Philipsburg, Sint Maarten – Zillah Duzon-Hazel has completed a new design for her @ColorMeSXM mural in Philipsburg, opposite Oranje School. @ColorMeSXM is a project executed by Be The Change Foundation in collaboration with artists, that aims to uplift Philipsburg through art and colour. The refresh of Zillah’s mural was made possible with funding from Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied.
The original mural was painted six years ago and had begun to show signs of wear, with some of the wooden boards also damaged. Over the years, the mural was a favourite backdrop for headshots, TikTok videos, magazine shoots, and plenty of photos, so Be The Change felt it was time to give it a refresh.
Zillah is a St. Maarten-born fashion designer, surface pattern designer and mural artist. Her colourful designs are inspired by St. Maarten and the Caribbean, including our nature, tropical fruits, colours and landscapes. Many of her patterns start out as hand-painted designs before being turned into fabrics for clothing and accessories. Her work under her brand ‘Jolie Duzon’ has been shown across the Caribbean and at New York Fashion Week.
The new mural, once again, features three of Zillah’s popular patterns, providing a colourful backdrop for photos. Several friends and volunteers also came out to help Zillah with the mural, and she would like to thank everyone who gave their time and helped get it finished: “the best part of creating this mural is how people reacted. Both residents and tourists stopped by to help paint, others offered drinks, and a nearby restaurant owner offered me a meal. Hearing the nice greetings and compliments as people walk or drive by are always nice too!”
Be The Change Foundation & Artist Zillah hope the public enjoys the new designs as much as they enjoyed the original! See more work by Zillah on Instagram: @Jolie_Duzon & the mural project on @ColorMeSXM.
