Artist Kamille Ejerta, who goes by OGMillie, is adding more flair to the vibrant setting at Ampia rooftop restaurant in the Financial District with a mural collaboration with Floratorium.
What You Need To Know
- Artist Kamille Ejerta is bringing her street art inside with business collaborations all over the city
- Ejerta, a lifelong athlete, played basketball in college on scholarship, but surgery in both eyes left her looking for a new passion
- Ampia Rooftop Restaurant in the Financial District commissioned a mural with OGMillie as a way to engage customers
- OGMillie says there are not many female or Asian-Americans in the street art world, so as a Filipino-American she’s very proud to inspire others
“They told me they wanted like a female portrait. And they added the flower as hair and we just created magic from there,” said Ejerta.
This Queens native's first love was basketball. But eye surgery in 2012 and again in 2017 left her with permanent damage. Millie studied graphic art in college but had trouble with computer screens, so she taught herself street art.
Over the past four years, she’s established herself as a highly sought-after muralist, and occasionally her passions collide with sports murals.
“Coaches have instilled that excel over adversity over adversity mentality, so I owe it all to you know, sports,” said Ejerta, about her drive and success.
Ampia closed at the start of the pandemic. Now reopened, the owners believe original artwork is another way to engage customers.
“I want something that is memorable,” said owner Anisa Iuliano. “Something that they're going to go home and talk about, something that's going to stand out that it's a part of my personality as well as my husband. And to me, the florals mean rebirth, reinvent ourselves.”
The mural is so popular that many who come here dress to match the artwork. And Millie is already working on a second project at Ampia. She’s curating artist-designed tables at the nearby Clinton Hall - helping to put 20 more artists to work.
Ejerta says despite early expectations that she chose a career in science or medicine; she’s showing street art can be a viable career path and is inspiring others.
“We don't see a lot of females in the street art industry, nor do we see a lot of Asian-Americans. Filipino, you know, people in that industry as well. So, it means a lot to help pave that way. It's a cool feeling,” said Ejerta.
And the popularity of the mural - another big score for the onetime point guard. She and Floratorium are getting lots of calls to help bring other places to life.