Naomi Rozalina King

urban , tekenen , spiritualiteit , sociaal-maatschappelijk , schilderen , samenwerking , muurschildering , mens , internationaal , Graffiti , Figuratief , Educatie , Diversiteit , Diaspora , Design , Community

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My artistic practice explores identity, ancestry, imagination and connection through a vivid visual language that moves between the real and the fantastical. At its heart, my practice is a shared and relational process, shaped through attention to the people, memories and experiences that meet within the work. Working across illustration, muralism and community-based art, I create colourful, layered worlds with others, bringing human stories, cultural memory and symbolic imagery into conversation.
My visual language is shaped by a love of 1980s cartoons, comics, graphic novels and video game aesthetics, alongside the expressive colours and imaginative worlds of animation. These influences meet my interest in Afro-futurism, magical realism, spirituality and the relationship between humanity and nature. In this context, images become invitations to imagine, remember and recognise one another. Bold, saturated colours, expressive human figures, ornament and symbolism form the foundation of my work. My use of colour is not merely decorative; it is a way of elevating my subjects, expressing their individuality and making their humanity impossible to overlook. Through this blend of visual influences and shared looking, I create worlds in which people are represented with dignity, complexity, strength and an almost otherworldly presence.
I am fascinated by the power of images to make people and stories visible, especially when those images emerge through attention to one another. Through group portraits, imagined characters and references to ancestry and collective memory, I explore questions of identity, belonging and representation in ways that remain open to many voices. My work creates space for different histories and experiences to coexist, moving beyond familiar narratives and inviting viewers to see people in all their richness, vulnerability and strength. The act of making together is part of this work of visibility: it can affirm presence, nurture dignity and allo

**ABOUT DAMN TIME.** - ABOUT DAMN TIME. - Naomi King × “Sames” RAFEL Hall of Fame, Amsterdam ------- We hadn't seen each other in years. In two months. But still. Basically historical. So we decided to paint two slightly unhinged characters who were clearly very tired of waiting for us to finally see each other again. And honestly... fair. Because we missed the completely unnecessary dramatic voices, the ridiculous conversations, the laughing at absolutely nothing, and that very specific kind of chaos that only seems to happen when we're together. So when we finally reunited in Amsterdam, we did what any two sensible adults would do: Found a tunnel. Got out the paint. The characters had waited long enough. So had we. It was about damn time.

**Whispers of the Lily Pond** - Whispers of the Lily Pond Fries Museum, Leeuwarden · The Wall Is Yours - Whispers of the Lily Pond explores transformation, vulnerability and the quiet moments in which we find ourselves at a crossroads. At the centre of the mural is a woman surrounded by lotuses, a symbolically layered image reflecting personal growth, care, changing family roles and the possibility of a new beginning. Created as part of The Wall Is Yours at the Fries Museum, the mural grew through the contributions of more than 600 visitors. Sketches, messages, wishes, memories and anonymous whispers were woven into the work, allowing individual voices and experiences to become part of a shared visual narrative. Rather than treating the mural as a finished, untouchable image, the project embraced participation as an essential part of its meaning. The work remained open to visitors' contributions, challenging the idea of the artist as the sole author and allowing the artwork to evolve through the presence and imagination of others. For me, this process reflects the potential of art to hold space for personal stories while creating a collective experience. Like whispers carried across the surface of a pond, individual experiences can remain distinct while becoming part of something larger. ----- Project details Role: Artist, concept development and integration of participants' contributions Location: Fries Museum, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands Project: The Wall Is Yours Scale: Approximately 12 × 6 metres

