Colorful Brushstrokes Are Actually Painted Illusions by Sean Yoro

Realistic Painted Brushstrokes Make These Murals Pop With Vibrant Color

With his new mural series, Undertones, Hawaiian street artist Sean Yoro combines monochrome hands and torsos with illusionistic strokes of paint. These thick brushstrokes either appear on their own, seem to cross in front of a figure, or intersect parts of the human body. Hovering in space, they provide a splash of color across these brick and cement walls.

Yoro, who is most well-known for painting his street art on hard-to-reach surfaces surrounded by water, was inspired by his travels for this new set of work. After crossing paths with many different types of creators, Yoro wanted to harness the spirit he felt within each of them and transform it into something visual.

“Even though every person had their own creative path, to me it all felt rooted in the same energy,” Yoro tells My Modern Met. “I wanted to create a series that could encapsulate this energy and drive to leave your own mark on the world using these raw brushstrokes in each painting.”

By juxtaposing the colorful paints with monochromatic depictions of the human body, Yoro shines a spotlight on this artistic energy. The color is a powerful reinforcement of the creativity Yoro has encountered on his travels. Vibrant and spirited, these brilliant hues help emphasize the passion of any true artist. Yoro hopes that these new murals will send a strong message to other creators in the world, particularly those who are unsure of their current path.

“I wanted to emphasize the potential impact we all hold if we dedicate and sacrifice for our passions and talents in life,” he shares. “For me, once I found my love for art, it was such a battle with myself to gain the confidence to chase a dream career in the art world. I wanted a series that would have inspired my younger self to act on that dream sooner and trust in your feelings because, in the end, you'll have your own unique mark to look back on.”