Freedom, versatility and exploration are words that can be associated with the new 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross, a vehicle that gives passengers the opportunity to pursue adventures with the adaptability and durability of an SUV. While those qualities are befitting for the compact crossover, they are also consistent with dedicated artists and their creations.
Nothing captured that idea more than Toyota’s recent “Just Right” campaign extension featuring three local influencer artists: Trav MSK in Los Angeles, Joseph “Sentrock” Perez in Chicago and ELLE in New York City.
“My piece was focused on my favorite parts of New York City, which is the bright lights, reflections and finding beauty in the darkness,” said ELLE. “From my zoomed in perspective of life in the city, it was fun to take that inspiration and translate it both onto the vehicle as well as the wall in a way the encapsulates the beauty.”
For the activation, each artist was asked to create a unique and meaningful mural inspired by their respective city — while tying in Toyota. Additionally, a Corolla Cross was custom wrapped with a design reflecting the artist’s signature style to further amplify the partnership.
“The inspiration for all my work is documenting how technology is pushing business out of the physical space,” says Trav, who hides his face and prefers to let his artwork speak for itself. “And with this one specifically, I wanted to create something that almost felt like a road trip within the composition of the wall that it was going to live on. With the vehicle, I wanted to create something that was a little bit more like the product. I wanted to have glimpses of the mural, but I didn’t want to pull the mural off and put it on the car because what works on a wall doesn’t necessarily work on a vehicle.”
In Chicago, Sentrock’s custom-wrapped car was parked outside the famed Wrigley Field baseball stadium for a couple of weeks to highlight Toyota’s ongoing partnership with the Chicago Cubs. For him, being able to create murals and display his artwork is a privilege. He also believes art can make a difference.
“Chicago creatives, we have the key to the city,” he says. “If you’re honest and you have people who support you, it’s going to open a lot of doors. Artists are able to transcend so many different social levels. We’re able to unlock a lot of those challenges with our art.”
The creative works of the participating artists exemplified the Corolla Cross ethos — freedom in the form of artistic expression, versatility in unique perspectives and visual exploration for viewers. The murals represented the artists’ hometown appeal while staying true to their artistic roots and points of view — similar to how the new Corolla Cross complements the ever-popular sedan. Simply put, the creative artwork and the compact crossover are both extensions of beloved places and trusted legacies.
“Collaborating with these talented artists was the perfect way to elevate the 2022 Corolla Cross,” says Ann Dragovits, media manager for integrated marketing operations at Toyota Motor North America. “Their creative works illustrate what the SUV represents: boldness, versatility, and the freedom to move while also pulling inspiration from each artist’s local community. This partnership was a testament to our commitment to support initiatives, organizations and efforts in the community that are important to our customers and authentic to the Toyota brand.”
All the murals were on display throughout the month of April, and two are still up for street-art fans and passersby to enjoy.
Sentrock adds, “When I create a mural, when I put together a body of work, and then we have the show or we display it, it’s that perfect opportunity of, we worked, we grinded for this, and now we get to show our community what we’re doing.”
