Carried with Me

In the summer of 2025, I was selected as a featured artist at the Edmonton Mural Festival, an experience that deeply shaped both my artistic journey and my heart. During the festival, I had the honor of painting two large-scale murals in Edmonton and assisting several incredible international mural artists along the way.

While both murals were meaningful, there was something undeniably special about the mural I painted at Goodwill on Whyte Avenue. This was what I call a heart project. A mural not requested by a brand or client, but created entirely from within. A piece guided by memory, emotion, and love.

Just weeks before the festival, my grandmother Fran Vida, who I lovingly call Grammy, sent me a photo of a tiny bumblebee bum disappearing into a brightly colored flower. Grammy has the most incredible green thumb I have ever known. Her gardens are full of life, color, and intention.

Often before painting a mural, I spend time quietly meditating to allow ideas to surface. For this piece, no matter how hard I tried, I could not shake the image of that bumblebee. That was when I knew this mural needed to exist.

The Goodwill post on Whyte Avenue had three visible sides, all waiting to be transformed. It was originally painted a striking blue, a color I genuinely loved. I chose to honor and keep the iconic Goodwill blue, building the mural’s palette around it rather than covering it completely. That foundation helped the mural feel intentional and connected to its location.

With three sides to work with, I expanded the story further by adding a butterfly and a hummingbird, turning the piece into a tribute to the women who have shaped my life.

One side of the pillar features a large orange butterfly, representing my mother, Tami Gubersky. She passed away suddenly in August of 2024, a moment that forever changed my life. My mom gave me the space to create freely, always encouraging my imagination and artistic voice. I feel deeply honored to pay tribute to her wherever I can through my work. Butterflies have long symbolized transformation, presence, and guidance for me, and orange was always her favorite color.

Another side of the mural features a hummingbird, representing my Baba, Pat Gubersky. She had deep Ukrainian heritage and absolutely adored hummingbirds. She taught me that life is precious, and not worth stressing over the small things. Hummingbirds, with their lightness, felt like the perfect embodiment of her wisdom and her beautiful heart.

This mural is not just public art in Edmonton. It is a personal story painted large. A reminder that art can heal, honor, and hold space for memory. If you find yourself walking along Whyte Avenue, I hope you pause for a moment, look closely, and feel the intention behind every brushstroke.

Ashley Rosenow

Edmonton Mural Artist and Founder of Illustrious Interiors