ARTISTIC EXPRESSION

Margalo Guo, who completed her first public mural at the age of 16, is inspired by birds and bright colors. During her first two years at University Park, she’s had a chance to further explore her spray-painting craft. In a class taught by professor Rudy Shepherd, for example, students learned how public art best serves the community. What’s more, the curriculum of Guo’s major, art history, is relevant to murals. “A lot of the art in the past is public art—statues, architecture, things seen by everyone,” says Guo. “It’s not focused on the gallery culture of today.”

FULL HANDS, FULL HEART     

“I really enjoy working on a big scale and using my whole body,” Guo says about painting murals. “It’s definitely what I want to do for the rest of my life.” As for housing art supplies while at school, everything has been tightly packed under her dorm bed—something, Guo says, that needs to be “excavated” anytime there’s work to be done.  

PAINTING PORTFOLIO      

Oil painting and portraits were prominent in Guo’s first solo show, held in her hometown of Ithaca, N.Y., last summer: “I focus a lot on expressive colors and playing with the precision of certain features in the portraits.”

GUO LINGO       

Chinese folk culture influenced Guo’s dragon and phoenix murals, painted last year outside the Schlow Centre Region Library in State College. “They represent yin and yang,” says Guo, who is half Chinese and speaks Mandarin. “I wanted it to be colorful and something that kids like.” 
 

ON THE ROAD   

She wants to chase art opportunities in far-spread cities, meeting people and seeing the world along the way. Last winter, the artist went to Florida to connect with professional traveling muralists during Miami Art Week, and she’s already applied to mural festivals for this year.