**The Modern Muses** - The Modern Muses Bellamystraat 64–66, Spangen, Rotterdam, the Netherlands · 2025 The Modern Muses is a large-scale mural by artist Naomi Rozalina King, celebrating the women who form the beating heart of Rotterdam-West. From mothers and daughters to ancestral women, grandmothers and wise elders, the work honours the women who shape the neighbourhood through their presence, strength and everyday lives. Whether wearing headscarves, tattoos, symbolic markings or jewellery, these women are portrayed in all their individuality and diversity. Commissioned by TENT Rotterdam, the Municipality of Rotterdam and Woonstad Rotterdam, the mural was developed in close collaboration with women from Spangen. Through shared sessions, participants contributed personal stories, experiences and perspectives on representation and visibility. Their involvement extended from shaping the initial concept to influencing the faces, clothing and colours depicted in the final design. The result is a work for women, by women. The Modern Muses is part of Inform Women, Transform Lives, an international initiative by The Carter Center, bringing together 35 cities worldwide. Inspired by the women who made her feel welcome when she first arrived in Rotterdam, King invited local residents to consider a central question: Which women do you see when you walk through Rotterdam-West? Their responses became the foundation of the mural. The painting process itself became a community project, with mothers, aunts, children and partners joining in as though they were painting their own wall. King's signature use of intensely saturated colours and an almost fairytale-like visual language gives the women a monumental presence, making them impossible to overlook. In neighbourhoods where visibility and recognition matter deeply, the mural creates space for women to be seen, celebrated and acknowledged. Unveiled during Rotterdam's Year of the Woman, The Modern Muses stands as a celebration of recognition, belonging and collective strength. It invites passers-by to pause and acknowledge the women who sustain and shape the city every day. --------- Project details - Artist: Naomi Rozalina King - Commissioned by: TENT Rotterdam, Municipality of Rotterdam and Woonstad Rotterdam - International initiative: Inform Women, Transform Lives — The Carter Center - Location: Bellamystraat 64–66, Spangen, Rotterdam, the Netherlands - Year: 2025

**Mother of Waters** - Mother of Waters — Visie en Vertrouwen Slinge, Zuidwijk, Rotterdam · 2025 ----- Mother of Waters is a large-scale mural by Naomi Rozalina King, created in collaboration with Kunstlab and local children in Rotterdam-Zuid. The project began with the children's own imaginations: through a creative process, they visualised what they wanted to see on the wall. Their ideas provided the starting point for the mural, which King translated into a monumental composition celebrating water, nature and the relationship between people and their environment. At the centre of the work is a powerful, otherworldly female figure emerging from a sea of vivid turquoise and deep blue waves. Fish weave through her flowing hair, while her luminous purple skin, expressive gaze and bold adornments give her the presence of a mythical water guardian. She embodies the life-giving force of water and evokes the deep connection between humanity and the natural world. The mural brings together children's imaginative perspectives and King's distinctive visual language, characterised by saturated colours, expressive portraiture and elements of magical realism. What began as ideas shared by young participants became a lasting landmark in their neighbourhood, demonstrating how children's voices can shape public space and become part of a collective visual story. Titled Visie en Vertrouwen (Vision and Trust), the project also reflects the importance of believing in the creative potential of young people. By taking their ideas seriously and translating them into a monumental artwork, the process creates a tangible connection between imagination and the environment in which children grow up. For King, public art is an opportunity to bring different perspectives together and make them visible. Mother of Waters celebrates the imagination of the next generation while inviting residents to reflect on water as a source of life, connection and collective responsibility. ---- Project details - Artist: Naomi Rozalina King - Title: Mother of Waters / Visie en Vertrouwen - Location: Slinge, Zuidwijk, Rotterdam, the Netherlands - Year: 2025 - Collaboration: Kunstlab and local children - Project context: 15 years of collaboration around a future-proof harbour and a liveable region - Recognition: Nominated for Best New Artwork of October 2025 by Street Art Cities

**Mi Lobi Zuid** - Mi Lobi Zuid — A Love Letter to Rotterdam South Zuidplein, Rotterdam, the Netherlands · 2024 Mi Lobi Zuid—Surinamese for I Love the South—is a large-scale community mural transforming the former ABN AMRO building at Zuidplein into a vibrant celebration of the people and cultural identity of Rotterdam South. Developed in response to research into the feeling of safety around Zuidplein, the project explored how art and colour can contribute to a more welcoming public environment. I created three initial designs, inviting local residents to choose the concept that would ultimately become the mural. The selected design brings together expressive portraits of people from the neighbourhood, reflecting their diversity, pride and connection to the place they call home. Under my artistic direction, the project grew into a collective painting process involving 400 + participants, including children, students, older residents, passers-by and people experiencing homelessness. Over 39 days of painting, people from different backgrounds came together to contribute their time, stories and creativity to the transformation of the building. For me, Mi Lobi Zuid embodies the potential of public art to do more than change the appearance of a place. It creates opportunities for people who might otherwise pass one another without meeting to work side by side, share experiences and become part of something collective. Every contribution helped shape the mural, turning a previously overlooked corner of Zuidplein into a visible expression of local pride and belonging. The project reflects my belief that art can make communities visible—not only through the images on a wall, but through the relationships and shared experiences that emerge in the process of creating it. - ----- Project details - Role: Lead artist, mural design and artistic direction - Location: Former ABN AMRO building, Zuidplein, Rotterdam - Year: 2024 - Participants: 400+ - Duration: 39 painting days - Collaborators: Joris Sauerbier, Hogeschool Inholland's Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab, Heijmans and project partners - Project partners and background: Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab · Inholland · De Havenloods

