Kyle Holbrook, Internationally Celebrated Mural Artist Collaborates With NYC Public Schools In All 5 Boroughs For Unity Themed Paintings Made With Students Before Election Day At Their School

Editor’s note: Staten Islander interviewed Kyle Holbrook, internationally renowned muralist, about the CommUNITY project, meant to unite all students, including those with disabilities, through creation of a mural in their schools.  In all of the schools, everyone was encouraged to participate and to leave their mark on the artwork. 

We learned more about the project, as well as about  the artist’s work internationally, including at the recent Paris Olympics, and what his goals were for this particular project which was accomplished with the collaboration of various New York City public schools.  Many schools applied, and for each borough only one was chosen.  You can learn more about some of the projects below, and watch the interview with Kyle Holbrook below for an in-depth look at this project and the artist’s other work.  

Inclusion and Neurodiversity Celebrated in New Staten Island Mural by International Artist Kyle Holbrook

Staten Island, NY – Internationally renowned muralist Kyle Holbrook has created a powerful new mural celebrating inclusion and neurodiversity at PS 69 – Daniel D. Tompkins School, located at 144 Keating Place, Staten Island. This mural, part of a five-mural series across New York City schools, was unveiled to the public on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 11:00 AM.

The mural theme is “Inclusion”, featuring 750 students, teachers, staff, administrators, and community members. A collaborative effort, it brings together general education students alongside students with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of working together and embracing neurodiversity. Every student, from pre-K to fifth grade, aged 3 to 11, has left their mark on the mural. The School mascot is depicted reading and doing artwork, while the words “Embrace Neurodiversity” form a central message.

Holbrook, a champion of public art as a means of social change, collaborated with Paint Cares, an organization dedicated to eco-friendly art initiatives, for this project. The mural uses Evolve brand recycled paint, demonstrating that environmental sustainability and artistic expression can go hand in hand. This Staten Island mural marks the beginning of a national tour celebrating inclusivity in schools across the country.

“It’s important that this mural not only celebrates inclusion through its imagery but also through the process of creation. By involving every student, teacher, staff member, crossing guard, counselor, therapist, police officer, and custodian, the mural becomes a living symbol of the unity and diversity in our community. Every participant contributes to a visual message that can be understood by even the youngest students,” said Kyle Holbrook.

The Staten Island mural is part of a larger five-mural series created by Holbrook, with one mural being painted in each borough of New York City. Each of these murals focuses on the theme of inclusivity, with a special emphasis on creating a collaborative art experience that brings together general education students and students with disabilities.

Holbrook’s work continues to inspire communities around the world, and this project is an extension of his dedication to public art that uplifts and educates. As the mural project expands nationwide, Holbrook aims to bring this inclusive message to schools throughout the United States, starting in New York City.

Staten Island mural. Image Credit – Kyle Holbrook

 Brooklyn “Inclusive” CommUnity Mural Project

Inclusive Schools CommUNITY Mural Project Unites NYC’s Five Boroughs with Five Murals for Inclusion and Unity Ahead of Presidential Election

New York, NY — Fall 2024 — Artist and activist Kyle Holbrook has launched the Inclusive Schools CommUNITY Mural Project, a five-week, five-borough initiative that will bring vibrant, inclusive murals to each of New York City’s boroughs. Designed in partnership with the New York City Board of Education’s Special Events Department, this project is uniquely timed to remind New Yorkers of the strength in unity and diversity as the city prepares for the upcoming presidential election.

The Inclusive Schools CommUNITY Mural Project is driven by the theme of inclusion. Each mural in the series was painted with participation from the entire school community—including students, faculty, and staff at all levels. These murals do not just depict diversity; they represent it in action, involving every student from pre-K through 12th grade, general education students, and students with a range of physical and mental abilities. Teachers, crossing guards, security officers, and community members all contributed their time and efforts, making each mural a symbol of true community collaboration and support.

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The first mural of the series, located in Brooklyn on the Parkside Community Complex at 701 Caton Avenue, is a vivid illustration of the power of inclusion. Over 1,200 students and staff from the school came together to paint this mural, which now serves as a stunning landmark in the Prospect Park neighborhood. Bright and welcoming, the mural reflects the faces of the Brooklyn community itself—an array of children with sensory headphones, representations of different physical abilities, and people of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. This collective effort speaks to the Brooklyn community’s solidarity and pride and has become a daily reminder to thousands who pass by that every individual is an essential part of the whole.

