Giant Rainbow Murals Inspired by the Secret Colors of Pigeon Feathers

Pigeon Feather Mural by Adele Renault

“Sunrise Gutter Paradise,” Linköping, Sweden, 2020

Many birds are known for their fantastic plumage, while others remain underappreciated. Los Angeles-based artist Adele Renault uses city-dwelling pigeons as the muse for kaleidoscopic murals of detailed feathers. The ongoing series, called Gutter Paradise, decorates building façades across the globe with joyous colors and shapes.

Renault is originally from Ardennes, Belgium, where she grew up on a farm. “I was raised in a family of musicians and was drawing for as long as I can remember,” Renault tells My Modern Met. “I’ve always been interested in painting and in graffiti. Murals are what comes in the middle I guess. It’s a natural evolution if you come from a graffiti background and spend most of your time creating paintings.” During her early travels, the artist experimented with various mediums, such as oil and spray cans. She uses the former to create her striking outdoor designs.

“The inspiration [for Gutter Paradise] comes from pigeon feathers,” she continues. “I started painting pigeons because I am always interested in showing beauty where you least expect it. I wanted to emphasize the peacock-like iridescence of pigeon feathers, of those flying rats living in the gutter. Hence the name for the series.” Each mural is “zoomed-in” on the detail of plumage, capturing the subtle transition of different colors, textured lines, and light and shadow. “I started zooming in more and more on the neck feathers until a ‘detail' became the main subject. That’s how this series was born,” Renault adds.

While at first, Gutter Paradise included more realistic representations of pigeon feathers, the series went through a change during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The more colorful rainbow palette evolved during the second lockdown I think,” Renault explains. “It was maybe a subconscious way to bring colors and joy into a winter that was looking very grim for many. It is also me having fun with moving away from reality.” Many of her newest murals can be seen in different areas of LA.

Visit the artist's portfolio to learn more about her mural art, and follow Renault on Instagram to keep up to date with her latest projects.

Belgian artist Adele Renault paints kaleidoscopic murals of feathers.

Pigeon Feather Murals by Adele Renault

“Sunrise Gutter Paradise,” Linköping, Sweden, 2020

The series—entitled Gutter Paradise—shines a light on the underappreciated beauty of pigeon plumage.

Pigeon Feather Mural by Adele Renault

London Mural Festival, 2020

Pigeon Feather Mural by Adele Renault

London Mural Festival, 2020

Pigeon Feather Mural by Adele Renault

SeaH factory, retired chimney 40 meters tall, Pohang, South Korea, 2019 (Photo: Asato Iida & Kenn)

Pigeon Feather Mural by Adele Renault

Feathered Nest in Silverlake, LA, 2019.

 

Pigeon Feather Mural by Adele Renault

Feathered Nest in Silverlake, LA, 2019.

Pigeon Feather Mural by Adele Renault

Northwest Walls, Werchter, Belgium, 2019 (Photo: Dan Verbruggen-Ausilio)

Pigeon Feather Mural by Adele Renault

La Brea, Los Angeles, 2021

Pigeon Feather Mural by Adele Renault

New Brighton, UK, 2021

Pigeon Feather Murals by Adele Renault

“Gutter Paradise,” Jacksonville, FL, 2017

Pigeon Feather Mural by Adele Renault

“Gutter Paradise,” Punto Urban Art Museum, Salem, MA, 2017

Pigeon Feather Mural by Adele Renault

Pow Wow Festival, Long Beach, CA, 2017

Adele Renault: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Adele Renault.

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Margherita Cole

Margherita Cole is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and illustrator based in Southern California. She holds a BA in Art History with a minor in Studio Art from Wofford College, and an MA in Illustration: Authorial Practice from Falmouth University in the UK. She wrote and illustrated an instructional art book about how to draw cartoons titled 'Cartooning Made Easy: Circle, Triangle, Square' that was published by Walter Foster in 2022.
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