We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bruna Pétalla. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bruna below.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi, I am Bruna Pétalla, a Brazilian artist based in New Orleans.

I’m inspired by the beauty in nature and the simple things surrounding me. I love bright colors and I paint to spark joy and brighten people’s days. My art involves colorful abstract scenes of bold shapes and forms, hoping to dazzle you as you walk by, and help you remember how incredible this world we live in is.

Growing up both of my parents were artists; but it was not a path I first chose to follow. In Brazil I worked as a marketing strategist for an award-winning advertising agency. I knew I wanted to do more with my creativity and after backpacking across the globe for three years I settled in New Orleans, a place bursting at the seams with creative soul. During lockdown I discovered my power as an artist when I contributed to the “Plywood Project” and spread positive messages through bright, temporary murals on closed down businesses.

Since then I have expanded my practice across cities on permanent large-scale murals. My art showcases larger than life plants, softly abstract shapes and jazzy forms. I work to stir emotions in passersby, for them to remember they too are full of joy and gratitude for this beautiful world we live in.

I work primarily with acrylic for street art, murals, and canvases; and digitally for other mediums such as book illustrations and product labels.

I have worked with local and international brands such as “Tulane University”, “Winn-Dixie” and “Psycho Bunny”. Though my medium changes, my message stays the same. To inspire joy and celebrate life through creativity.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

I have always been passionate about all art forms and a big admirer of street art and the beautiful murals covering giant walls on the side of concrete buildings. Even though I grew up with both of my parents being artists and I worked in the advertising world, it took me a long time to actually allow myself to get my hands on it.

Everything started once I decided to take a brush lettering workshop and then found myself investing on an iPad where I could use Procreate as a tool to create positive messages. Right after I started learning the tool, the world went into lockdown, and I didn’t have a job anymore.

Fortunately I was able to take that time to study day and night and learn how to use the tool and how to get better in lettering. It was when I had the idea to create mock-ups of these positive messages on the plywood of the closed off business in New Orleans and posted it on my Instagram. Many people thought they were real murals and that led me to participate on a project that allowed me to paint my first mural, then the second one happened, the third one happened and I had my first client hire me to paint a mural.

I had no idea about the business in the mural world. So I started watching videos and following other artists that were sharing resources on how to run a business. I ended up getting a job as a designer and kept painting murals on the side, until I was actually making more money painting a few murals a year than my full time paid job. When I made that math, I saw it was finally time to take the risk and be my own boss. It’s been two years since I have my own studio, I’ve been expanding to wall hang pieces and hopefully more products soon. Continuously learning on how to grow.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Being Professional. This is the number one feedback I receive from my clients. From my work experiences with an advertising agency, my job was to work on creative strategy and to sell these ideas to clients. I have learned that a good presentation can always visually impress the audience.

I brought that into my business as a way to send my quotes and also to present the final designs. I found that is a good way to show professionalism and be trustworthy for big projects. I have been able to create a process and workflow that I can always adapt to different projects. I also set boundaries through project timelines that make everyone in the process accountable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brunapetalla.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bybrunapetalla/

Image Credits
Photos: Drake Matlock @by.drake