Silver Award at the National Mural Awards
I’m very happy that Ornamental Turtle, created together with my Beyond Walls family in Lynn, Massachusetts, received the Silver Award in Region One at the National Mural Awards in the United States.
The mural was created as part of the Classroom to the Streets program organized by Beyond Walls, an initiative that brings together international artists and local communities to transform public spaces through collaborative art.
What made this project especially important to me was the collaborative process behind the mural. During several weeks, I worked closely with educators and students from the area to create a piece that reflected the cultural diversity, stories, and identity of the community.
At the center of the mural is a sea turtle, a migratory animal that carries its home wherever it goes. For me, it became a symbol of migration, resilience, protection, and belonging. The shell represents the community itself, a place where people from different origins support one another and build a shared home together. Around the turtle, I incorporated symbolic flowers representing the different cultural roots present in Lynn.
Beyond the technical aspect of painting a large-scale mural, this project reminded me why public art can have such a strong social impact. Seeing students actively participate in the creation of the mural and connect with the artwork in a personal way was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.
The National Mural Awards are among the most important recognitions in the field of contemporary muralism and public art in the United States, celebrating projects that transform spaces and create meaningful connections with communities.
This recognition comes shortly after receiving the Best Mural in the World 2024 Artist Choice award by Street Art Cities, and it continues to motivate me to keep exploring how large-scale murals can combine visual impact, storytelling, and cultural value.
As an artist, my goal has always been to create works that go beyond aesthetics murals that connect with people, reflect their environment, and leave a lasting presence within the public space.
