Desireé Vaniecia is a Dallas-based artist. “Growing up in Dallas, I didn’t always see art that felt accessible, so I hope this piece allows people to feel seen, even in a small way."
Whispers on a Vine is about community—how something small can grow into something meaningful. Her work has always explored the human experience, but lately she’s been zooming in on ideas of growth and vulnerability. This piece builds on that by looking at how those personal ideas connect outwardly to others.
Behind the mural
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My work has always explored the idea of the human experience and telling different stories driven by vulnerability, growth and what it means to be seen. Whispers on a Vine builds on that, using those same ideas to shift outward into community. It's still about growth, just no longer alone.
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Growing up in Dallas, I didn't always see art that felt accessible or reflected people like me or my community. Public art shifts that by placing art in everyday spaces. I want people who walk past my work to feel like they can see themselves or at least feel that their experience belongs.
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This one shifted for me. I originally planned for two women, but after talking with my students one day, I was inspired to have them actually in conversation. That moment changed the direction, making the piece more about exchange and connection.
My color palette has always evolved over time. I used to stay in neutrals, but now I'm more interested in letting color tell part of the story. I kept the original wall as the background and chose colors that would pop against it, especially against the black I use for my figures. It felt like a balance between where I've been and where I'm going.
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A big part of this piece was honestly digging through my brushes to find the ones that gave me the exact strokes I wanted, especially for the vines and my line work. Even though my work looks simple, the quality of the line matters a lot to me. How it curves and how it holds weight—that's where a lot of the feeling lives.
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I want people to walk away know that something small can turn into something meaningful. And that growth, whether it's personal or within a community, it doesn't have to be loud to matter.
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“Send Me an Angel” by Real Life