By Brenda Hillegas
Calling all artists — your next big canvas is waiting.
Mural Arts Philadelphia — in partnership with the Washington Square West Civic Association, Councilmember Rue Landau’s Office, and additional community groups — is seeking an artist to create a major new mural in the Gayborhood.
The exterior mural, located at 1221 St. James Street, will honor LGBTQ+ trailblazers and history in Philadelphia and will also provide spaces for rotating engagement with emerging LGBTQ+ identifying artists. Conrad Benner of Streets Dept, a multi-platform media outlet showcasing Philadelphia’s public art and public spaces, is managing the project and seeking artists to submit proposals through Nov. 2.
A panel will choose three artists, based on desired style, qualifications, and other factors, who will be contracted to submit designs. A lead artist will then be chosen, with work on the mural to be completed for a June 2026 dedication during Pride Month.
“Philadelphia has a long tradition of employing art in public space to tell the story of our histories. And in recent decades, Mural Arts Philadelphia has played no small part in that,” says Benner. “As we approach the 250th anniversary of the country, it seems like perfect timing to continue to tell the story of LGBTQ+ Philadelphians with a new diptych mural in the neighborhood honoring a few of our recent trailblazers.”
The selected artist will engage in a collaborative design process by incorporating feedback into a design that is then reviewed by stakeholders, community members, the site owner, and an internal design review committee. Two community paint days, facilitated by Mural Arts, will also allow community members to experience painting the approved mural design in advance of the mural installation.
The permanent mural will feature four to six key historical figures that paved the way for the LGBTQ+ community in Philadelphia, including Gloria Casarez and other recent leaders who will be selected through the mural’s creation process.
The mural will intertwine portraiture and iconography to tell the history of Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ community, celebrating the achievements of these figures for generations to come. Like the nearby “Finally on 13th!” mural (306 S. 13th Street) that preserves the rich history of queer black ballroom culture in the neighborhood, this new mural will ensure that the cultural heritage of the surrounding neighborhood is visualized for the local community — some who stood at the sides of these giants and some that take inspiration from them to move towards a more inclusive future for LGBTQ+ youth.
“Personally, I’m excited to support this effort by managing this project because I understand deeply the value of art in our public space. As the Founder of Streets Dept, which has been documenting the art of Philly’s public space since 2011, the power of art is undeniable to me,” says Benner. “If you’ve ever laughed at a movie, cried at a song, or found yourself moved to a painting in a gallery, you understand it too.”
For over 40 years, Mural Arts Philadelphia has united artists and communities through collaborative and equitable processes, creating nearly 4,000 artworks in public spaces. As the nation’s largest public art program, Mural Arts empowers people and sparks dialogue with programs that focus on youth education, restorative justice, mental health, and wellness.
“Art is our humanity, and I’m excited to see more of it on our walls in 2026,” says Benner.