Artist Draws Stunning Giant Mural Of Butterflies On Miami Rooftop

The latest artwork to take up Miami street space has just been revealed. But it’s not for ordinary viewers walking around the city to enjoy. In fact, this particular mural can only be seen from an aerial viewpoint. 

#1

#2

#3

Mantra is a naturalist known for his fascination with entomology and is celebrated for his hyper-realistic trompe-l’oeil style. His ability to bring the world of insects to large-scale murals has served him well as his work is now featured atop a 35,000 square-foot building.

#6

#5

#6

The accurate depictions show dozens of butterflies gently perched on top of the roof of the SFC in splendid lifelike renditions. The mural features a variety of vibrant butterflies including the endangered ‘Miami Blue,’ which is native to South Florida.

#7

#8

#9

The massive mural took approximately six weeks to complete with Mantra spending over 400 hours and 200 buckets of paint to achieve the final look. The artist was forced to paint freehand using rollers without the use of grids or projections because of the grand scale of the project. He also dealt with unusual challenges such as strong winds and morning dampness from the nearby ocean that added a new layer of complexity to the project.

#10

#11

#12

Speaking on this exciting project, Mantra said, “It’s always a pleasure to paint in Miami, a city that thrives on its vibrant mix of people and cultures— much like the butterflies in my mural, which represent a diverse selection of specimens. This is my largest mural to date, and I am excited to see it come to life.”