Showstopper new art
International artist MOMO finishes mural
MOMO has left his mark on many spaces across the globe, and now Yuma is on the list of communities “privileged” to have one of his showstopping murals.
An internationally known artist, MOMO recently finished his mural on the three-story wall of the Yuma Art Center, 254 S. Main St. The community turned out Wednesday to celebrate with a ribboncutting and thank MOMO for his contributions to the Yuma art scene.
His first name is Dave, he doesn’t use his last name, and he goes by MOMO, a nickname given to him by friends when he started doing art projects.
The abstract painting is full of swirling colors, including red, blue, white, pink, grey and green, evoking one of Arizona bright sunsets.
MOMO said the colors are a reflection of this current “palette.” He explained: “There’s a lot of colors on the wall, but that’s just currently all the flavors I’m interested in. It’s like a recipe that I’m still perfecting and modifying as I go.”
The painting doesn’t have a name; he never names his murals.
The inspiration for this painting was the “very cool architecture” on the back of the art center building, such as the angled windows and specialty shapes and the three levels of walls.
After being contacted by local art collectors Michael and Maria McKivergan, the artist saw this as an “opportunity to do the kind of murals I have been making for 20 years.”
The McKivergans extended the invitation to come to Yuma about a year ago. They knew of his work from shows and murals he’s done around the world.
Once MOMO saw the photos of sunny Yuma, “I immediately wanted to paint not just this but multiple sites around the town because of the real strong light for saturated color. For me it’s the best environment to see the murals I paint that rely on color and
vibrancy,” he said.
He was drawn by the desert geography and the “spectacular” location on the edge of Arizona, California and Mexico, surrounded by sand dunes and the Colorado River.
“It’s extremely exotic for me. I’m coming from Louisiana where I have a studio. I travel a lot so I’ve seen a lot of exotic locations, but this one really stands out for me. I hope to come back one day,” MOMO said.
Michael McKivergan did a lot of organizing with city officials and Lindsay Benacka, the city’s arts and culture program manager, to make it happen. “One year later I’m here,” MOMO noted.
He brought two other artists, Dan Bortz and Lynnea Holland Weiss. “They’re both artists who make really great work. I’m fortunate to have them here helping. That’s been like a double bonus,” MOMO said.
Aside from the art center mural, the artists have also painted several smaller murals around town. “The smaller ones that we’re making — like little satellite projects — are more experimental so they will probably get painted over much sooner than this one,” he said. “If they’re too weird or experimental, it’s only meant as a temporary show-type thing and this one will be lasting longer.”
Their experience in Yuma has been “real warm and supported. We met a lot of really friendly, supportive people wherever we’ve been painting, and that has been unique and amazing.”
He thanked the community for welcoming them to their hometown. “We’re having a real nice time. I hope you like the murals.”
Benacka thanked the McKivergan family for the “incredible gift” they gave the community.
“We’re so excited for this contribution to the community,” she said. “All too often the arts are considered stuffy or frivolous or for somebody else. I think this mural portrays something completely different. It’s vibrant,
full of life, it’s full of color, it’s abstract, it’s what you want it to be.
“And that’s exactly what the arts in Yuma are about and what the art center is trying to do. It’s for the entire community. So come on over and check it out,” she added.
Deputy Mayor Gary Knight said the mural made downtown more attractive and he hopes the mural will inspire other artists “to fill the blank slates” around town.
Councilwoman Leslie McClendon called it a “privilege” for the community to be a part of one of MOMO’s art projects. “MOMO did such an incredible job. Let’s keep it going.”
Benacka thanked supporters who made this project possible, including the Historic Coronado Motor Hotel and Peach Family; LG Paints; Sun Rentals; Mayor Doug Nicholls and the City Council; Parks and Recreation Director Debbie Wendt and Assistant Director Damon Chango; Parks and Recreation commissioners and staff; Public Art Committee; City Administrator Greg Wilkinson; Bob Blevins of Neighborhood Services; Yuma Art Center staff, downtown merchants and neighbors; and the Yuma community.
To see more of MOMO’s murals, go to momo show palace on Instagram.