BLURB: From murals to fashion, Colombian artist Lupie Lup transforms Muscat’s landscapes — and wardrobes — with bold colours
You may have already seen her work — walking through Al Mouj, past the murals near Spinneys, or more recently on the communication tower nearby. Bold colours and flowing patterns breathe life into Muscat’s skyline.
These public artworks have turned ordinary walls into vibrant encounters with art, transforming blank spaces into stories of joy and connection.
Colombian visual artist and educator Lupie Lup calls it her instinct to awaken stillness. “I can’t resist blank spaces”, she says. “I’m always tempted to cover them in colour. In many ways, I remain a child at heart — forever curious and playful”.
Her journey into art began far from Oman, rooted in her childhood in Colombia. Shy and introverted, she discovered in painting a language when words failed her.
“Art gave me a way to connect — a space where I could find peace and express myself freely”, she recalls. What began as refuge soon became identity, guiding her into murals, illustration, textiles and now, fashion.
The ocean is one of her deepest inspirations. “It feels like another world — an escape where noise disappears and everything slows down”, she says.
Alongside this, her Colombian heritage — rich in colour and magical realism — fuses naturally with the serene landscapes of Oman. “These two influences meet in my work”, she explains.
Her recurring whale shark motif captures this duality. Whether gliding across the walls of Al Mouj or reimagined in illustration, the creature moves through coral and colour, embodying both childlike wonder and emotional depth — memory, vulnerability and renewal.
“Colour is my strongest tool”, Lupie says. “It’s a language of emotion, contradiction and transformation”.
For many in Muscat, her art has become part of the public fabric. “It feels humbling and energising”, she adds. “I love the idea that a mural might brighten someone’s day — or that a garment I’ve designed could make someone feel more confident, more beautiful, or simply more themselves”.
That leap into fashion came with the launch of Lupie’s own clothing line — a natural extension of her murals. Her designs are alive with playful ocean patterns, from swim shorts in vivid blues, pinks and greens to swimsuits adorned with tropical birds, flowers and hearts.
Many pieces carry affirmations such as “What you water grows” or “We grow through what we go through”, blending art, positivity and personal storytelling.
Just as her murals turn walls into canvases of emotion, her garments turn daily life into a living gallery. By wearing them, people carry fragments of her art — colour and imagination now in motion.
Her creativity doesn’t stop there. Lupie’s playful universe extends into furniture, textiles and illustration, turning everyday objects into carriers of joy.
Chairs bloom with leopards, whales and protective symbols, while murals in schools and neighbourhoods bring marine life to the cityscape — rays, corals and whales reminding onlookers of the ocean’s beauty.
“For me, art is everywhere”, she says. “It’s in the chair you sit on, the street you walk by, even the clothes you wear. I want people to live with colour, not just look at it”.
The dream began years ago when, with money from her first freelance job, she bought a sewing machine and made herself a graduation skirt.
“Looking back, that moment planted the seed”, she reflects. Creating her first collection came with challenges. Balancing artistic vision and wearability pushed her beyond her comfort zone. “Everything new both scares me and excites me”, she says. “That uncertainty is terrifying and thrilling — but that’s where the magic happens”.
Looking ahead, Lupie smiles: “My problem is that I want to do it all”. She’s preparing to showcase an art garment at the Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival in 2026, while continuing mural commissions and her work as an art educator in Muscat.
“I don’t have all the answers”, she says, “but by continuing to explore and take risks, my path as an artist will keep unfolding in unexpected and meaningful ways”.
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