PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – For as long as Roberto Lugo can remember, he has used an unspoken language to communicate with others on a deeper level.
“Art goes to the core of the person, and it’s more emotional, and you build a bond with someone without words,” Lugo said.
Now he is working with Mural Arts Philadelphia on immersive sculptures that he hopes will bring joy and promote community in the city.
Lugo grew up in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. Over the years, he has seen the impact drug addiction has had on the community. Through graffiti he is introduced to creativity and uses art as a way to inspire others.
“It was a place for us to find connection and get away from the danger of the city and find community, so I see so much more when I look at graffiti than just letters,” Lugo said. “I see people who want to see themselves reflected in art.”
Lugo is a renowned artist and ceramicist and uses inspiration from the Kensington community to design three 3 meter high sculptures with colorful patterns as part of the project titled ‘We Here’.
“A lot of these patterns come from the people in the community who live in Kensington, and the sculptures will be for them,” Lugo said.
“This project embodies the power of art to unite, heal and inspire communities and seeks to create joy, effect change and promote community well-being through creativity and sculpture in the Kensington community of Philadelphia, known for her resilience and strength in the midst of social and economic challenges.”
In June, the unique, 10-foot-tall sculptures will be transported to their future homes in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood, where they will be installed in the following locations:
- Upper Puertorriqueño
- Kensington Corridor Trust Lot
- Free Church of St. John
Each statue has an opening through which people can step into Lugo’s artwork.
“I create an opportunity for people to put themselves in the pieces and take pictures of themselves in them as if they were in one of my works of art,” the artist said.
Lugo said he hopes the sculptures will inspire others to see the beauty of Kensington, which is sometimes lost in the addiction that plagues the neighborhood.
“What I hope with these pieces is that people can see that their circumstances are not hopeless,” Lugo said.
