THE MURALS OF GLORIA MURIEL

MAE STAFF WRITER, IRIE REYES, 9/13/24

Gloria Muriel, a Mexicali artist that was raised in San Diego and Tijuana. Her art is very whimsical, almost out of a fairytale. There is femininity in her artwork which includes big, doll-eyed, paintings. Gloria got her inspiration from the cartoon shows she watched when she was young. She liked the vivid colors and art style of the cartoons. 

One mural with these cartoon-like characters and several bright colors is called “Year Of The Rooster.” Muriel painted "Year of the Rooster" in 2016 with friend and artist/designer Michael Amarillo who she claims motivated the work. Michael's work can be seen in gallery spaces in San Diego, LA, Portland, NYC, and Miami. People describe his art as full of color. He has a nostalgic feel to his art. It is almost childlike, from the vividness to the asymmetry his art is quite diverse yet he is very talented. When asked about the meaning of the work, Muriel states, “The rooster reminds us to wake up and pay attention to what's happening in the world.” 

Gloria moved to San Diego around the early 2000s but before that she attended Universidad Iberoamericana. She ended up majoring in graphic design could never get away from her personal art. Her work can be seen through out San Diego in shops, cafes, in art walks, and decorating the sides of several buildings. In 2020 Gloria was diagnosed with breast cancer leaving her focus on selfcare and rehabilitation.

But that didn't stop her from painting. Muriel uses her art as a healing tool, helping her through this battle. Gloria believes “art can heal.” She believes that art can be therapeutic and take your pain away. No matter how big or small the canvas is. She has recently completed projects in Imperial Beach, Oceanside, and at San Ysidro High School.