Ventura (2024), Festa da Luz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. All images courtesy of Amanda Lobos, shared with permissionFantastical Figures Illuminate Urban Buildings in Amanda Lobos Murals and InstallationsFebruary 20, 2025Kate MothesVibrant contrasts, eye-opening patterns, and mischievous creatures are just a few of the characteristics of Brazilian artist Amanda Lobos beguiling scenes. Based in Vila Velha, about an eight-hour drive up the coast from Rio de Janeiro, Lobos works extensively across a range of mediums, from graphic and product design to murals and public installations.A large-scale inflatable work titled Ventura was installed last year on the top of a building in the city of Belo Horizonte. Lobos calls upon the philosophy of Indigenous Brazilian environmentalist and philosopher Ailton Krenak, who posits that humankind should live in harmony with nature rather than trying to control it.Mural for Festival Nalata (2023), 5 x 8 meters. Av. Faria Lima n822, So Paulo, BrazilLobos all-seeing Ventura, which translates to fortune, perches on a corner of a tall building and oversees its domain, double-faced with two eyes on each side and one of its legs curled up casually on the ledge.This work is about the agony and dilemma of returning a star to the sky, Lobos says in a statement, describing Ventura as condemned to the duality of the fantastic and the real.Much of the artists work is intentionally left open to interpretation. I believe that what I want to communicate to viewers is already embedded in my work visually, allowing them to interpret it however they wishthats the beauty of it! Lobos tells Colossal. I dont like to be too literal or overly serious with my concepts; I enjoy the creative process and the freedom it gives me.In vivid murals, Lobos applies a similar juxtaposition of mystery and play, as coy characters dance within colorful panels or long walls illuminate the joys of learning. An expansive mural at a school in the Jardim Limoeiro neighborhood of Serra celebrates science, art, curiosity, and play.MC.Arte mural for the Penlope Municipal Early Childhood Education Center in Jardim Limoeiro, Serra, Esprito Santo, Brazil (2023). Photo by Ana LuzesMy favorite thing about painting muralsbesides seeing them come to life on a large scale from an initial sketch on paper or a 30-centimeter canvasis the process itself, Lobos tells Colossal. She adds:Executing the piece and watching it unfold is truly special. The feeling of applying paint with no Ctrl+Z is humbling, and working on such a large surface teaches you to embrace mistakes and adapt in new ways. Every wall is a fresh learning experience.Lobos is soon heading to Mexico to paint her first mural outside of Brazil looking forward to collaborating with two other artists on a pair of murals for the Movimento Cidade festival in August.Weve shared a handful of public art projects here, but you can head over to Behance or Instagram to see a wide range of the designers vibrant product collaborations and commissions.Three illustrated tarot cards created for the publishing company TAG Livros, referencing iconic authorsVenturaTropical Transformation mural for brand activation of Devassa beer at the Casa7 event venue, Vitria, Espirito Santo, BrazilSix illustrated tarot cards created for the publishing company TAG Livros, referencing iconic authorsInterior mural for CASACOR Esprito SantoMC.Arte mural in progress for the Penlope Municipal Early Childhood Education CenterNext article