The Romantix store, located on East Colfax and Washington St., found itself at the epicenter of the powerful uprising spurred by the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police officers. Now the adult store with 60 stores nationwide is using their visible storefront in a high-traffic area to showcase a simple message: freedom and equality.
Romantix and the Denver artist Adam Raiola who was hired to create to the mural felt that during this era of political upheaval, this message was simple.
Adam Raiola, in an Instagram post, stated, “People should be able to live their true lives free from discrimination and be treated equally in the eyes of the law.”
They enlisted Denver artist Adam Raiola to have a “paint party.” Romantix chose the artist because they prefer to work with up-and-coming, local artists. After seeing his work around Denver, they spoke with Raiola and found a common direction that they both felt passionate about. Raiola identifies as a creative problem solver by nature, graphic designer by education, product designer by passion, and artist at heart.
Over a wavy, rainbow spectrum, the mural reads, “Freedom & Equality.” The idea was that the mural is inclusive towards all humans regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identification, race, ethnicity, religion, age, or ability.
Included in the mural is a dedication to all those who have died at the hands of injustice, along with those who continue to fight for freedom and equality.
While Romantix is one of the largest national retailers of adult merchandise, it is headquartered in Denver. The Denver team swiftly chose to take action which would show their support of human rights while also adding beauty and positivity to an area that was holding the tensions of protest. The storefront on Colfax was a prime opportunity to take action.
The Freedom & Equality mural is immediately visible at 633 E Colfax Ave.
