The Power of Street Art: How Murals Can Transform Communities

In our visit with art forms around the world, this is #3 in the series.  #1 was Mexican Folk Art, and #2 was Japanese Kintsugi.

Please feel free to revisit them or check them out if you missed them.

In cities around the world, blank walls and empty spaces are being transformed into vibrant works of art through street art and murals.

Far from being a nuisance, this public art form is having profound positive effects on neighborhoods and entire communities.

 

Ways the Art Murals can affect their communities

One of the most noticeable impacts is visual. When streets are lined with colorful murals, graffiti art, and creative installations, neighborhoods seem more lively and inviting. Drab spaces are filled with color and imagination. Long-abandoned buildings or construction sites become canvases for artists to beautify. This simple act of beautification brings energy and visual interest to areas that were once eyesores.

Beyond aesthetics, community murals can also build connections between residents. When artists collaborate with locals to co-create murals, it provides opportunities for neighbors to work together towards a shared goal. The murals reflect the culture, heritage, and dreams of the people who live there. These projects give the community shared ownership and pride in local public spaces.

Murals can also provide social commentary and messages of hope for neighborhoods facing challenges like poverty, crime, or lack of resources and opportunities. For example, a mural might highlight community heroes, share the neighborhood’s history, or envision an uplifting future. These affirmative images instill pride, combat negative stereotypes, and let residents know they have not been forgotten.

Public art has even been linked to decreased vandalism and crime in some areas, as the visibility of murals and improved aesthetics may deter antisocial behavior. Murals also provide constructive creative outlets for at-risk youth, keeping them engaged with the community rather than detached from it.

With so many potential benefits, it’s clear that street art and murals can be powerful tools for community transformation. The collaborative nature of mural projects helps bring people together, while the art itself visually reinforces the spirit and hopes of the neighborhood. By embracing street art as the positive force it can be, communities allow public spaces to uplift and inspire.

Examples of this effect from all over the world

Here are just a few of them:

– The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program has created over 4,000 murals across Philadelphia since 1984. Their murals beautify neighborhoods, engage youth, and employ artists. One famous mural is “Peace Wall,” a 1,600-foot mural envisioning peace in the midst of violence.

– In the Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights, murals celebrate Latino cultural heritage. Murals like “El Corrido de Boyle Heights” visualize the immigrant experience, while the massive Ramona Gardens housing project is covered in vivid murals created by young residents.

– In Minneapolis, the community-supported mural “Hiawatha Love” was painted after the 2020 murder of George Floyd. It promotes messages of unity, justice, diversity, and hope.

– After the 2010 earthquake, Haiti saw a mural renaissance. Murals like “Mural of Peace” provided comfort, memorialized victims, and projected optimism. Artists worked with locals to give earthquake-damaged neighborhoods new life.

– In war-torn Syria, young artists are covering rubble and bombed-out buildings with murals advocating peace and freedom. These murals defy violence by spreading messages of hope.

– The Tor Project commissions murals globally that raise awareness about digital privacy and freedom. Their #ArtistsForTor series brings street art and activism together.

These are just a few examples of how community-centered public art can uplift and empower neighborhoods, memorialize complicated histories, envision more just futures, and promote healing from shared trauma. Murals give communities a creative platform to be heard and seen.

Here are just a few other resources I found around the internet for your enjoyment:

Famous Works of Art From 30 Countries around the world 

Unusual Art Forms from Around The World

Folk art around the world