Mandela Grocery Kitchen Mural

Mandela Grocery is my neighborhood grocery cooperative in West Oakland. Over the years they’ve had great artists contribute to their space, so I was hype to get the opportunity to create a mural for their new kitchen. West Oakland is a food desert. Within an 8 block radius, there are 7 corner stores and no grocery stores except for the co-op. The kitchen re-opening is going to be another lifeline to the community.

I knew the theme was going to be my favorite fruits and veggies with a petal block twist. This being my first mural in over a year it was similar to riding a bike- once I got started, I was good to go. The toughest part was painting in a cramped space and on a scaffold, but I’m glad I pulled it off. I incorporated a few Adinkra symbols to highlight the values of community and abundance.