A New Student-Designed Mural Encourages Artists to Trust Their Creativity

SDSU students returning to the School of Art and Design this semester, noticed a new addition to the main corridor in the Art North building Art North building - a beautiful, new mural designed by Interior Architecture student, Alexandra MacLeod. MacLeod and several of her classmates in ART 453 (Design Detail) worked diligently through the final days of the fall semester to complete the mural prior to winter break.

Through her design, MacLeod hopes to illustrate art in its purest form, illuminating the flow of imagination, creativity, and passion from within an artist’s mind.

“Art comes in many forms and is not defined by one single category,” said MacLeod. “Art comes directly from the artist’s personal vision, feeling, mindset, & creative state. I wished to express my love for design through my mural and hopefully engage and inspire others with my vision and passion for art.”

MacLeod’s mural began as a class assignment in ART 453 (Design Detail). Each student was tasked to find three locations in and around the School of Art + Design that could be altered to allow for public gathering and/or conversation.

Once completed, Brown asked the students to tape their designs on an exterior wall of ART North for critiques. When School of Art + Design Director Annie Buckley walked by she was immediately taken by MacLeod’s design and commissioned her mural on the spot.

“All of the students’ projects were really fantastic but I was particularly struck by Alexandra’s mural design which was so light and fresh, and a departure from the other mural in Art North,” said Buckley. “I really loved the message of trusting one’s creativity and how Alexandra and her classmates worked together to bring the mural to fruition.”

MacLeod hopes her mural brings smiles to students’ faces as they walk by. “The rays of colors, shapes, butterflies, human features, nature, and space all express the endless possibilities of an artist’s creative state,” said MacLeod. “Trust your creativity and the world is yours!”

MacLeod’s mural is located on the fifth floor of the Art North Building.

The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.