Street Art Cities

In the heart of Cherbourg’s Provinces district, street artist Blesea has brought a vibrant burst of color and emotion to a towering façade on avenue de Normandie. Stretching over 20 meters high, the mural features a giant, radiant hummingbird, its wings mid-flight as it hovers near blooming tropical flowers. This monumental artwork, commissioned by the social housing provider Presqu’île Habitat, is visible to all, directly across from the local Carrefour Market.

For Blesea, this project carries deep personal meaning. “I was born here. I grew up on this street. My childhood bedroom looked out on this very wall,” he shared. His parents still live in the building,likely its longest-standing tenants—making the mural a heartfelt tribute not only to the neighborhood but to his own roots.

The hummingbird, depicted in rich hues of teal, gold, and violet, symbolizes solidarity and light, according to the artist. “It brings vibrant color to the façade,” he says, using his signature blend of realism and poetic symbolism to transform urban space.

To realize the piece, Blesea relied on a nacelle lift and marked several guidelines on the wall to help scale the bird to size. Weather and time constraints added complexity to the work, but the result is a striking beacon of life and identity in the cityscape.

This mural not only beautifies the district but also tells a story of memory, belonging, and hope, anchoring art in place and purpose.