Unmasking the muralists of San Luis Obispo
Although I’ve walked down Higuera Street more times than I can count, it wasn’t until last week I truly stopped to admire the Seven Sisters (Celestial Subduction) mural tucked behind the Fremont Theater.
It’s easy to appreciate the beauty of San Luis Obispo –– with its abundance of charming homes, funky coffee shops and scenic hillsides that embrace our little college town. But how often do we take this beauty for granted without pausing to ask: How did this element of our gaze come to be? What stories does it hold?
The public art of San Luis Obispo brings forward a certain light to unexpected locations, weaving effort and creativity into our city’s landscape.
Central California has a lengthy history of supporting public art that revitalizes urban landscapes. From Ventura to Monterey, hundreds of murals can be found that highlight everything from local histories to depictions of cowboys and mermaids. San Luis Obispo is home to several major murals that residents have likely come across before — intentionally or while meandering.
Maria Molteni, a queer interdisciplinary artist from Tennessee, is the creative mind behind the stunning Seven Sisters mural, a homage to the seven Central Coast peaks and inspired by their mythology.
Molteni’s work engages with spiritual and folkloric imagery expressed through vibrant colors. According to Molteni, this mural “honors the power and spirit of lands before human time, but also later indigenous stewards of it, such as the Chumash and Salinan.”
The piece transports viewers to the origin of these peaks, depicting the geological process of subtraction that triggered such powerful volcanic eruptions. The creation of this mural included a meticulous process of mixing paint hues alongside Molteni’s research, which inspired them to create designs such as the “Friendship Star” pattern featured in the mural.
The San Luis Obispo-based power couple, Christopher “Buddy” Norton and Shelby Lowe are the visionaries responsible for many pieces of painted public art around downtown San Luis Obispo. Together they run Canned Pineapple Co., an art company which focuses on murals, signs and storefronts.
Locals have likely seen their work without realizing it: the iconic storefront artwork at Lincoln Deli, as well as murals and signage at various local restaurants and storefronts. Their mural titled “Eternal Blossom” can be found next to Scout Coffee’s downtown location, showcasing symbols representing life on the Central Coast such as monarch butterflies — which annually migrate to this region — and a horse in motion. Other murals by this duo include “Arch to Happiness,” a welcoming entry into downtown, and “SLO Irresistible,” a colorful and floral piece in the Creamery.
Mosaic muralist Peter Ladochy, who passed away in 2019 at age 79, is the creative mastermind behind the “Love and Double Joy” mosaic tile mural located on the side of the Palm Street Parking Structure.
This mural, designed and installed in 1997, features the Chinese symbols for Love and Joy and works to honor the Chinese pioneers of San Luis Obispo. Despite a history of prejudice, this piece honors the community’s significant contributions to local commerce, agriculture and industry.
Ladochy received a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Design and Applied Arts from Otis College of Art and Design in 1968 and spent a significant part of his life as a resident of Cayucos. There, one can find more of his mosaics, including a sculpture that honors the Indigenous community.
Next time you’re walking through San Luis Obispo and come across these murals, take a moment to look up and appreciate the life they bring to our town. Remember the stories behind the iconography and artists who created them, and let the public art of our community inspire you to see the world through a more colorful lens.
