Mural at the Rafael Hernandez K-8 Dual Language School in Roxbury, MA. Project part of Canvas of Culture organized by the Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture in partnership with Street Theory.

For 'Brillla / Shine’ I worked with the Rafael Hernandez k-8 Dual Language School in Roxbury to envision and develop a concept for the mural. Students shared ideas and feelings about their school community through drawings, words and movement. The concept is anchored in the school mantra ‘BRILLA’ (SHINE in Spanish) which stands for bilingualism, respect, inclusion, leadership, love and achievement and encourages students  to celebrate their true self. Two joyful children are the focal point, set on a backdrop of flowers and leaves with colorful rays of light radiating from the center. I am inspired by the school’s leadership, bringing a positive vibe that spreads inside and outside the school’s walls.

Artists assistants: Mario Ramirez and Jamie Chen

Documentation by:

TostFilms

OLP Creative

Dominic Chavez Photography

‘Sisterhood’ is my mural commissioned by @downtownp through a grant from @massdevelpment as part of the ‘The Let It Shine! Public Art Partnership initiative.

The mural takes inspiration from the spirit and essence of two visionary women coming together to imagine and create a bright future for Pittsfield during challenging times. The focal point are two figures embracing with joy, covered on luscious, colorful textiles juxtaposed with geometric shapes and patterns on the background. The women are anchored in a cloud of bunting fan flags of various colors and patterns to visually connect to the building’s and downtown historical tradition of various bunting decoration throughout the year. The idea of rich textiles and the element of the paper plane gives a nod to the city’s history of paper and textile mills, as well as plane engineering and manufacturing. Overall, the mural hopes to uplift viewers with a welcoming message celebrating the beautiful diversity of Pittsfield’s community today. Thankful to all of those who helped make the mural happen.

Photos and videos by Mario E. Ramirez / TostFilms @tostfilms

Special thanks to @commonweathmurals for the production help and artists Greg Titus, Sharon Lehsner and Sarah Crofts for assisting on various days.

The Langham Boston Hotel, is housed at the 1922 building that once was the Federal Reserve Bank. The mural design takes inspiration from its floor-to-ceiling arched windows, 1920s Art Deco patterns, and elegant magnolias, which bloom every Spring in the Norman B. Leventhal Park across the street. The palette is sophisticated, with very cooked greens, lush energy, and metallic tones to conceptually connect with the golden bank years. The idea is to create a relaxed atmosphere within the greenhouse-like warmth of the pool space. Grateful to the hotel staff who took care of every detail! 

Photos and videos by Mario E. Ramirez / TostFilms

'Here, in the midst of it all' is a mural created for my friends at be the change Real State (btcRE) in Waltham, Mass. The imagery on the mural takes inspiration from an abstracted map of south Waltham, intertwined with coffee leaves and flowers and juxtaposed with a mix of geometric patterns and textures. The palette hopes to tie in blues and greens from the surrounding Charles River colors with a pop of warm tones. The hope is for those enjoying the gathering space for work or a coffee / tea break to wonder and be immersed in the rich layers of the artwork.

Photos and video by Mario E. Ramirez / TostFilms

The mural features a Peruvian woman in traditional clothes from the Cuzco region as a focal point in the mural. She is surrounded by Cantua buxifolias, or "flower of the Incas", an Alpaca, a Llama, and the cock-of-the-rock national bird. Various landscapes are represented, from the Andes to desert cactus, set on a geometric graphic backdrop. The mural celebrates Peru’s cultural heritage, flora, and fauna.

Chef Jose Duarte is a creative genius in the kitchen, and along with his amazing team Chris, Taylor and Brian they create beautiful culinary experiences for customers, transporting usfrom Chelsea to Perú with amazing pisco sours to an epic lomo saltado. Check out the mural and enjoy a delicious meal on their patio. tambo22chelsea.com

The project was supported in part by a grant from the Chelsea Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council state agency.

Grateful for always amazing photos of Dominic Chavez (not all photos), and for the assistance of artists Laidy Saenz, Gloria He, and Casey Figueroa, and also my talented niece Maria Cristina.

Generational Spirit is mural collab between artists Felipe Ortiz and Silvia Lopez Chavez. Installed on the facade of the East Boston Social Centers, the project was produced by HarborArts and East Boston Main Streets. In the months leading up to the painting of this mural, community members were invited to share with us, what makes Eastie special.

“Eastie is a thriving neighborhood that has a lot to say. Being part of this environment, sharing the energy, and connecting with the creative spirit of the neighborhood has been amazing. It’s special because we’re all here to see the neighborhood come alive.”

—FELIPE ORTIZ

“Listening to the people who live here, it was clear there’s a lot of pride in their strength, and for people helping one another. It’s our job, as artists, to communicate that sentiment, through generations of strength, layers of knowledge while tying in the pride and joy that makes up East Boston. This all ties into the community around the East Boston Social Centers and the generations of people who have made it special.”

— SILVIA LÓPEZ CHAVEZ

Special thanks to all the creatives that contribute to make it happen and the amazing talent of Dominic Chavez, Zach Heyman and Mario E. Ramirez / TostFilms for documenting the work.

More info at Beautify Main Streets

Commissioned by the Peabody Essex Museum in 2022 for the Climate Action: Inspiring Change exhibition. The piece takes inspiration from a deconstructed map of Massachusetts coastal cities, water level data, local animal and plant life. The imagery speaks of resilience, disturbances and hope, as it explores the human impact as intersects with nature, to share an evolving story which visions a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Climate change and environmental crisis directly impacts our community and the lives of millions around the world. PEM hosted special exhibitions and programs about our changing relationship to the natural world that encourage reflection, inspire conversation, and spark action.

