Epic Struggle / Battle Royal

Martin Cabrales, Yahir Garcia, Mariella Gutiérrez, Israel Macedo, Jonathan Paz Pureco, Carlos Poblano, Giselle Reyes, and Sebastian Vela created Epic Struggle / Battle Royal in 2023 as part of the Richmond Art Center’s S.P.O.T.S. (“Supporting Peoples’ Outlooks, Talents and Speech”) summer public arts program. The mural was guided by lead artists Keena Romano and Fredericko Alvarado, with special assistance from Vince De Jesus to make the work interactive. This large-scale wall painting features fantastical imagery including a gnome, robots, a Godzilla-like monster, dreamlike bridges, and symbolic landscapes blending nature and urban elements. The youth artists contributed individual touches—such as UFOs, aliens, and ecological motifs—while together exploring themes of technology, advocacy, imagination, and environmental struggle. Notably, the mural incorporates interactive “touch points” and sound elements, inviting viewers to decide whether the characters are heroes or villains. The work reflects the collaborative spirit of S.P.O.T.S. and demonstrates how public art empowers youth voices through creativity, storytelling, and social commentary.

Source:

https://richmondartcenter.org/events/epic-struggle-2/