SP 2025 LIS 889 Projects

Items

• You Are Powerful, You Are Loved
  A new mural debuted in Asheville, NC, where the Campaign for Southern Equality is based. Our Southern Equality Studios Director Liz Williams designed the mural and led a talented team of artists on the installation. Check it out below, and please join us in sending its message – that trans youth are powerful and loved. This new mural is one way to tell the story of resilience and resistance in the South.
• Colorful Legacy
  “Colorful Legacy” was painted by Willis “Nomo” Humphrey and Keir Johnston as the culmination of a year-long series of workshops uniting Black and Asian American North and South Philadelphian men in a discussion of the social problems they face and ways to overcome challenges (MAP, “Colorful Legacy”). The fact that Hikes chose “Colorful Legacy” as a frontispiece for her article on Black queer Philadelphians invites viewers to reinterpret the mural’s expressions of Black, implicitly straight male self-affirmation in a queer way. The word “Proud” on the right side of the mural, an index of Black pride from the civil rights movement, also conjures up LGBTQIA+ pride marches in Hikes’ reframing. Hikes headed what became a global “More Color More Pride” initiative in 2017, by introducing to Philadelphia’s City Hall a pride flag which added black and brown to the now standard LGBTQIA+ rainbow flag to symbolize racial inclusivity (Orso). In “Colorful Legacy,” the combination of multi-hued “rays” (red, yellow, orange, green) symbolizes the powers of the Black male imagination. The blacks and browns of the central identifiably male face both recall Hikes’s “More Color More Pride” initiative and put a racialized and gendered face on it.
• MaestraPeace
  MaestraPeace Mural was painted in 1994 by a “Who’s Who” of Bay Area muralists: Juana Alicia, Miranda Bergman, Edythe Boone, Susan Kelk Cervantes, Meera Desai, Yvonne Littleton and Irene Perez. One of San Francisco’s largest and best known murals, MaestraPeace and serves as a visual testament to the courageous contributions of women through time and around the world. The mural was fully cleaned and restored in 2012 by the original muralists with the assistance of a new generation of muralistas.
• Untitled, 2021
  This is a new mural by New Jersey-based artist Khari Johnson-Ricks. Located outside The Attic Youth Center for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth at 255 South 16th Street in Center City, the mural was commissioned by the Asian Arts Initiative as part of their Unity at the Initiative exhibition that’s celebrating the work of Jeffrey Cheung and queer/trans artists of color in Philadelphia. “I’ve been thinking about ways to make images of queer and trans people that centers their personhood,” Khari responded over email about the inspiration behind his new mural. “More often than not when images get made of queer people it centers sex or gender visibility. I want to see more images of the ambitions of queer people and the nuances of there lives.” This is Khari’s first piece of public art in Philly, but hopefully not his last: “The public art I want to make reflects the communities they are apart of and opens up spaces for radical imagination.”
• Love for All
  Atlantan artist ARRRTADDICT recently collaborated with Skittles to create this incredible mural in Little Five Points. The mural represents how the artist perceives the rainbow and celebrates Pride. ARRTADDICT told Secret Atlanta, “Pride for me is about celebrating the struggles we have suffered and continue to get by making the changes our community needs.”
• Proud to be Southern & Queer
  For this year’s Pride celebration, Skittles has sponsored a series of murals by Queer artists. The project is called the Skittles QueeR Codes, and one of them is here in Nashville, on the side of the Germantown branch of Jack Brown’s. (The name of the series references the QR codes found on each mural.) The Nashville version is by local artist Sara Moroni, whose business name is Sara Moroni Pizza – “serving hot and fresh slices of art.” Why pizza? It’s a reference to the different kinds of art she makes. There are many kinds of pizza and many kinds of art. Her contribution specifically addresses the issue of being LBTGQ+ in the South. “Proud to be Southern & Queer,” the mural declares. It shows some of the diversity of the Queer community in the South. Moroni wrote on her Instagram page: "I understood how important it was to take full advantage and represent as many Queers in the South as I could. So, I designed this mural to highlight the diversity of Queer voices here in the South—to be as inclusive and intersectional as possible."
