Meet Emida Roller

We were lucky to catch up with Emida Roller recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Emida, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I’d like to think I got my work ethics from my parents. My mom always reminded us children that anything worth doing is worth doing well. I approach my work with enjoyment. great energy, and enthusiasm. I love what I do as a mural artist especially when I work with communities.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My name is Emida Roller, and I’m a mural artist currently based in Georgia. I have a deep passion for designing and creating both exterior and interior murals because they are accessible to everyone. Murals have the power to transform communities, bring people together, and leave a lasting impact. In today’s world, they can convey powerful messages of positive change in ways that words alone cannot.

I have been a mural artist for over two decades, working with communities across the country. For the past decade, I have also managed artist teams and collaborated with communities to execute large-scale mural projects nationwide. My experience includes serving as the Executive Director of DAMA in Madison, Wisconsin, and leading numerous MLK 39 projects throughout Connecticut.

Community engagement is essential in my work because the murals belong to them, and they should have a say in the design. Often, community members have the opportunity to paint parts of the mural themselves. Collaborating with others requires a special nuance to ensure the final piece is of professional quality. My commitment to involving individuals from diverse backgrounds showcases the transformative power of art and creativity. Transforming public spaces with art and fostering a sense of belonging and pride within communities is incredibly rewarding.

I frequently use Polytab mural fabric, which has made mural painting accessible to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity. I take the prepared fabric to community centers, schools, senior centers, parks, etc. After I finesse and finish the mural the painted fabric can be adhered directly to walls, collaged onto painted backgrounds, or applied to panels. The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program has utilized this material for over three decades.

I am also a Walldog. The Walldogs are a group of highly skilled sign painters and mural artists from around the world. The historic 10 to 18 murals hold significant meaning for each town, providing a unique way for small towns to share their history and boost tourism. Since 2015, I have painted with teams in Illinois, Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Connecticut.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

It seems like every work experience and volunteer projects has added to building my confidence with the full scope of navigating the mural making process from conception to completion. From working in retail to art teacher to substitute teaching, Every job and life experience is never wasted. All of them contribute and help shape you.
I grew up around art. Born in this country and growing up in Nigeria, learning from My father, Prof. Solomon Irein Wangboje, has molded me to become a creative, a teacher, and a community artist.

My problem-solving comes from my childhood curiosity to always find solutions to problems. I tend to do a lot of this on the job. An example was figuring out how to set up the scaffolding with no help. I shared my solutions on YouTube to help others.
Being flexible has helped me navigate a lot of difficult situations either with people or with the mural making process in terms of scheduling, location, wall issues, etc.

My advice to those early in their journey is to find others who are doing well in the area you are interested in. Follow them, ask questions, and tag along if they will let you. Learn to work hard, better yet, learn to work smart and be efficient with your time. Practice, practice, practice.
Network, connect, tell others what you do, hand out business cards.
Show up – whatever that means to you.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Collaboration is a powerful force. I eagerly anticipate working with communities around the country interested in telling their stories, beautifying their surroundings, and educating through the art of murals. The community members will have a say in the theme, contribute ideas, and help with the painting process. Those who cannot directly access the wall will paint on the mural fabric, which will be incorporated into the final project.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://emidaroller.com
• Instagram: @creativemida
• Facebook: Emida Roller Productions, LLC
• Linkedin: Emida Roller
• Youtube: Emida Roller Productions

Image Credits

Emida Roller