mantra brings his signature lifelike butterflies to miami’s largest rooftop mural

mantra’s hyper-realistic butterflies adorn SEFC rooftop in miami

Downtown Miami welcomes a dazzling addition to its skyline as Southeast Financial Center (SEFC) unveils the largest rooftop mural of the city, The Miami Collection, created by French artist Mantra and curated by Justkids art consulting firm.

Spanning 3,250 square meters, the monumental artwork transforms the rooftop into a celebration of biodiversity. Youri Cansell, also known as Mantra, celebrated for his hyper-realistic trompe-l’oeil murals, has adorned SEFC’s rooftop with a collection of his signature vibrant butterflies, rendered to mimic their lifelike presence. Despite the challenges of working on a rooftop—strong winds and morning ocean dampness—the French muralist’s latest work is his most ambitious to date, completed over six weeks and requiring 400 hours of painting and 200 gallons of paint. Remarkably, the mural was executed freehand, without grids or projections, showcasing the artist’s precision and sense of scale.

images courtesy of Justkids.art

the freehand mural showcases native endaNgered species

Known for blending scientific precision with artistic flair, Mantra’s work elevates the small yet essential components of nature to monumental proportions. His butterfly mural at Florida’s largest office tower, designed to appear as though the specimens are gently perched on the rooftop, highlights the urgent need for biodiversity conservation. The artwork, curated by the global creative firm Justkids, features several species, including the endangered Miami Blue, native to South Florida, offering a poignant reminder of the delicate balance of our ecosystems. 

‘It’s always a pleasure to paint in Miami, a city that thrives on its vibrant mix of people and cultures—much like the butterflies in my mural, which represent a diverse selection of specimens,’ shares Mantra. ‘This is my largest mural to date, and I am excited to see it come to life. I am grateful to Southeast Financial Center for giving me the space to create something of this magnitude.’

downtown Miami welcomes The Miami Collection, a dazzling addition to its skyline

created by French artist Mantra and curated by Justkids art consulting firm

a collection of Mantra’s signature butterflies adorns SEFC’s rooftop

the artist is celebrated for his hyper-realistic trompe-l’oeil murals

Southeast Financial Center unveils the largest rooftop mural of the city

the butteflies look like they’re about to fly

The Miami Collection mural spans 3,250 square meters

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designed to appear as though the specimens are gently perched on the rooftop

highlighting the urgent need for biodiversity conservation

the mural offers a poignant reminder of the delicate balance of our ecosystems

the artwork depicts several species, including the endangered Miami Blue

strong winds and morning ocean dampness were some of the challenges of working on a rooftop

showcasing the artist’s precision and sense of scale

the piece was completed over six weeks and requiring 400 hours of painting and 200 gallons of paint

rendered to mimic their lifelike presence

the mural was executed freehand, without using grids or projections

project info: 

name: The Miami Collection
artist: Mantra | @mantrarea
curation: Justkids | @justkidsofficial
location: Southeast Financial Center | @sefc.miami, Miami, USA
area: 3,250 square meters (35,000 square feet)