The Bloom & Plume founder has transformed his love of flowers into a thriving business and an outlet for creative expression in its purest form. Visual artist Maurice Harris sits firmly at the intersection of fine art and the empowerment of Black bodies. Harris’s many layers inform his artistry as he elegantly explores the textures of masculinity, femininity, and freedom while successfully reflecting his own complexities in striking floral arrangements. “I’m a Black, gay male living in America, and that’s complicated,” he says, flatly. “So there’s a lot of stuff to work out and plenty of inspiration there.” The grandson of a florist and son of a crafty mother, Harris acquired an eye for creative inspiration at a young age. His family possessed an artistic audaciousness that emboldened him to eventually embrace his own. That ultimately led Harris to creating art that stands as a testament to one’s autonomy through his floral business, Bloom & Plume. Located in the heart of L.A.’s Echo Park, it’s much more than a flower shop as Harris and his team don’t just create beautifully ornate floral arrangements but works of art. This extends past the bouquets themselves to postcards and calendars that capture both the beauty of flowers and the Black experience. Through his personal and creative journey, Harris aims to provide his community the type of access and exposure to the arts that he did not have growing up. “Bloom & Plume is a hub for creativity,” he says. “It’s a hub for showing the importance of beauty and aesthetics, and not having to always be in an oppressive state.” That mind state is a direct result of the California native’s family upbringing. As a child, Harris was encouraged to explore everything he wanted to do as long as he promised to […]