By Eva Baron on August 11, 2025
Photo: Birdman Photos
“I’ve met too many creative souls who have quietly abandoned their callings. This mural is for them.”
It’s not uncommon for laughter to peal through Brian Peterson’s home. For the California-based muralist and his wife, Vanessa, everyday life revolves around their three kids, who often enjoy playing with floating bubbles. That childlike wonder and joy are both at the heart of Chase Dreams Like Bubbles, Peterson’s newest project in Long Beach.
Designed for the city’s Marriott Hotel as part of the Long Beach Walls and Art Renzei public art festival, the mural sweeps across an otherwise bare facade, bringing with it a vibrant optimism. A little girl peers toward the sky with hopeful eyes, bubbles circling her as they continue their climb up the building. The work is drenched in a complementary color palette, where blue and orange tones contrast yet still build off one another. The result is a charming sense of buoyancy, mimicking the bubbles that swirl around the central figure. Even so, these bubbles represent more than just playfulness.
“As we reflected on the rich artistic culture of Long Beach, we couldn’t help but wonder how many people in this city were carrying unfulfilled dreams quietly in their hearts,” Peterson tells My Modern Met. “It was Vanessa who imagined a child chasing bubbles as the perfect metaphor for pursuing [those] dreams. What began as a family moment in our living room has become a towering visual reminder to never stop chasing what sets your heart free.” […]
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