The past several months has been a season of growth, experimentation, and community connection for the Brooklyn Emerging Mural Artist Coalition. From public art installations to participatory community projects, our work this summer and fall centered on creating opportunities for emerging artists to contribute meaningfully to Brooklyn's cultural landscape while fostering connection among neighbors.
Building a Creative Future at Love & Matter
Avani and Nikki in front of their murals
One of our most exciting projects was the creation of a series of gate murals for the future Love & Matter Makerspace at 1652 Atlantic Avenue. This project provided an opportunity for emerging artists to transform the site's roll-down gates into vibrant works of public art, bringing color and creative energy to the neighborhood while helping establish a visual identity for the future community space.
The mural team included Pacific Walls alumni Nicole Bowden ('24), Avani Patel ('24), and Audrey Lyal ('25), alongside new coalition member Snikka Freyermuth. Each artist contributed their own visual language and perspective, resulting in a series of murals that reflect the spirit of creativity, collaboration, and possibility that the makerspace hopes to cultivate.
(Left to right) Snikka, Audrey, Avani and Nikki at the mural unveiling event
As the makerspace continues to develop, these murals serve not only as public artworks but also as an invitation to imagine what can emerge when artists and community members come together to create.
Community Art at the Shuttle Friends Block Party
The prompt for each of these tiles was, “What do you see when you take the shuttle?”
In October, the Coalition partnered with the Shuttle Friends organization to help activate their inaugural block party through collaborative public art. Working alongside residents and visitors, we facilitated both a large-scale wheatpaste mural and a community chalk mural installation during the October 18th event.
The project invited participants of all ages to contribute their own marks, messages, and artwork, transforming the creative process into a collective experience rather than a finished product created by a single artist. It was inspiring to watch neighbors stop, engage, and leave their own contribution behind.
The event also brought together an incredible collection of Crown Heights organizations, including Field Meridians, demonstrating the power of cross-organizational partnerships to build community, celebrate local culture, and create welcoming public spaces.
Send One Letter at 1066 Bergen
The postcards up for grabs at 1066bergen, courtesy of @sendoneletter
In September, we collaborated with the @sendoneletter project to bring an act of connection and care to our microgallery, 1066bergen.
Together, we installed a collection of pre-stamped postcards that visitors could take free of charge and send to a loved one, friend, neighbor, or anyone they wished to reconnect with. In an era defined by digital communication, the project encouraged participants to slow down and engage in the simple but meaningful practice of handwritten correspondence.
