Orlando people are a special breed. More than any other city I’ve experienced, the ones who call Central Florida home have a unique ability to take seemingly unfortunate or unlucky circumstances and turn them into something beautiful (much like taking muggy swampland and creating a world-class tourist destination). But nowhere in our more modern and contemporary examples is this more apparent than in the Walls of Pho Hoa.
Justin’s Story
After his love of the postmodern urban street painting movement (graffiti) got him into a bit of trouble, eventual Walls of Pho Hoa founder, Justin Mahshie, had to make a choice. He could have forsaken his artistic talents entirely. He could have continued his endeavors illegally and landed himself in even more trouble. But instead, Justin turned a potentially negative situation into something beautiful – both for himself and other local graffiti writers.
Mr. Mahshie began organizing his own sticker shows called “Stick ‘Em Up.” Including adhesive art displays, live painting, and musical performances; these events gave local graffiti artists a safe space to celebrate their form of self-expression.
Walls of Pho Hoa
One 2014 morning, the owners of a local Vietnamese noodle restaurant, Pho Hoa, arrived to find their building heavily vandalized. Instead of painting over the damage, however, they contacted Justin to request that he turn the illegal vandalism into a beautiful work of art. But Justin had a better idea…
Inspired by Downtown Orlando’s Pintura Project with its collection of “permission walls” (select areas of a building’s exterior set aside for legal graffiti and street art), Justin suggested that they do the same with Pho Hoa. The expansive surface area would allow Justin to showcase artists of multiple talent and experience levels while providing a tangible way to increase the restaurant’s potential client reach. With the original Pintura Project replaced by the Orlando City Stadium, local artists were in dire need of such an outlet.
As the project’s coordinator, Justin provides a diverse set of artists with the unique opportunity to celebrate their craft and to express their artistic talents without risking legal ramifications. Under the Walls of Pho Hoa name, Justin organizes a few additional “permission walls” throughout Downtown, including a beautiful memorial mural for the victims of the Pulse shooting tragedy.
Created in 2016, this wall is maintained by a team of volunteers.
As the project evolves, Walls of Pho Hoa has expanded to include commercial endeavors, including private painting demonstrations and mural commissions such as this one for Deep Eddy Vodka:
Requesting a Space on Walls of Pho Hoa
Interested artists should contact Justin through the Walls of Pho Hoa Instagram account. Skill and experience level will directly correlate to the visibility of your assigned painting space. However, as long as an artist has some experience they are welcome to apply for a spot. Regardless of talent or wall placement, Justin does try to keep each piece displayed for a reasonable amount of time. But, of course, none of the installments are permanent. Each mural is eventually replaced by another artist’s work.
Beyond the Permission Walls
In addition to the several permission walls and featured murals throughout the city, Walls of Pho Hoa performs live painting demonstrations at multiple art festivals each year. Most recently, they participated in the Orlando Fringe Festival – creating a beautiful mural onsite and then displaying it for the duration of the celebration.
If you want to see Walls of Pho Hoa in action, catch them at Immerse 2021! From October 15-17, this festival will light up Downtown Orlando with 3-D art installations, visual art exhibitions, and lots of beautiful performances. The short video below gives a pretty great overview of what you can expect at the Festival.
During the 2019 Immerse Festival, Walls of Pho Hoa created these beautiful images. They even glowed in blacklight!
I look forward to seeing their work at the 2021 event.
Stay In Touch
If you want to stay in touch with Walls of Pho Hoa (as an artist, art admirer, or potential partner), follow them on Instagram. Local businesses, please consider donating some of your exterior area as additional “permission walls.” The artwork will draw additional guests to your building, increasing your ultimate visibility. Additionally, you’ll be contributing to Orlando’s growing art scene and cultural expression.
JAPANGO Brings Beautiful Sushi Boxes and More to Mills50
To check out the Walls for yourself, visit the Pho Hoa restaurant at 649 N Primrose Orlando, FL 32803.