• Fierce
  Artist Sam Kirk unveiled “Fierce,” a mural celebrating the global LGBTQ community. It’s on the corner of 18th Street and Ashland in Pilsen (Chicago). The piece depicts the Progress Pride flag swirling around seven people expressing themselves in their queer identity. “Fierce” is a representation of joy and freedom, and it brings visibility to the queer community on the South and West sides, Kirk said. Kirk said she also wants to spur conversations about LGBTQ issues within Black and Brown communities. She is rooted in the South Side neighborhood because of its culture, but the artist said she wants the area to acknowledge its queer community, too. With the new mural, Kirk hopes that “conversation starts happening more often.” “It’s one of the reasons I decided to do public art — to use a public space to bring up conversations while celebrating people, creating visibility and representation,” she said.
• Gear Up
  One of the most prominent mural additions was painted by Haitian American artist Serge Gay Jr. Entitled 'Gear Up,' the mural was painted on the wall outside neighborhood bar Moby Dick (4049 18th). The mural consists of a leather jacket on a hanger with patches, pins, and buttons along with a pair of Converse Chuck Taylors, a red bandana, black heels, and a sailor cap. "Moby Dick is proud to act as a canvas for Serge Gay Jr.'s mural," said Cappelletti and Riffe in a joint statement. "We hope it helps to remind everyone in our community that the Castro must be supportive and inclusive of Black Lives Matter, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ movement." In an interview with Hoodline, Gay says the mural's inspiration was a custom trucker jacket he designed for Levi's earlier this year. Gay says Levi's sent him a jacket and he painted patches on to it. The black leather jacket has symbols reflecting the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, Women's Rights, Voting Rights, LGBTQ+ rights and the Black Lives Matter movement. Gay says the red bandana symbolizes the AIDS ribbon in honor of the lives lost by the AIDS Pandemic. While the jacket has traditional pins, buttons, and patches, Gay says he also added the faces of historical black heroes and heroines like Marsha P. Johnson, James Baldwin, and Malcolm X. "The jacket symbolizes someone gearing up and getting ready for a battle and march on the streets in protest and to raise awareness," he said. "It could be anyone, it doesn't define gender." Gay says he was excited to paint a mural in the Castro in order to provide more voices for the black LGBTQ+ and the Black Lives Matter movements. "It's one of those things lacking in the city and this district," he says.
• Long Beach Embrace
  A new mural was unveiled at Bixby Park in Long Beach celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, presented by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations’ initiative LA vs Hate: Summer of Solidarity, in partnership with The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach. The mural, titled “Long Beach Embrace,” evokes a tableau of people, movements and issues of significance to the LGBTQ+ and greater community, and will be revealed as part of the Long Beach Pride celebration. The mural was designed by Myisha Arellano, a queer, migrant artist born in Mexico City and raised in LA County. Additional supporting partners include Long Beach Human Dignity Program, Vice Mayor Cindy Allen's Office, Long Beach Parks & Recreation and The Museum of Latin American Art. “The mural presents two large figures forming an embrace at a distance, reflecting the community connection and support for one another,” explained muralist Myisha Arrellano. “This embrace, a universally recognized symbol of care and affection, allows the viewer to immediately understand the larger implications of the work. The figures create vignettes of symbolic stories based on community anecdotes and values that represent care, solidarity, and showing up for one another. The mural includes depictions of people marching and celebrating together, as well as historic landmarks, movements and resources for the LGBTQ+ community in Long Beach.”
• Untitled, 1989
  This mural, finished in 1989, was painted on a 450-foot plywood wall erected temporarily in Grant Park, as the debut project of the still-operative Gallery 37, an annual summer arts program for youth. Haring collaborated on the mural with 500 public school children, and the individual panels were donated to and divided among the participating schools. In the summer of 2000, Gallery 37 undertook the restoration of a large number of the panels, for eventual permanent display in a public site in Chicago.
• Our Pride
  Our Pride features four hands to symbolize aspects of LGBTQ Pride. A fist, symbolizing the fight against oppression throughout history as LGBTQ and also as BIPOC queer people. A painter’s hand, symbolizing our creativity and openness as a community. A hand holding a sunflower, a symbol for self-love and seeking light. And, a hand in a classic peace sign. The background color is a bright sky, symbolic of the progress we have made and have yet to make. Each hand will be painted realistically representing diverse people.
