. 21st Avenue and a second at 2050 Hollywood Boulevard are the latest in a series of outdoor works by established local contemporary artists that currently adorn 24 downtown properties between 21st Avenue and U.S. 1.
Launched in August 2012 by the City of Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), the mission of the Downtown Hollywood Mural Project (DHMP) is to beautify and add culture to the downtown area one wall at a time. The first of the two new murals was created by South Beach-based Yuhmi Collective, husband-and-wife art duo Victor and Michelle Vasquez, who were captivated by Hollywood founder Joseph Young's "Dream City" vision and the founding story of how "Hollywood by the Sea" was created and transformed through the years. The colorful pastel-hued mural depicts a whimsical undersea scene featuring a mermaid and other sea creatures and reflects the couple's East Asian influence. The latest mural is the vision of Miami muralist and fine-art painter Fabio Onrack. Onrack's mural features realistic black-and-white portraits of renowned artists Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Onrack's work reflects his artistic passion for painting people and places and his exploratory style of painting three-dimensional elements with expressive movement and emotion.
"I am really excited to have two new gorgeous DHMP murals added to our collection in Downtown Hollywood," said Jill C. Weisberg, CRA art specialist/project manager. "One of the great things about both murals is that they are in super-prominent locations." The Yuhmi Collective mural is located on the southeast corner of 21st Avenue and Tyler Street, and Onrack's mural is on the south side of Hollywood Boulevard at 21st Avenue. "Thousands of cars will see a beautiful mermaid and her sea turtle friends as they drive by or are waiting at the traffic light," Weisberg said. "The second mural site faces west, so viewers entering the gateway to Downtown Hollywood will be welcomed by three famous artist portraits."The addition of outdoor murals at key locations in the historic arts, music and entertainment district is designed to enhance and enrich the existing cultural fabric of the community, thereby attracting more art-related activities, businesses and events. To learn more about the DHMP, visit www.DowntownHollywoodMuralProject.org.