Holbrook elaborated on the significance of the Brooklyn mural: “The Inclusive Schools CommUNITY Mural in Brooklyn is especially meaningful. It’s the result of an entire school and neighborhood working hand-in-hand to make something beautiful together. In these divisive times, we need visible examples of unity, and this mural shows how every person—no matter their age, race, ability, or background—can be part of something powerful.”

Visible from all around the Prospect Park area, the Brooklyn mural at Parkside has brought together not just students, but the entire surrounding neighborhood. From teachers and staff to local families, this collective effort has created a piece of public art that embodies community pride and serves as a daily inspiration for both locals and visitors alike. The mural also reflects the school’s commitment to inclusion by incorporating not only a diverse range of physical and mental abilities but also people of varied beliefs and cultural backgrounds, painted with sustainable paint provided by GDB.

The Inclusive Schools CommUNITY Mural Project, co-sponsored by Moving Lives of Kids, MLK Mural Project MLKmural.com , founded by Holbrook, underscores the power of art to bridge divides and bring people together. As the project continues to expand across the remaining boroughs, Holbrook hopes to inspire communities citywide to see the beauty in unity and inclusion.

Catan Ave school. Image Credit – Kyle Holbrook

NYC Inclusive CommUnity Mural Project

New York City Inclusive CommUNITY Mural Project Unites All Five Boroughs in Celebration of Inclusion and Diversity

New York, NY – The groundbreaking New York City Inclusive CommUNITY Mural Project, led by renowned international artist Kyle Holbrook, has successfully brought together students, educators, and community members from all five boroughs to create vibrant murals celebrating inclusion, unity, and diversity. This ambitious initiative, spanning October and November 2024, engaged thousands of participants across general education and special education settings in schools throughout New York City.

Over two months, Holbrook collaborated with entire school communities to ensure every voice was heard and every hand contributed. Each school’s mural design was uniquely tailored to reflect the character of its community while emphasizing the shared theme of inclusion.

Participating Schools and Dates

Manhattan: A School Without Walls (SWOW), 90 Trinity Pl

October 17, 21, and 22

Bronx: P17X “District 75 School,” 778 Forest Ave

Prep Work: November 2–3; Main Work: November 4–6

Staten Island: PS 69 – Daniel D. Tompkins, 144 Keating Pl

October 8–11; Final Touches: October 12–13

Brooklyn: P53K, 544 7th Ave

October 5–7, 15, and 16

Queens: P.255 at The Renaissance Charter School, 35-59 81st St

October 28–31; Project Culmination: November 26

A Collaborative Vision of Inclusion

Holbrook worked with students from kindergarten through high school, ensuring that everyone, including those in District 75 special education programs, contributed to the murals. Each borough’s mural reflected its unique

Culture and community:

Manhattan: College prep high school students wrote inspirational words about inclusion.

Brooklyn: Students and teachers left their names as part of the design.

Staten Island: Young children contributed colorful handprints.

Queens: In Jackson Heights, one of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods, students wrote what inclusion means to them in various languages.

Bronx: Messages of hope and unity were crafted by students and teachers together.

The murals not only celebrated inclusion but also provided a hands-on learning experience for students, fostering creativity, teamwork, and a deeper understanding of diversity.

Kyle Holbrook: Champion of Global Unity Through Art

Kyle Holbrook, an internationally acclaimed muralist who has completed projects in 49 U.S. states and 43 countries, including murals in Paris during the Olympics, brought his expertise and passion for social change to New York City. Known for using art to galvanize communities, Holbrook described the project as a “transformative celebration of inclusion.”

“This project is a testament to what can be achieved when communities come together with a shared vision,” Holbrook said. “Each mural is not just a work of art but a symbol of unity and a powerful message that inclusion strengthens us all.”

Culmination and Invitation

The final mural, completed on November 26, 2024, will conclude this unprecedented initiative. These murals now stand as lasting symbols of inclusion, diversity, and community unity in each borough.

American History mural. Image Credit – Kyle Holbrook

Buffalo Soldier. Image Credit – Kyle Holbrook

CEA mural. Image Credit – Kyle Holbrook

Clemente Museum mural. Image Credit – Kyle Holbrook

Homewood Busway mural. Image Credit – Kyle Holbrook

Liberty View from I-95. Image Credit – Kyle Holbrook

MLK Jr. Busway and Poles. Image Credit – Kyle Holbrook

About the New York City Inclusive CommUNITY Mural Project

This initiative was created in collaboration with New York City’s Department of Education and supported by the special education department to promote inclusion through art. It is the first project of its kind in the country’s largest school district.

Banner Image: MLK Community Mural Project logo. Image Credit – Kyle Holbrook