Seen on Campus: Iruka Maria Toro

Iruka Maria Toro is a Puerto Rican artist whose paintings serve as a record of her life. Toro uses patterned flora, fauna, pools of water, and liquefying landscapes in an imperfectly symmetrical arrangement to best express her identity. In this piece, which can be found in E.H. Little Library, Toro explored her experience of St. Elmo’s Fire, a natural and supernatural phenomenon in which luminous plasma from static electricity creates a glowing light. Toro’s use of imperfect symmetry in this piece allows the viewer to see two worlds, both filled with bright beautiful colors and elements of nature. Both pieces are distinctly different yet equally appealing.

I think I was specifically drawn to this piece because of its elements that remind me of the living world. What I enjoy most about this piece is the tiny floral photographs around the edge, they remind me that nature is right outside. This piece by Toro is definitely something that can reground students as they are working in the library, a bright spot in the midst of studying. 

-Izzy Hernandez ‘25