Art Commissions in the Spotlight

Title

Empowered STL

Artist

Carlos Zamora

Client

Block, Inc.

About the Artwork

“What does it take to make it as an entrepreneur? What’s in the mindset of a maker? How to inspire a team of dreamers and builders committed to shortening the distance between an idea, and making a living from it? Empowering a city. This artwork aims to fuel the relentless commitment to the entrepreneurial dream.

Mixing experimental lettering with retro elements of pop and optical art, this mural challenges the viewer with a thought-provoking presence

that inspires accountability, integrity, and laser-focused determination. Color, geometry, and scale energize the workspace by creating a moment of positive introspection, a call to action towards self-improvement, and a reminder of the entrepreneur’s mindset Square enables.

The mural evokes a sense of approachable technology, collaborative agility, and creative flow while honoring Square’s commitment to equity and inclusiveness for St. Louis at large.”
–Carlos Zamora

Design Concept

Architectural Rendering

About the Artist

Carlos Zamora is the Chief Creative Officer of CARTEL. A strategy-driven design firm specializing in aligning business, brand, and marketing strategies through iconic illustration, impactful storytelling, and typographic excellence. Cartel believes in design as a tactical driver of change, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force.

Zamora earned his Bachelor of Arts from Instituto Superior de Diseño in Havana in 2000. A design school heavily influenced by the Bauhaus, Russian social realism, and the mid-century modern Tropicalia movement.

A design advocate and educator, he has served as President of AIGA St. Louis, the local chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the professional organization for design. He currently serves on the Art Advisory Board for Lambert International Airport, Laumeier Sculpture Park, and the Tennessee Williams Festival.

Visit the artist’s website