Veridian Kaleidoscope
“Veridian Kaleidoscope” | Alain Poma & Ryan Laessig
Milwaukee, WI - located in Ivanhoe Plaza (just around the corner from Black Cat Alley)
Created in June 2025
Photo by Charlie James Photography
Covering the entire surface of Ivanhoe Plaza, “Veridian Kaleidoscope” is a vibrant, large-scale ground mural created by Milwaukee artists Alain Poma and Ryan Laessig. This collaborative work transforms the plaza into a swirling stained glass-inspired scene of blues, greens, and earthy tones, drawing inspiration from the interplay of nature and the urban environment.
The mural invites visitors to immerse themselves in a lush, abstract garden underfoot. Like a living kaleidoscope, the design shifts in mood and light throughout the day, evoking both organic growth and mosaic artistry. If you look closely, you’ll find a playful nod to The Wizard of Oz: a trail of subtle yellow dots (a “Yellow Brick Road” of sorts) guiding you toward nearby Black Cat Alley.
The plaza mural is accompanied by new barrier artwork by Cutesy Macabre, making Ivanhoe Plaza a dynamic and colorful gateway to the East Side’s creative corridor.
Alain Poma
Known professionally as POMA Art, Alain is a Milwaukee-based interdisciplinary multimedia artist working in illustration, 3D animation, and motion graphics. Inspired by his mother, a painter, he began his artistic journey at a young age. Drawing and painting throughout his life, he developed his skills, aspiring to create art for the games and cartoons he loved. He later studied animation and has spent the last twelve years honing his digital and technical abilities. His work has contributed to various projects, including video games, VR experiences, and animated shorts.
Alain's designs have been featured in gallery spaces. You can catch him in action at comic conventions and local Milwaukee markets!
You can see more from Alain at @pomagnum on Instagram, and be sure to check out his other Black Cat Alley mural, “Petit Paradis.”
Ryan Laessig
Ryan Laessig is a Milwaukee creative and the Executive Director of the East Side BID. With a deep passion for arts accessibility, placemaking, and local culture, Ryan brings both vision and hands-on creativity to community projects. As an artist, curator, and advocate, his work blends civic pride with a playful aesthetic, and “Veridian Kaleidoscope” marks his first mural collaboration in the public art space.
You can find more of Ryan’s creative work on Instagram at @milwaukeealt.
Photos by Charlie James Photography and Cutesy Macabre