Celia Cruz honored by Spotify in Miami

October 9, 2020

The Graffiti Museum in association with "Lo Nuestro Es Arte" from the Spotify streaming platform and, on the occasion of Hispanic Heritage Month, created a large mural dedicated to Cuban singer Celia Cruz in the center of Wynwood Arts District, located in Miami, Florida.

The work of art, approximately 9 meters long and 6 meters high, shows Celia Cruz dressed in white wearing a headdress of precious stones with long blue feathers and surrounded by various symbols of Cuban culture.

The original mural by Colombian set designer Orly Anan was erected in just 5 days and had the participation of famous urban artist Cale K2S who applied his distinctive spray painting technique.

Urban artist and tattoo artist Cale K2S said that painting during the summer could be considered quite a challenge, nevertheless the famous Cuban salsa singer was motivation enough to do the work.

"Painting in Miami during what we still consider to be summer can be extremely challenging, but I was exceptionally motivated to paint this world-renowned icon who had a great impact on Latin American music and culture."

Celia Cruz, known as the Queen of Salsa, carried her title with distinction for more than 50 years. Her voice and her guaguancó earned her more than 100 recognitions worldwide, including 3 Grammys and 4 Latin Grammys, the Presidential Medal of the Arts, and her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

For his part, Omer Pardillo Cid, president of the Celia Cruz Foundation, visited the mural several times during its construction to see how the artist's vision came to life. "Celia's greatest desire was for her name to remain alive for future generations, and this mural will celebrate her legacy," Pardillo Cid revealed.