New Trompe L’oeil Mural Unveiled on Centennial Campus

Students and faculty walking on Centennial Campus to their next class or a study session at Hunt Library may be surprised to find a three-story optical illusion on the side of a building. That’s exactly what artist John Pugh has created with the new “Spark of Life” mural on the Venture Place building.

Supported by Lincoln Property Group and curated by local photographer and art director Simon Griffiths, “Spark of Life” depicts a sculpture of Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon and the hunt, breaking out of the building. Two artists appear to be working on the piece as she emerges. The mural symbolizes the birth and emergence of AI, with Artemis coming to life as she breaks free.

Pugh’s specialty is trompe l’oeil, or trick of the eye, and narrative illusionism, which creates visual illusions that make objects appear three-dimensional. This technique offers viewers a magical experience, drawing them in to explore the deeper meaning of the piece. Pugh aims to captivate the viewer with the illusion, encouraging engagement with the artwork.

In addition to the profound themes in his work, Pugh strives to create a “sense of place” that reflects the area and its surroundings. For “Spark of Life,” the green geometric shapes on the mural’s left side represent the farms of western North Carolina. Artemis was chosen as a nod to NC State alumna Christina Koch, who is set to become the first woman to fly to and around the moon on the Artemis II mission in the coming months.

Another distinctive feature of the mural is its creation on nonwoven material, a fabric-like material made from bonded fibers. Pugh paints the mural on this material in his Oregon studio, and once complete, it is shipped and adhered to the building. The use of nonwoven material reflects NC State’s Nonwovens Institute and the university’s related academic programs.

A Student’s Perspective

As a history major focused on art, I find the public art installations on NC State’s campus incredible. Art should be accessible to everyone, not just in museums, and this mural accomplishes that. It offers a welcome break from the stresses of school and work. Beyond its technical mastery and innovative materials, the mural is simply astounding. Watching a giant sculpture appear to break out of a building is, in a word, cool. Public art like this benefits NC State by making art available to all, regardless of their background in art.

Where to See “Spark of Life”

You can view “Spark of Life” on the Venture Place building, 930 Main Campus Drive, on Centennial Campus. While you’re there, stop by the newly opened 321 Coffee for a treat. For more art on campus, check out “Reds and Whites” by Larry Bell at the Susan Woodson Plaza outside Hunt Library or “The Nature of Language” by José Parlá on the first floor of Hunt Library. To check out more arts & cultural happenings on Centennial Campus, visit https://realestate.ncsu.edu/programs-and-events/.