(Our Mission Statement)
Ithaca Murals is a network of people transforming gray walls into beautiful, meaningful works of art that tell the stories of the diverse people who live here.
We implement a cultural arts strategy for building our community stronger. We welcome everyone to be involved with Ithaca Murals while prioritizing the leadership of people of color, under-employed and working class people, people with jail experience, women, LGBTQ+ community members, youth, and anyone who is passionate about justice.
What would you like our cityscape to look like?
Watch out. This is an artist takeover. If you're lucky, your house could be next!
Watch out. This is an artist takeover. If you're lucky, your house could be next!
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Ithaca Murals is a fiscally sponsored project of the Center for Transformative Action (CTA), an educational 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is legally and financially responsible for all Ithaca Murals activities.
What would you like our cityscape to look like?
History
In 2004, I met Ithaca community elder Gino Bush (July 2, 1942 – November 18, 2018) while he was helping bring to life an idea from Ithaca High School students: renaming an Ithaca street in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. At the time, Ithaca’s cultural landscape was dominated by streets, parks, and buildings named for (and by) privileged white men.
Along with many others, we organized and campaigned for City Hall to change the name of State Street. After four and a half years of sustained community organizing, State Street was officially dual-designated Martin Luther King Jr. Street—a daily reminder of King’s life and commitment to justice.
This experience--shifting the cultural cityscape to shape community identity—directly inspired me to organize murals.
In 2008, I joined the City of Ithaca Public Art Commission and soon after spearheaded a mural contest that resulted in the Underground Railroad Mural on Green Street, near the Ithaca Commons. The project’s success led the Board of Public Works to grant the Public Art Commission permission to collaborate with the City’s Planning Department and elected officials, opening the door for many more murals on city infrastructure.
While the City of Ithaca’s Public Art Commission no longer exists, Ithaca Murals continues this work--transforming our cultural cityscape one wall at a time. Thanks to the creativity and dedication of countless artists and organizers, we’ve seen an extraordinary surge in murals across public and privately owned spaces.
In 2009, Ithaca had roughly 15 mural locations.
As of 2026, there are more than 400—and the number continues to grow.
— Caleb Thomas
Along with many others, we organized and campaigned for City Hall to change the name of State Street. After four and a half years of sustained community organizing, State Street was officially dual-designated Martin Luther King Jr. Street—a daily reminder of King’s life and commitment to justice.
This experience--shifting the cultural cityscape to shape community identity—directly inspired me to organize murals.
In 2008, I joined the City of Ithaca Public Art Commission and soon after spearheaded a mural contest that resulted in the Underground Railroad Mural on Green Street, near the Ithaca Commons. The project’s success led the Board of Public Works to grant the Public Art Commission permission to collaborate with the City’s Planning Department and elected officials, opening the door for many more murals on city infrastructure.
While the City of Ithaca’s Public Art Commission no longer exists, Ithaca Murals continues this work--transforming our cultural cityscape one wall at a time. Thanks to the creativity and dedication of countless artists and organizers, we’ve seen an extraordinary surge in murals across public and privately owned spaces.
In 2009, Ithaca had roughly 15 mural locations.
As of 2026, there are more than 400—and the number continues to grow.
— Caleb Thomas
