Bringing Art to Life: Melissa Moria’s Journey and Collaboration with EDGE Coolsingel

Melissa Moria, an artist from Rotterdam, had the honor of launching the "Show Me Your Heart" art competition we launched as its first participant. In collaboration with us, Melissa marked the beginning of this initiative by creating a striking mural for the construction hoardings of EDGE Coolsingel Rotterdam, located at Coolsingel 75. A self-taught artist, Melissa delivered an eye-catching design that set the tone for this unique competition.

Melissa’s journey into the arts is both unconventional and inspiring. Her professional background did not begin in the creative field but in business studies. While pursuing her education in Rotterdam, Melissa actually worked at Coolsingel 75, making her return historic as she shared, “It felt like a full circle moment“.

After completing her studies, Melissa embarked on a career at Maersk. However, following a period of burnout, she rediscovered her passion for painting - a cherished hobby since childhood. Inspired by Picasso’s realistic yet expressive use of oil paints, she began channeling her creativity into visual art. With the encouragement of friends, Melissa took her art online, gradually building a business as interest in her work grew.

“Entering the art industry was both challenging and rewarding, particularly as someone without ‘formal’ art education,” Melissa explained. From a young age, she had been drawn to creating visual images and found painting to be a therapeutic outlet during stressful times. Her self-taught approach, coupled with an entrepreneurial spirit, allowed her to carve a niche in the art world, becoming an artist with her own techniques. Melissa’s journey took a significant turn when she started sharing her artwork on Instagram. What began as a way to inspire friends and family captured the attention of a wider audience, opening new opportunities for her creativity to shine.

Among the art forms she explored, murals held an interest for Melissa. She was captivated by their ability to transform public spaces and make art accessible to everyone. This fascination deepened when she approached the management of a nearby building in Rotterdam to learn about commissioning murals. That experience sparked a new chapter in her artistic journey, inspiring her to keep growing and leaving her mark on larger, more impactful canvases. Speaking about her future plans, Melissa revealed, “After completing the mural for Edge, I startedfocusing on planningmy own exhibition to celebrate my-five-year anniversary in the industry.”

As the first artist in the "Show Me Your Heart" competition, Melissa contributed to ourmission of spotlighting emerging talent. This initiative provides local artists with a prominent canvas on Rotterdam’s busiest street and the opportunity to win a permanent exhibition space inside the completed EDGE Coolsingel building upon fdelivery in August 2026. Melissa admired the competition’s vision, saying, “We need more public art in Rotterdam. There’s plenty of talented artists here, but opportunities to publicly display work are limited.”

For her mural, Melissa found inspiration in her interpretation of the environment and the vibrant colors of Rotterdam. Her work reflects a deep connection to the surroundings, aligning with EDGE Coolsingel’s core values of green and sustainable design.Her artwork reflects the vision of bringing greenery and environmental consciousness to the city, aligning with the building’s upcoming large rooftopgarden on the 7th floor and eco-friendly features. “It is important to prioritize biodiversityfor the future of our environment, which is why I enjoyed collaborating with Edge on this project,” she noted.

The "Show Me Your Heart" competition launched inNovember 2024 and will run until June 2026. During this period, local artists have the chance to showcase their work on the construction hoardings of EDGE Coolsingel and compete for the ultimate prize - a permanent exhibition space within the building. This initiative follows Edge’s commitment to supporting artistic talent while fostering sustainability and creativity in Rotterdam.