• Honoring Gloria
  Gloria Casarez was born and raised in Philadelphia and was a founding member and community organizer of Empty the Shelters, a national housing rights and economic justice organization. In 2008, Casarez was appointed as the city’s first director of LGBT Affairs. Casarez lost her battle to cancer in 2014. I created this mural in honor of Gloria’s legacy. The circle surrounding Gloria’s portrait was inspired by Pima Mexican pottery from Chihuahua, Mexico where Gloria’s ancestors are from. The circle then pans out to create an echo effect as a symbol of Glora’s experiences reverberating out into the community where she worked. Around the circle is one of Gloria’s quotes “Engage, find voice, expand your community.” On 12/23/2020, Midwood Developers whitewashed the Gloria Casarez mural. -Michelle Angela Ortiz
• Don't Hate. Liberate!
  The visionary behind this mural, muraleslian, sheds light on the mural’s core message, stating, “The focus of this mural is the members of Out Now, and their work to create connection, solidarity, and advocacy for queer youth & allies.” Through vivid colors and powerful imagery, the mural encapsulates the essence of Out Now’s mission, celebrating the diverse voices and stories of queer youth advocates in Springfield, Massachusetts.
• Never Look Away
  The main theme of this mural centers around community. Community can function like a warm, colorful blanket, enveloping us and pushing us towards growth. My hope is that Portland can one day be the type of community depicted here—one that supports and lifts us—a colorful body that brings us joy. There are also symbols throughout "Never Look Away" which speak to the individual stories of the folks depicted. 44 stars—a symbol inspired by the Star House, created by Marsha P. Johnson and Silvia Rivera—pay homage to the 44 reported trans lives lost in the United States last year. On Marsha's right, doves, the bird of peace, fly up out of flames and into freedom. Below the birds and just to the right is an eye, representing the work of Kathleen Saadat, who has worked tirelessly for years to advance equality in Oregon—not just for the LGBTQ+ community, but for women’s equality and Black rights as well. She has been called the the “social conscience of Oregon”. Just under Rupert Kinnard, we see his groundbreaking characters the Brown Bomber and the Diva Touche Flambe, the first recurring, Black, LGBTQ+ comic book characters.
• 帝国崛起 (Empire Rising)
  Curatorial Statement: The artist has selected themes to celebrate the history of theater as well as the historic Chinese-American community and LGBTQ+ contributions and presence in Downtown. * The far left figure holds a scissor and thread: a nod to Perry Watkins, the first Black scenic designer on Broadway, who was from Providence. They are holding a fan with the Port Arthur logo, a Chinese restaurant and dancehall in downtown that was a pillar of the Asian community and a safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community to meet and dance. * Rich red curtains swooping behind the figures highlight PPAC, Trinity Repertory Theatre, and others that have existed throughout the years. * Arches in the background are reminiscent of the Chinese Restaurants and Dancehalls that went hand in hand with the theater experience of the 50’s-80's where visitors would come for a day of shopping on Westminster, followed by dinner at a Chinese restaurant and a show at one of the many theaters. Dance Halls also served as unique performance venues with bands and other entertainment. (Also a nod to Trinity Rep's idea of non-traditional theater stages.) * The two middle figures speak to the Chinatown which existed nearby and are based on Ancient Chinese Opera figures, the artist incorporating elements of modern Drag. The character’s robes reference various Asian communities and histories and one holds two playing cards; a reference to the Kings and Queens of the Drag community and a nod to the RI Bar "Kings & Queens" (1977-2002), which was the backbone of many community events. * The figure on the far right references Providence’s long history with the LGBTQ+ community, harkening back to a theatergoer of the past and drawing on images of Francis "Auriema" Renault, a Drag Performer from Providence in 1910. The jewelry on this figure includes a reference to Beatrice Temkin, "A trailblazing lgbtq+ ally and founding member of AIDS Project RI", also a nod to the Beatrice Hotel namesake owned by Paolino Properties, the owner of the Snow St. building.
