Wright Angled
Wright Angled by Gabe Barajas transforms the south side of Nextdoor at Birdie’s in Valparaiso into a clean, modern grid of color and form. The way the shapes overlap and interlock gives the mural a quiet rhythm.
Large geometric blocks — rectangles, squares, and sweeping semicircles — outlined in bold black lines give the wall the crisp feeling of an architectural blueprint. Soft, carefully chosen tones of olive green, dusty pink, slate blue, muted teal, and cream create a harmonious palette that feels both contemporary and calming.
Barajas uses the building’s real features — windows, downspouts, meters, and conduits — as part of the composition, integrating them seamlessly so the mural feels intentionally woven into the structure rather than painted on top of it. The result is a thoughtfully balanced piece that elevates an everyday alleyway into an engaging visual corridor, complementing the warm, inviting character of Birdie’s and contributing to Valparaiso’s growing tapestry of public art.
Mural in progress
“This mural, Wright Angled, the work of Gabe Barajas, does to this space what I attempt to do with fabric in my own personal happy space: my sewing room. Blocks of color, straight lines and an assortment of shapes merge to bring to passersby, the same fresh, modern flair Birdie’s brings to diners.”
Eileen Jenetopulos, VCC Board Member
Gabe was born and raised in Northwest Indiana and began painting at a young age with guidance from his father. In middle school he lost interest in brushes and canvases but through skateboarding, hip hop, and hardcore music culture found an interest in graffiti.
From there his love for painting graffiti became intertwined in his lifestyles of skating, fashion, and creating music. He has painted pieces and murals across multiple states/countries such as Hawaii, Puerto Rico, France, Portugal, Spain, Mexico, and Iceland. His work has been displayed at galleries across Indiana and Illinois with the most notable being the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
About the mural location
Nextdoor at Birdie’s brings an approachable American dining experience to downtown Valparaiso with its vintage-inspired atmosphere. VCC thanks Nextdoor at Birdie’s for hosting this mural on the south side of their building by their parking lot at 220 E. Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN 46383.
