Kala Hagopian is a Philadelphia-based muralist best known for vibrant, highly detailed public art pieces. She was born in rural Peacham, Vermont, and was highly influenced by a childhood spent in nature. Kala has been a working artist in Philadelphia since 2005, and received her Certificate from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 2009. After graduating, she co-founded her first mural collective, Chroma Dolls. In 2015 she established Hagopian Arts, a public arts initiative that has gained a reputation for luminous and environmentally minded murals. Kala describes herself as a “fine-art muralist,” specializing in meticulous realism interspersed with bright pattern and atmosphere. Hagopian Arts recently began the Eco Mural Project, which seeks to raise environmental awareness by introducing depictions of natural ecosystems into urban spaces.

A Note From Kala Hagopian…

I grew up exploring nature and studying the ecosystems of rural Vermont. I was fascinated by the interconnectedness of my surroundings, how every living creature depends upon one another for their survival. During the hours spent outside studying wetlands, fields, and forests, I began drawing and painting the flora and fauna I came into contact with. This developed into a lifelong interest in ecosystems around the world and our impact upon them. Through Hagopian Arts, I hope to re-introduce environmental awareness into our everyday routine. In my experience, placing ecological artworks in urban communities begins much-needed conversations about our role on Earth.