Doesn’t the air feel different here? This isn’t just travel; it’s a transition. Ahead stands The Butterfly Wall Installation, a mesmerizing mosaic mural at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
This isn’t just art. It’s a symbol of rebirth, a testament to the transformative power of art. Josie Lewis, the artist behind The Butterfly Wall Installation, poured her heart and soul into this breathtaking piece.
In 2017, Lewis and her family raised butterflies. They started with monarch eggs found by her daughter. By summer’s end, they released about 125 monarchs. Lewis called it a pleasure to boost the population in their modest way.
But Lewis’s connection to butterflies runs deeper. Butterflies mirror her own journey. In 2015, she experienced the devastating loss of a stillborn child. Butterflies became her symbol of transformation. Lewis sees butterflies as a phoenix idea of being blown up then getting reborn. Anyone can connect with butterflies and the themes of transformation, she says.
The Butterfly Wall Installation features 18 native butterflies and moths. They are immortalized in 200,000 colorful tiles. This yearlong project took just over a month to install in Concourse F. It’s part of an arts improvement project.
Robyne Robinson, the art consultant, called Josie amazing. This was her first time creating in glass tile. She knocked it out of the park. It’s breathtaking, Robinson said. Lewis hopes that people can respond to it. Everyone is in various types of transition in their life, she said.
After getting married and giving birth, Lewis felt lost in her art career. Things worsened after the stillbirth. She felt like she wasn’t meant to be an artist. To cope, she started making art videos. She created geometric designs and bright collages. Investing herself in art helped her feel normal.
Lewis started uploading her art videos to Instagram. She gained a massive following. Her feed is filled with rainbows and beautiful designs. Lewis hopes to inspire others to find a creative outlet.
The Butterfly Wall Installation stands as a symbol of hope. It shows that there is a way through pain. Lewis said everyone is going to experience something that hurts, but you can find your way.
Lewis has used up all her escorts to see it. In some of the darkest moments, she had the most poignant relationships with art and nature’s beauty. The Butterfly Wall Installation is more than art. It’s a reminder of resilience, transformation, and the beauty that can emerge from darkness. Take a moment to appreciate the details, the colors, and the story woven into each tile of The Butterfly Wall Installation.