Launch Recite Me assistive technology
Blue and white fabric butterflies are attached to a weathered metal utility box on a brick wall. The box is covered in graffiti and a small padlock secures a white plastic panel.

Street art with a soft touch – the amazing butterfly installations of Tasha Lewis

—
Date
29 August 2012

The streets of Indianapolis have recently come alive with bright blue wildlife. Public spaces, sculptures and private properties have found themselves swarmed with beautiful butterflies that show no sign of moving on. Fret not though, these ornate creatures aren’t a bright-coloured plague of Biblical proportions but rather the guerrilla sculptures of Indianapolis native Tasha Lewis. The young artist and designer has been creating hundreds of the magnetic insects and installing them around the city, creating eco street art that’s easily assembled and does no damage to the surface it’s attached to.

We’re really impressed by the inventiveness of the project – it’s streets ahead of a lot of the stuff we see on walls all over the city and manages to shy away from the ‘rebellious’ tone we’ve come to expect from the medium. In fact we can’t help but think that east London would benefit from a little butterfly infestation. Bring on the swarms!

A sculpture of blue and white butterflies clings to thick, green curved poles. The figures are set against a clear blue sky.
Above

Tasha Lewis: Guerilla Sculpture

Blue and white patterned butterflies are perched on an old, cream-coloured newspaper vending machine. The machine features signs for “The Indianapolis Star” with pricing for “Daily” and “Sunday” editions.
Above

Tasha Lewis: Guerilla Sculpture

Hundreds of small blue butterflies are arranged in a large circle on a white slatted wall. In the centre of the circle is a red and white sign that reads “No Parking”.
Above

Tasha Lewis: Guerilla Sculpture

Two white roller shutters are set into a concrete wall. The shutter on the right features a circular mural of small blue birds flying in a ring.
Above

Tasha Lewis: Guerilla Sculpture

Blue and white butterflies are attached to a bright orange industrial barrier. The butterflies are scattered across the metal bars, casting small shadows on the concrete ground.
Above

Tasha Lewis: Guerilla Sculpture

Blue butterfly decals are scattered across a red metal structure. The butterflies are attached to the red beams and black pipes, which are held together by large bolts.
Above

Tasha Lewis: Guerilla Sculpture

Blue and white patterned butterflies are scattered across a perforated metal sign. The legible text on the sign reads “SEPT”.
Above

Tasha Lewis: Guerilla Sculpture

Share Article

About the Author

James Cartwright

—

James started out as an intern in 2011 and came back in summer of 2012 to work online and latterly as Print Editor, before leaving in May 2015.

It's Nice That Newsletters

Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox? Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world.