Trap Bob Returns with New Superheroes
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Trap Bob painting tables with new female superheroes!
Tenbeete Solomon, a.k.a. Trap Bob, painted three tables in the Takoma Streetery outdoor dining area in 2021 featuring her “Girl” characters, bold Black female superheroes who each have their own superpower. The tables have faded over time, so the City’s Arts and Humanities Division hired her to repaint the tables with new superhero designs.
“We’re very excited to have Trap Bob back in town to revive these tables with her unique and colorful style,” says Arts and Humanities Coordinator Brendan Smith. “The tables have been very popular, so we wanted to extend their artistic life while providing more outdoor seating in downtown Takoma Park.”
Trap Bob shared some thoughts about this project and her own artistic journey. Be sure to check out the tables outside Takoma Bev at 6917 Laurel Ave.
What was the inspiration for your artist name Trap Bob?
It was a mix of a childhood nickname and being a super fan of trap music pioneer Gucci Mane. I also love how the name throws people off and forces them to let go of their expectations.
How did you develop these Black female superheroes and what do they represent for you?
I created my “Girl” characters as an outlet to express the emotions of both myself and my community. They are all one person and every person. For me, they represent hope and determination. The biggest theme behind my work is that “art will save the world.” When my “Girls” show up as superheroes, they are fighting for what’s right and just, and they serve as reminders that we are all superheroes in our everyday lives through our work and our choices.
Did you grow up reading comic books or watching superhero films?
I grew up very influenced by anime, cartoons, and video games so I’ve definitely leaned into character design as it has been my favorite way to communicate my message. Without realizing it, my “Girls” were born from me aiming to relate to my audience and bring people together in a digestible and approachable way.
What’s your background as an artist and some of your favorite projects?
I got interested in art around the time I was graduating from college and studying business and marketing. I was stressed about my future and finding my passion, so I started drawing to relieve stress since it was something I always enjoyed but never took seriously. I fell in love with it and completely committed myself to being a self-taught artist.
I started with painting and moved into illustration and digital art and, more recently, murals and public art. Freelancing became a classroom for me, and I explored different mediums through various clients and projects. I have worked with so many amazing individuals and organizations in the D.C. area and have expanded to nationwide projects and campaigns.
Some of my favorite projects included a portrait of Mary W. Jackson, NASA’s first black female engineer, for the renaming of the NASA headquarters and some animation for Missy Elliott’s “DripDemeanor” music video. I recently worked with some other artists to create a mural gallery at the Scramble parkour gym in Arlington, and it’s been fun coming back to Takoma Park to keep this project alive.
