The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and the ViBe Creative District, in partnership with the City of Virginia Beach Office of Cultural Affairs, tapped internationally-renowned Irish artist, Maser, to bring Virginia Beach the newest piece in a colorful parade of public art — and he did not disappoint. Entitled “People and Plants,” Maser’s arresting mural occupies multiple walls on the back of the original Virginia MOCA building, facing westbound I-264.
The artist began using the moniker “Maser” in 1995 when he was a graffiti artist on the streets of Dublin. Over the years, his use of bold color and geometric pattern led to international notoriety, and today, dozens of spaces — including walls, buildings and installations across Austria, France, Slovenia, Spain, the U.K. and now the U.S. in Virginia Beach — add color and movement to the public domain.
The artist’s collaborations are also eclectic and far reaching. In 2024 alone, Maser was the Artist-in-Residence at Paris Centre Culture Irlandais and Centro Português de Serigrafia; had pieces appearing at auction for Sotheby’s Modern British and Irish Art, in Paris; participated in the Hexahedron Augmented Reality Experience for the European Capital of Smart Tourism; and partnered with Conor Harrington on a limited-edition Hennessy bottle design.
We’re honored to have his vibrant work adding to the Virginia Beach ViBes. While MOCA reopens in spring 2026 at Virginia Wesleyan University, “People and Plants” will remain an important part of the city’s artistic and cultural heritage — and will continue to contribute to the ViBe Creative District’s charm for as long as the original MOCA building stands.
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