Why I love painting big: all the madness and magic | Silvia Lopez Chavez | TEDxBoston

Why I love to paint big walls. A visual journey on how the magic happens. Murals can transform spaces and hearts, making the world to a more connected, beautiful place. Art, Community, Connection, Creation, Creativity, Culture, Empowerment, Street Art, Women Silvia López Chavez is a Dominican-American painter and designer who works at the intersection of art, design, and community. A brilliant colorist, López Chavez’ murals transform architecture worldwide. From murals to product design and brand collaborations, López Chavez’ technical expertise transcends traditional categories. She is as fluent in digital illustration as in fine art and never shies away from technology’s cutting edge. For López Chavez, every project provides its own context. She begins with a site-specific inquiry into the client or community’s goals that often surfaces the desire to bring awareness to contemporary issues of social and environmental justice. As evidenced by many of her celebrated murals, her work in the public realm provokes collective consciousness and inspires joint ownership of the art by virtue of its placekeeping process. She is a frequent collaborator with urban planners, architects, non-profits, developers, and activists on public art projects. Art commissions include the U.S. Chinese Embassy in Beijing, the Charles River Esplanade created in tandem with Now + There Inc., Harvard University, Punto Urban Art Museum, and Northeastern University. Her works are in the private collections of Google, Twitter, Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Barr Foundation. Mural festivals include SeaWalls Boston, Artists for Oceans, Underground InkBlock, and Central Murals. She has been invited to residencies at Vermont Studio Center, Haystack, and the AIR Program at Google HQ in California. López Chavez was recently named a Neighborhood Salon Luminary by the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and awarded the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) Leadership in Public Art award in 2021. Integral to López Chavez’ practice is providing opportunities for the next generation of female artists to express their visual voice. As her career continues to expand internationally, she remains true to her vision: to make art with others and create beauty that also tells a truth. She is a proud alumna of Altos de Chavon School of Art & Design in the Dominican Republic and Massachusetts College of Art & Design. Resume available upon request. Instagram: @silvialopezchavez LinkedIn: @SilviaLopezChavez Twitter: @Art_Design_Love This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

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