• Love Is A Many Gendered Thing
  In the beautiful city of Providence Rhode Island, I recently completed another permanent outdoor public mural, coming in at 1700 square feet, and three stories high! Through the efforts of The Avenue Concept, a Providence mural arts organization, I was connected to Open Door Health, a clinic specifically catering to the LGBTQAI+ community and was asked to create a mural on the largest outdoor facade of its brand new location, in my popular ‘line drawing’ style. For this project, I chose to create portraits of primarily Providence residents that span the queer and gender spectrums, as well as portraits of important nationally known Transgender icons. Set against a fluid interpretation of the Transgender flag, I wove the together the 14 portraits with symbols and imagery of transformation, gender fluidity, queer affirmation, and local flora and fauna. The result is “Love is a Many Gendered Thing”; a dynamic and life affirming tapestry of real people whose queer beauty and gender uniqueness I am honored and humbled to offer more positive visibility to the world. PEOPLE FEATURED IN THE MURAL (*- deceased): Alice Firefly (she/them) (non-binary) (Providence) *Chris Harris (he/him) (cis man) (Providence) *Cristina Hayworth (she/her) (trans woman) (NYC) Elle Moxley (she/her) (trans woman) (NYC/LA) iO Tillet Wright (he/him) (trans man)(NYC/LA) Kayden Marz (he/him) (trans man) (Providence) Matt Garza (they/them) (non-binary) (Providence) Nick Platzer (he/him) (cis man) (Providence) Nielle Taylor (they/them) (non-binary) (Providence) Richie De Filippo (he/him) (cis man) (Providence) Shey Rivera Rios (they/them) (non-binary)(Providence) *Sylvia Rivera (she/her) (trans woman) (NYC) *Tatiana Jones (she/her) (trans woman) (Providence) and myself (he/him) (NYC) -Brian Kenny, artist
• Queer to Stay
  City leaders in West Hollywood have unveiled a dynamic and colorful pride mural celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, with a special focus on queer trans, Black, Indigenous and people of color. The multicolored art piece flows across the former Hamburger Haven location at the corner of Robertson Blvd. and Santa Monica Blvd., and was designed by local artist Lauren YS. The work was commissioned by The Human Rights Campaign to announce the second year of "Queer to Stay: An LGBTQ Business Preservation Initiative." The initiative supports, uplifts and preserves businesses that serve the LGBTQ+ community, with a focus on LGBTQ+ people of color, women and the transgender community.
• Hope Will Never Be Silent
  In celebration of Harvey Milk Day, Tuesday, May 22, Stolichnaya vodka revealed a new mural dedicated to the late political activist, elected official, and gay rights pioneer. During an outdoor ceremony at the Cafe nightclub at 18th and Castro streets, nearly 100 people gathered to witness the unveiling. Montania, an LGBTQ ally from Paraguay, said the mural represents the freedom to be authentic. "For me it's an honor to be part of this project and tribute," Montania said. "It all started in my country and now we're closing the circle with this mural. Don't take this for granted. What you achieved here [in the Castro] is something amazing and most of the world doesn't experience this."
• Pride and Progress
  Pride and Progress occupies the entire west wall of the William Way LGBT Community Center in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood. The 55’ x 165′ mural depicts a gay pride festival in the midst of nearby landmarks, including the Drake Hotel. On the far left side of the mural, a man pastes up a poster depicting the historic 1965 march in Philadelphia that sparked the gay civil rights movement. This section gives an historic and political context to the piece. The rest of the mural reveals a sunny plaza with a crowd of celebrants. Northrup says that one of the highlights of working on this mural were the people who came by daily to give their appreciation and support. Northrup was excited about the opportunity to state publicly, with this mural, the feelings about the good in people and the importance that people are accepted and that their love be accepted and celebrated. She hopes this mural is a catalyst for increased tolerance of the real diversity among people. Although Ann is not herself a member of the gay community, her sister and her sister’s partner are depicted on the far right side of the mural.
