Meet Detroit artist Louise “Ouizi” Jones and her lively flower murals

Detroit artist Louise “Ouizi” Jones wouldn’t consider herself as having a “rigorous art education.” But the Los Angeles-born Chinese American artist is now known in Detroit for painting wildflowers on buildings and freeway overpasses. Her favorite thing about the city is also the reason she moved here from LA in 2014: the city’s art scene, including people like Mario Moore , Olayami Dabls and Kayla Powers .

What started as a childhood fascination with floral patterns on fabric (and a cute way to bond with her mother, a seamstress) turned into what Jones calls a deeper metaphor for beauty and connection in Detroit.

“There’s always something that is deeply personal about (flowers),” Jones said. “They’re so universal and beautiful and beloved. It’s very easy to connect with people when that’s the artwork you’re making.”

Jones has painted plenty of murals , but her favorite is “Summer’s Where You’ll Find Me,” spray-painted at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh.

Jones’s upcoming exhibition is at the Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City opening June 21. She said she’ll be showing some personal, introspective paintings alongside her signature, smaller-scale floral work.

Meet Detroit artist Louise “Ouizi” Jones and her lively flower murals · Outlier Media