“Boston Strong”
The Spirit of American Murals
Content and images by: Caressa Losier
Faces of Allston by Pete Cosmos (@petecosmosart), Western Ave., Boston, MA (2018).
Boston murals explore the city’s creativity, spirit and flourishing communities. Initiatives like Mayor’s Mural Crew, Zone 3, The Fearless Collective and several other projects have beautified the city’s perimeters with powerful artwork that truly means something to its residents. Boston murals are scattered around the city and unlike New York City, Boston murals rarely include graffiti, but relatable elements, like interesting people and characters, that hold true to the city’s culture and origins.
Located in Boston’s Allston neighborhood, Faces of Allston (mural above) was created by artist and very first Walls on Western winner, Pete Cosmos. His mural was inspired by an idea to do something lighthearted that represented the community and its people.
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela by Don Rimx (@donrimx), Geneva Ave., Boston, MA (2018).
>>See More Dorchester Murals on BAM!
Vivant Vintage
Vivant Vintage mural by Hiero Veiga (@hieroveiga), Lincoln St., Allston, MA (2019).
Queendom
Queendom by Marka 27(@marka_27), Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA (2019).
Love Thyself
Love Thyself by Marka 27(@marka_27), Quincy St., Dorchester, MA (2018).
>>See More Dorchester Murals on BAM!
Roxbury Love
Roxbury Love by Deme5 (@deme_phive) x Kwest (@kwest_bws), Roxbury, MA (2018).
Roxbury Crossing
Roxbury Crossing by Mayor’s Mural Crew (@mayorsmuralcrew) , Boston, MA (2018).
The Work Begins
The Work Begins by Katie Yamasaki (@katieyamasaki) and Caleb Neelon (@calebneelonart), Smith St., Boston, MA (2019).
See Her
See Her by Ann Lewis (@ann.lew.is ), Tremont St., Boston, MA (2018).
Commissioned by Now + There, See Her by Ann Lewis was located in Boston’s South End neighborhood and was inspired by the experiences of incarcerated women. It was a temporary mural (set to last 16-18 months) and was taken down in October of 2018.
Untitled
Untitled by Vise One(@vise_1_boston) & Daniel Anguilu(@daniel_anguilu), Parker St., Boston, MA (2018).
Belonging
Belonging by Shilo (@shiloshivsuleman), Columbia St., Boston, MA (2018).
Boston murals like Belonging by Shilo and The Fearless Collective, speak to the city’s flourishing migrant communities. The word “belonging” that swivels across the chest of a racially ambiguous figure, is of Boston’s 80-mile-long Charle’s River. Her body blends into the city’s border and a speech bubble is near her mouth which reads, “You are here with me.”
We Are All Immigrants
We Are All Immigrants by Mayor’s Mural Crew (@mayorsmuralcrew), Boston, MA (2018).