Cecilia Lueza
Artist at Work
From sculpture, to painting, to murals, to installations, Argentine-American artist Cecilia Lueza is well known throughout the US, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Argentina for her vibrant public art pieces. Lueza uses a range of media to showcase her visually striking and colorful scenes with lively images, incorporating elements of geometry and the natural world.
Chapel Hill Street mural, Durham 2020
Photo by Leroy Ali-Osman
How did your education at University of La Plata in Buenos Aires equip you to make art on the streets and walls of America today?
That’s where I learned the basics.
Common Ground
It took me a few years after art school to realize that art can have a bigger and lasting impact if taken outside the gallery walls and shared with people from all walks of life, while also adding beauty and meaning to places that otherwise would go unnoticed.
Why murals?
Because murals have the power to transform public spaces and bring people together.
What is the main influence in your art?
Nature.
Your art often depicts women, birds, and children.
Why?
I think they have an evocative quality and embody universal meaning such as innocence, beauty, freedom, etc.
What is the significance of the color you use? What inspires you to make such vivid depictions, especially rainbows?
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT
Ground mural. 164 x 11 feet
I have always been fascinated by the visual effects of color. What people perceive as rainbows are actually color gradations. I like to use different shades of the same color in order to create the effect of motion and depth.
What is an ideal space for your mural?
Any urban space is ideal, especially large building façades.
How does one get started in making art of such large proportions?
SKYLANES
21, 600 square feet
The beginnings are challenging. Becoming a professional mural artist is a learning curve that can be mastered if we are patient, disciplined and have perseverance. Once we find our voice, great things will come our way.
What are the general challenges in constructing a mural?
Bad weather and close-minded people.
Who is your favorite artist?
I have more than one, but among the top ones are Georgia O’keefe and Francis Bacon.