“Art is not a commodity and it’s not a luxury; it is a human necessity. We must have art. It enriches your experiences as a human. And public art is so important, because it breaks the mold and tells a unique story about that city, that place.”
Herman Mejia, a 2023 graduate of Yorkville’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership program, has seamlessly merged his passion for art with his commitment to education. The result is a singular blend of creativity, community engagement, and a profound belief in the transformative power of learning.
This August, Mejia’s latest project will debut in Toronto. It is a public art sculpture called “Campfire”, created in collaboration with Anishinaabe artist Michael Belmore, that will be installed near Humber Bay Shores Plaza.
“A campfire at the water’s edge is an event and a signal,” expressed Mejia, “a celebration that provides warmth and comfort, extending the setting sun and pushing back the cool night air. Whether the journey has just begun or is complete, the spirit of this artwork helps one find their place in time and space.”
“Campfire embodies the essence of journey and travel, serving as a beacon for contemplation.”
Recently, Mejia was also commissioned to design public art installations for the Bicentennial Unity Plaza in Indianapolis. The sculptures aren’t simply aesthetic additions to the cityscape; they are deeply rooted in the history and culture of Indianapolis. “Sphere” pays homage to the city’s love for basketball while also serving as a blank canvas for storytelling. “Together,” inspired by the legacies of Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and their connection to the city.
“With these projects, it’s about connecting the past, present, and future,” Mejia explained. “And telling a bigger story – one of unity and togetherness.”
“But the idea is not to create a pompous thing to celebrate, like a monument, but to create a place where everybody belongs to and everybody can use, enjoy, and activate, and come together to celebrate as one.”
This philosophy of accessibility is something Mejia credits to his mother, herself a highly-esteemed educator in their hometown. In particular, he said he is inspired by the way her lessons made something sophisticated like mathematics accessible to her students; presenting complex ideas in terms that they could relate to and learn from.
When Mejia’s mother passed away, he found a deeper motivation to pursue his own education.
“Because of Covid-19 I actually lost my mom, and taking the MEd program is something I dedicate to her memory. That’s part of the reason why I started doing this.”
During this time, Mejia said, he found himself in a transitional moment and was seeking his “next plateau”. Already busy with a successful career as an architect and public artist, the online aspect of YU appealed to Mejia, as he could balance work with his studies.
“I was very comfortable and enjoyed putting the time in,” he recalled. “I work a full-time job that’s very demanding, but still each day I would immediately close my work laptop, and open my personal one to get into the schoolwork. I enjoyed it, and it gave me a purpose beyond just getting a degree, because I don’t really need that for where I’m at in my profession.”
Mejia appreciated that the knowledge gathered at YU would be transferable to other careers, and would help him refine his own leadership style.
“You kind of start untangling that concept of good leadership and begin to pinpoint what the acumen is to be an effective leader. There’s a lot of complexities. And while studying in the MEd, I learned how to dissect these concepts, in a way I never knew before.”
Mejia’s architectural background has uniquely positioned him to approach education from a holistic perspective, combining technical expertise with storytelling and a focus on community. And while he said he always has “an itch” to teach again, in the immediate future Mejia will continue developing bold art installations that engage with the public and connect to the history and culture of the spaces they occupy.
About Herman Mejia
Originally from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Herman Mejia is a North American based design entrepreneur committed to developing timeless built environments, iconic placemaking, and cohesive experiences. Bringing narrative to life and life to narrative, Mejia is driven by curiosity with expertise in architecture, public art, industrial design, and custom fabrication to co-create bespoke projects where execution and storytelling converge. Mejia strives to craft authentic experiences and products that can bring communities together and where creativity can push the limits of imagination. Working with a wide variety of clients and partners on projects of all scopes and scales, his pursuit is engaging end users at a higher, more sustainable level, culminating in lasting relationships. He draws inspiration from the modest beauty inherent in everyday life and the captivating mosaic woven by his travels, enriching his appreciation for the intricate facets that compose the tapestry of human experience. Learn more at HermanMejia.com
