Artist Melissa Mahoney’s serene vision graces Sky Ala Moana.
Melissa Mahoney, Hope series, “Rise” (acrylic on canvas) 60 inches by 36 inches by 1.375 inches. PHOTO COURTESY OF MAHONEY ARTWORK
Selected by lead curator Gibson Banta from Indiewalls (@indiewalls), Melissa Mahoney’s (@mahoneyartwork) painting “Rise” has found its home. While most of the art in the collection in the new Renaissance Residences Honolulu (@rr_honolulu) comes from local Hawaiian artists, the Bay Area artist’s work was chosen for Sky Ala Moana (@skyalamoana) for its profound resonance with oceanic themes and peaceful sense of sanctuary that aligns with Hawaiian cultural values.
“When I created the Hope series and specifically created this painting, ‘Rise,’ I wanted to convey the feeling of hope using color, form and texture,” explains Mahoney. “When I visualize hope, it’s translucent, almost like air and it gives me a sense of buoyancy, similar to the sea.”
Through layered organic circular shapes and a delicate balance of cool and warm tones, she created a visual meditation on optimism. “I painted in shades of white to imbue this feeling of lightness and optimism. The light blue colors in this painting are tied to my affection and proximity to the ocean, living here in coastal California. While this painting is not directly inspired by the Hawaiian landscape, it is inspired by the same ocean that touches both of our shores.”
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