“Novelista”

Oct, 2023

Mural by German Acosta & Amanda Auble

Acrylic on parachute canvas

27’ x 15’

2026 Batic Ave. Atlantic City, NJ

Commissioned by Noyes Art Museum - Stockton University

Titled “Novelista,” this collaboration between portrait artists Germán Acosta and Amanda Auble highlights the power that Latin American literature has to elevate and inspire. 

This is a portrait of a woman writing her own story. Her strength and beauty, as she floats effortlessly above the ground, are inspired by the real Latina writers who have been brave enough to write down their stories. 

This painting draws specifically from the writings of author Isabel Allende. In her groundbreaking novel, La Casa de los Espiritus, she creates a strong female character who has magical powers like levitating objects and herself.

Our portrait is also inspired by novelist and poet Sandra Cisneros who’s character Esperanza in The House on Mango Street shares the stories of an urban Latin neighborhood. Atlantic City has its own “Mango street” if viewers continue to walk down the real street of this mural into a diverse Latin American neighborhood. 

Levitating the type writer to her hand, this portrait represents the Latin American residents here in Atlantic City whose own stories are being written right now. From their journey to this community to living and working here every day, their stories matter. 

Atlantic city is home to many Latin Americans from many different countries. The painting we’ve created is also inspired by a historic art movement that connects the many unique cultures across Latin America: “el realismo mágico” or Magical Realism.

Magical Realism is a literary genre popularized and perfected in Latin America. It combines magic with reality. It spans multiple different countries and uses the Spanish language to showcase the beautiful culture that connects across the diverse Latin American community. 

This painting shows our main character using her powers to change her world with magic and she is surrounded by magical creatures of her own design. 

And still, this painting is grounded in reality. Specifically, this woman sits on a couch that is draped in a traditional blanket, which is based on the blanket made by the artist German Acosta's grandmother, a real family treasure. 

In all its magic, viewers can find real inspiration from this mural.

“TOGETHER WE’RE AN OCEAN”

Atlantic City, NJ

50 ft x 10 ft

2023

This mural shows a Caballito de Totora, a traditional Peruvian boat that has been built and passed down for 3,500 years and is still used today, meeting an Atlantic City lifeboat, a Van Duyne boat that has a long tradition for locals here. This scene features turbulent waves of change and redirection, but is grounded by the distant Atlantic City skyline. We hope the community can find themselves in the story of hope and adventure coming to this city and making it their home.