PRIDE & PROGRESS
“Space Is Our Place” This mural is part of a Google Fiber project in Huntsville,
Ala., meant to promote female empowerment and encourage unity. “If we look at a lot of the underlying elements in our communities, we find that oftentimes women and African Americans are marginalized,” said artist Jahni Moore. “It doesn’t matter where the truth comes from as long as it's brought, and that’s what this mural represents.” “Johnny Cash” This 15-story installation in
Sacramento, Calif., was created in 2018. “The art is based on a photo by Jim Marshall,” said artist Shepard Fairey. “I’m grateful to be able to create this image on such a large scale as a tribute for the 50th anniversary of Johnny Cash’s At
Folsom Prison album. I hope that this art will ignite a conversation around the need for incarceration reform.”
“Project Catfish” Painted by artist Ivan J. Roque as part of NOLA Mural Project’s effort to brighten the
New Orleans cityscape, the mural has deep meaning for the city: “The catfish is a symbol of making the best of whatever your situation is. A daily reminder for the residents of the community to remember there’s always a brighter day,” said Roque. “The vines represent the present moment and the connection between all living things.”
“We Are Milford” In 2016, a trio of artists—Lori Conner, Gilberto Rodriguez and DeMarcus Shelborne—enlisted the help of six high school students to paint a 24-by-12-foot mural that stands guard over downtown Milford, Del. The goal, said Conner, was to depict all of the town’s different cultures and backgrounds and the Mispillion River, which was so important in times gone by. Now, thanks to the Mispillion Art League, a magnificent series of blocklong murals celebrate the town’s history.
“John Lewis” This mural in Atlanta pays tribute to one of the civil rights movement’s greatest living heroes, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, in the historic Sweet Auburn neighborhood where Martin Luther King Jr. grew up. “There are murals all over town that are just art for art’s sake,” said the artist, who goes by the name The Loss Prevention. “I wanted to do something with meaning.”
“What Lifts You” In Tennessee’s booming “it” city, Nashville, tourists line up to get their pictures taken in front of angel wings, Tennessee flags and other Music City icons. The line to photograph Kelsey Montague’s iconic wings snakes its way around the block. “I wanted to do something that allowed people to step ‘into’ the work and become part of the art,” said Montague, who recently created another set of temporary wings to launch singer Taylor Swift’s new album, Me.
“Robin Williams” A pair of artists, Jerkface and Owen Dippie, teamed up in Chicago to honor Williams’ memory by painting his face surrounded by a dozen laughing genies, the animated character he lent his voice to in Aladdin. “The Times They Are A-Changin’” A popular mural in downtown Minneapolis celebrates Duluth, Minn.–born musician Bob Dylan.
“We the Youth” Though Philadelphia boasts thousands of murals, late artist Keith Haring’s iconic piece has been a local mainstay since 1987 and is the artist’s only collaborative public mural still intact at its original site. Said one bystander at the time, “I see it as ‘We the people.’ It’s a joyful painting.”