Year: 2025

Location: Manhattan Beach, CA

Medium: Spray paint, acrylic latex

Client: City of Manhattan Beach

Dimensions: 12ft x 30ft

Duration: 6 days

Awarded by the City of Manhattan Beach and Parks and Recreation, Equanimity is a large-scale public mural featuring a great white shark emerging from an ocean scene framed with sea kelp. Bright orange garibaldi (California’s state fish) add a touch of warm color to the cool hues of the ocean. Painted within view of the coastline, the piece serves as a visual bridge between marine life and the surrounding coastal communities. Equanimity reflects the calm balance that can exist between humans and nature, even with creatures often viewed as fearsome.

While the depiction of a predator so close to the beach sparked conversation, my intent was not to incite fear but to promote respect and awareness. The mural challenges our instinctive aversion to sharks, and invokes a sense of awe and wonder. The shark’s presence is both powerful and serene.

This work highlights the beauty and complexity of apex predators while honoring Manhattan Beach's identity as a coastal community. It's become a memorable landmark that captures attention, provokes thought, and serves as a reminder of the living world just beyond the surf.