• your spirit whispering in my ear
  A Statement from the Artist: “Your spirit whispering in my ear” are words that I wrote earlier this year as I thought about the challenges that my ancestors, and others, have endured during their lifetimes and how they met those difficulties with faith, courage and strength. I often say the phrase “SAY A PRAYER” casually when I am about to do something that matters to me. It is a simple way to call upon good energy and protection from those who have come before me. I am not only speaking to my ancestors but also to artists, past and present activists, the planet, the universe, and to all living things surrounding us. The colorful patterns reflect the rising and setting of the sun, the vibrations of energy all around us, they point to what is above us and also to what is below the ground underneath our feet. The faces are representations of two of these spirits while acknowledging that there are an infinite number of spirits witnessing our current world. The pins are from my personal collection of memorabilia from different social and political equity movements that reflect one’s right to make choices regarding our own bodies, feminist movements, the pursuit of peace, the definition of freedom, environmentalism, and the questioning of how we define what is real or not. Finally, the snake is an image that I have been including in my work over the past few years to symbolize rebirth and transformation, as a reminder that time continues on and that there will be a time after this particular moment has passed.” -Jeffrey Gibson, May 2024
• The Love I Vibrate
  Chicago’s first large-scale public mural dedicated to the queer community, located in Chicago’s landmark LGBTQ+ Northalsted neighborhood. Artists Sandra Antongiori, Andy Bellomo, and Sam Kirk have completed an LGBTQ tribute mural intended to open dialogue about queer culture and community, with an emphasis on intersectionality. This mural, located at Howard Brown Health Center in Chicago’s Northalsted neighborhood, honors our non-binary community members and features holistic healer and interdisciplinary artist Kiam Marcelo Junio, whose work can be seen at kiam-marcelo-junio.com. In Chicago, we are surrounded by thousands of amazingly talented artists, hard-working activists, healers, teachers, leaders, and countless queers who are working tirelessly to bring our community together. As we honor Chicago’s LGBTQ community through public art, we hope to enhance and advance our visibility and create conversation about the layers of queer culture while centering and prioritizing POC community members.
• Symphony of Cells
  Symphony of Cells, a crystal, and stained glass mosaic, is built into a water fountain at the main entrance of the Chicago Center for Arts and Technology (ChiCAT). Working with a group of teen artists, Andy Bellomo and Sonja Henderson created a piece that depicts ‘cells’ created from crystals, glass, and stones. The cells suggest energy and motion, and the piece explores the metaphysical connections between matter, space, and humanity. The cells are interrelated and illustrate the connections between the youth at ChiCAT, the surrounding community, and the broader world. The project was completed in 2017.
• Dream Machine: Dandara
  "Imagine yourself between these wings, close your eyes, and make a wish! See yourself traveling to the place your dreams will come true! I named this sculpture after Dandara, a trans woman killed by violence, who along with many others from the LGBTQ community, dreamed to be treated with dignity and respect. The odds are stacked against us dreamers and only courage and determination can free us to create, reinvent and express our inner self. This is a monument to the dreamers, the ones who live and die making the impossible happen." -Rubem Robierb
• Rumors of War
  As a direct response to the Confederate statues that line Monument Avenue in Richmond, Wiley conceived the idea for Rumors of War when he visited the city in 2016 for the opening of Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic at VMFA. Rumors of War takes its inspiration from the statue of Confederate Army General James Ewell Brown “J.E.B.” Stuart created by Frederick Moynihan in 1907. As with the original sculpture, the rider strikes a heroic pose while sitting upon a muscular horse. However, in Wiley’s sculpture, the figure is a young African American dressed in urban streetwear. Proudly mounted on its large stone pedestal, the bronze sculpture commemorates African American youth lost to the social and political battles being waged throughout our nation.
• Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Girls Trans Femmes and 2Spirits
  From the artist Demian DinéYazhi’: "This piece was originally made in recognition of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Womxn’s Day, which is held every year on May 5th. Some statistics courtesy of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women: 4 out of 5 Native women are affected by violence today. The U.S. Department of Justice found that American Indian women face murder rates that are more than 10 times the national average. Homicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among 10-24 years of age and the 5th leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native women between 25 and 34 years of age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2016, 5,712 cases of MMIWG were reported, but only 116 of them were logged in the Department of Justice database."