Paper Stage (Allegory of Life) at the Adrienne Arsht Center

Miami artist TYPOE created a performing arts-themed mural on the historic Carnival Tower at the Adrienne Arsht Center during summer 2025. The work, titled "Paper Stage (Allegory of Life)," features bold geometric designs and was commissioned through the Arsht's 1300 Projects visual arts series.

The mural draws from 19th-century toy theaters—small shadow boxes in which children staged plays using miniature sets, paper dolls and detailed, panoramic sheets. This historical reference shaped the composition's theatrical aesthetic.

TYPOE describes the work as merging "childhood imagination and adult experience" through layered cutout shapes and symbols. "My hope is that viewers feel a bit of the wonder they might feel before a performance begins."

The mural overlooks Biscayne Boulevard on the Carnival Tower, making it a prominent public art installation visible to passersby. From 2018-2025, the Tower previously displayed a 30-foot mural of a ballerina by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra.

TYPOE has an established relationship with the Arsht beyond this mural commission—he also designed the 2025 Arsht Awards and the 2024 holiday card for the center.