06/02/2025
HOME: A Mural Series by Michael Che Romero
Vivache Designs
For me, the notion of Spokane being my home has always been a mixed feeling – a place of breathtaking natural beauty and nostalgia, layered with deep shadows. It is where I was nearly murdered as a teen. Where I acted out from a pain I could not name. Where I yearned for belonging.
So, when I was approached by Vicki Carter, Executive Director at the Spokane Conservation District, to manifest a mural gallery in my hometown, I recognized the rare opportunity:
Not just to envision and paint –
But to transform.
To reclaim.
In creating my Home mural series, I found something deeper than art – I found healing and community. Nature has always been my refuge. This series celebrates our connection to the land, to one another, and to the divine. It honors the abundance of the earth, those who nurture it, and the truth that everyone has a right to food, as food is a shared experience that unites us all.
We spent nearly a year in discussion and negotiation, and once the contract was signed, the timeline was ambitious and extremely challenging:
🎨 45 days to design and paint 2,800 square feet of murals. It is a marvel that we completed the mission.
I spent over 150 hours in the Vivache Designs’ studio, pouring two weeks into intense ideation—days that bled into nights, and dreams that turned into design.
The result?
My most audacious work to date:
A fusion of Renaissance techniques, surrealism, contemporary spray paint, bold color, and the spirit of Diego Rivera.
A soul journey etched across walls.
I arrived in Spokane on February 26th and worked tirelessly until my departure on April 1st. The gallery didn’t just become my workspace – it became my home.
Because of the intense timeline, I called on local artists for support in fabricating the work, and something beautiful happened. I gained a new group of collaborators in Spokane. I painted alongside volunteer high school students from Lewis & Clark (my alma mater) and Mt. Spokane. My grandfather’s hands came alive with my beloved art teacher . I even reunited with my 6th-grade teacher and lifelong influence, Mr. McBride.
At Vivache Designs, we don’t just paint murals—
We facilitate human-focused experiences for the community and for our artists who work with us.
We are stewards of storytelling.
We craft placemakers.
We shape culture.
We honor spirit through art that uplifts and unites.
We are the evangelists for communities.
We take pride in hiring artists to support our big ideas, for together we are greater.
Every brushstroke was made by a community of hands – and these hands, connected to the land, are the heart of Home.
Deep love to and the Spokane Conservation District for housing this series and building a space I align with so deeply.
And none of this would exist without the leadership, love, and unwavering loyalty of my wife and business partner, Seema Mishra. She is the pulse behind the brush.
Read the full mural descriptions and acknowledgments here:
🔗 vivachedesigns.com/welcome-home-mural-gallery-scale-house-market-spokane-description-michael-che-romero
Massive gratitude to the brilliant artists who supported me on the journey:
Jennifer Batey Gilbert Stacie Boyer Rebecka Anderson Teascarlet Fine Art Aaron Smith Laura Lee Kaschmitter OEnone Shore and the groups of volunteers who touched the walls, including my apprentice .santoro.