**That What Binds Us: The Strongest Connection** - That What Binds Us: The Strongest Connection Waterwijk, Lelystad, 2023 · Writer’s Block In the summer of 2023, residents of Waterwijk in Lelystad came together to create a large, colourful mural celebrating the connections between people and their neighbourhood. Invited by Writer’s Block, I led the project, bringing residents together through a shared creative process in which participation, imagination and collective expression took centre stage. With more than 200 helping hands contributing to the artwork, the mural became a collective achievement rather than simply an image placed in public space. Each participant became part of something larger, demonstrating how art can create opportunities for people to connect, collaborate and shape their shared environment. The project reflects my belief that public art can be a meeting point: a space where different people contribute their perspectives, discover common ground and experience the power of creating something together. ------- Role: Lead artist, concept development and community participation Collaborator: Writer’s Block, with assistance from Loes van Reijmersdal Location: Waterwijk, Lelystad, the Netherlands Year: 2023 Bron: Writer’s Block — Naomi King en Street Art Cities.

**Mothers are Guardians - 2022** - Mothers Are Guardians Tonijnstraat, Lampreibuurt, Hoogvliet-Zalmplaat, Rotterdam, the Netherlands · 2022 ------ Mothers Are Guardians celebrates the fundamental role of women and mothers as the creators, protectors and nurturers of life. The mural brings together three generations of women: a young Asian mother, a middle-aged Muslim mother and an older African mother. United in one composition, they represent different stages of life, cultural identities and experiences, while embodying a shared human connection through motherhood, care and creation. Without mothers, there is no life; without the creative force of women, there is no beginning. Women nurture, protect, teach and guide, offering warmth and care while passing knowledge, traditions and values from one generation to the next. Their influence extends far beyond the family: they help shape communities, preserve cultural memory and create the conditions in which future generations can grow. By portraying three women from different backgrounds and generations side by side, I wanted to honour both their individuality and the connections that unite them. Each woman carries her own history, wisdom and perspective, yet together they embody the enduring strength of women as guardians of life. Their presence reflects the many ways in which love, resilience and care are expressed across cultures and throughout generations. The mural also speaks to the importance of recognising the women whose contributions are so fundamental that they can easily become invisible. Motherhood and caregiving are often taken for granted, despite the emotional labour, strength and dedication they require. Through their monumental presence in public space, these women claim the visibility and recognition they deserve. Created in the Lampreibuurt neighbourhood of Hoogvliet, Mothers Are Guardians brings this celebration of womanhood into the everyday lives of local residents. The work invites passers-by to reflect on the women who have shaped their own lives and on the generations of women whose care, knowledge and creativity continue to sustain our communities. Ultimately, the mural is a tribute to the women who came before us, those who stand beside us and those who will come after us. They are the guardians of life, the carriers of wisdom and the creators of tomorrow. ------ Project details - Artist: Naomi Rozalina King - Title: Mothers Are Guardians - Location: Tonijnstraat, Lampreibuurt, Hoogvliet-Zalmplaat, Rotterdam, the Netherlands - Year: 2023 - Context: LampreiBeter neighbourhood initiative

Mural lampreibuurt

Datum: 10-10-2022 t/m 18-10-2022

In samenwerking met: Vestia

Muurschildering lampreibuurt Hoogvliet

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj7cqDnIu9r/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Koloniaal verleden, publicatie stadsarchief Rotterdam

Datum: 20-01-2022 t/m 14-03-2022

Locatie: Rotterdam

In samenwerking met: Stadsarchief Rotterdam

Cover en 8 illustraties voor de publicatie van het boek “koloniaal verleden van Rotterdam”

https://stadsarchief.rotterdam.nl/zoek-en-ontdek/themas/koloniale-en-slavernijver/

Deze kunstenaar heeft nog geen toekenningen.