Kansas City Grows Up is an interactive food forest mural. Colorful vegetables and fruits sprout from underground to create a canopy of delicious crops, where viewers can enjoy details of life in every corner. The soil harbors a nest of roots, microorganisms, bugs, and naturally, food itself. In the weeks leading up to painting, passersby voted on their favorite foods and creatures they wanted to see in the work. Anything from potatoes, radishes, and carrots or more surprising crops like peanuts, ginger, and asparagus! The possibilities were endless–and truly up to the city!

The shelter is lush, bursting with life, as if to wrap waiting passengers in a blanket of green, and also has a delightful amount of space for people to see themselves in amongst the edible jungle. These considerations allow for plenty of fun interaction with the piece, from games of peekaboo to photos for social media. The goal is to create not only a unique experience to see the art up close and learn new things about food, but to also see oneself in the art, as if they too are born from the soil.
Aren’t we, after all?