Soy Caribe mural

Arlington 5 Café, Ottawa | 2024 | 2.4m x 4m

OVERVIEW
Commissioned through the City of Ottawa’s Equity and Inclusion in the Arts Fund, Soy Caribe is a permanent outdoor mural created using weather-resistant vinyl pasting. Installed on a prominent Centretown wall, this work is a visual tribute to Caribbean identity as it exists across borders and climates.

CONCEPT & INSPIRATION
Raised in Venezuela, I long identified as South American—until life in Canada revealed how deeply rooted my cultural DNA is in the Caribbean. Soy Caribe was born from this realization: a personal and collective affirmation that Caribbean identity transcends geography. The title (“I am Caribbean”) affirms belonging in Canada’s multicultural fabric.

ILLUSTRATION & SYMBOLISM
The mural features a tattooed woman, part of my ongoing Ink-on-Ink series. Her body is covered in symbolic tattoos that narrate the complexities of Caribbean life—from joy and rhythm to resilience and struggle. A single vibrant heart pulses in the center of an otherwise monochromatic composition, a metaphor for the warmth and spirit of Caribbean identity thriving in Canada’s cold landscape.

LAUNCH
Installed in spring 2024, Soy Caribe quickly became a local cultural landmark, featured on social media platforms like Dominicanos en Ottawa and Arlington 5’s account. It has generated daily pedestrian engagement, with many community members stopping to photograph or interact with the work. The project deepened my connection with Ottawa’s diverse communities and expanded my exploration of identity through public art.