Gayborhood LGBTQ+ Mural Artist Call - Philadelphia

Mural Arts Philadelphia, in partnership with the Washington Square West Civic Association, Councilmember Rue Landau's Office, and community groups, is seeking an artist to create a major new mural in Philadelphia's Gayborhood. The exterior mural will be located at 1221 St. James Street and will honor LGBTQ+ trailblazers and history in Philadelphia while providing spaces for rotating engagement with emerging LGBTQ+ artists. The permanent mural will feature four to six key historical figures including Gloria Casarez and other leaders who paved the way for Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ community. The artwork will intertwine portraiture and iconography to tell the community's history through collaborative design. The selected artist will work through a collaborative process incorporating feedback from stakeholders, community members, the site owner, and an internal design review committee. Two community paint days will allow local participation in the mural creation. Conrad Benner of Streets Dept is managing the project, with a panel selecting three artists to submit designs, from which one lead artist will be chosen. Work must be completed for a June 2026 dedication during Pride Month, coinciding with the approaching 250th anniversary of the country.