Learn more about the process here

and a video interview here.

Photos by Dominic Chavez and Kathy Tarantola

Rhythm Fest, Sunny Days and Shared Joy are part of a tryptic series commissioned in 2020 for Google in Cambridge, MA. The murals draw from and celebrate Cambridge’s history, culture, and people.

Rhythm Fest is inspired by the fusion of Cambridge festivals and parades, a celebration of music, dance, and community.

Sunny Days Ahead is inspired by the hope, joy, and positive energy of the diverse makeup of Cambridge’s cultures of African roots.

Shared Joy is inspired by the warmth and delicious culinary offerings of Cambridge. Colorful coffee shop vibes take you on an energetic journey.

This commission was curated and installed by the @art_works.s team. Grateful for Dominic Chavez's documentation of my work.

Inspired by the ocean, sand, city, and the warmth of the sun over her face. This mural is colorful, fun, layered, and edgy; It also highlights two piping plovers, which migrate to Revere beach every year during the nesting season. At its center, depicts a sun-drenched woman looking up to brighter days ahead. My wish is for this mural to be a beacon of hope. A reminder not to give up and to keep our chins up.

The mural is located at a pool deck (still under construction) at Ryder Revere beach new apt. complex. Will update photos with the finished building in the Spring of 2021 :)

Portrait photos by Dominic Chavez

“Community Tides” a mural in New Bedford, Mass, is part of DATMA’s Shelter: Considering Community public art initiative. It measures 223x17 feet and portrays the local fishing industry’s diverse economy, and life at the intersection of land and water. I collaborated with New Bedford High School students to create patterns inspired by their local landscapes and everyday lives. In partnership with DATMA and NORPEL, the mural is the first piece of contemporary art on Fish Island. I relied on locals to share their stories and case had the opportunity to work with three local photographers who shared images of locals that inspired the portraits featured in the mural. There is so much history in this city, and I also wanted to celebrate who is here now. I wanted to create a portrait of New Bedford, where people could see themselves in it, feel seen and heard.

Photos by Dominic Chavez

Photos and Video by Mario E. Ramirez / TostFilms

Sea Walls Boston 2020

Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans is PangeaSeed Foundation’s groundbreaking public art program that brings the oceans into the streets around the world. By collaborating with the world’s most renowned contemporary artists, they create large-scale public murals that address pressing environmental issues our oceans are facing. )ver 400 murals and art installations across the globe up to date. By engaging individuals and communities the world over through public art, they are helping to inspire, educate, and empower people to become better stewards of our oceans and catalyze positive change by fostering a sense of community pride and ownership for the artworks and our natural resources.

Sea Walls Boston, in collaboration with HarborArts, took place at the at East Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina in Sept. of 2020. Presented by Linda Cabot.

For more information on Sea Walls Boston, please visit seawalls.org or contact the local Sea Walls team at SeaWallsBoston@pangeaseed.org

Photos by Dominic Chavez, Greg Cook and Steve Osemwenkhae.

‘999 Cranes’ Mural commissioned by Northeastern University as part of President’s Joseph Aoun’s public art initiative on campus. The mural was completed by the end of May 2018.

Assistants: Laura Menucci, Ana Suarez-Fennell, Sara Barrientos, Amanda Hill, Elisa Hamilton, Julia Roth and Sophy Tuttle. Special thanks to the awesome volunteers Lisa, Alex and Dominic.

Photos: Dominic Chavez, Northeastern University and artist

Mural commissioned by Northeastern University at the entrance of the MBTA Ruggles Train Station in Boston. The piece overtook the large arch and facade of the entrance, connecting the wall visually to my other mural ‘999 Cranes’ created the year prior in front of Centennial Park.

Part of the inspiration for this image comes from a tradition I learned about while working as artist in residence at Boston Children’s Hospital. Every time a child would complete treatment after a long hospital stay, the child life and nursing staff would have a bubble parade in celebration as children and their families walked out of the unit. It was a beautiful reminder of the importance of celebrating everyday victories even in the midst of serious challenges, pain, anxiety and stress. My hope is that among the thousands of people that go through Ruggles station everyday, all of those amazing humans shuttling to and from hospitals in the longwood area are infused with a little joy at the end of their day, just the way I needed it on some challenging days. The same hope goes to the thousands of commuters who go through this space everyday.

Photos by: Dominic Chavez, Matthew Modoono and Adam Glanzman.

#StrongerTogether is a mural commissioned by @Twitter, Boston, MA, created in 2021.

As humans, we seek connection and belonging. Through layers of bold color, global patterns, and design, the artwork takes us on a cultural journey to bring light and celebrate the diverse fabric of Bostonians. Based on census demographics, it considers the countries of origin represented in Boston’s neighborhoods, focusing on world regions. The energy is welcoming, hoping to see ourselves reflected in the art while encouraging us to think about how our differences make us more beautiful and stronger as a whole. The imagery is meant to uplift and stimulate camaraderie, encouraging the Tweep community to be free to #BeYourTrueSelf. This mural anchors the shared space at Twitter Boston’s new offices.

Grateful to Yaya de Angel and Zach Hayman, for assisting, also to Shane Murray for masterfully installing the work at Twitter offices. Photos by Dominic Chavez and the artist.

As part of Action Pact 2022, ‘Visioning the Future’, a series of ephemeral public art installations intended to provoke thought and raise awareness about the impacts of climate change. The Boston Green Ribbon Commission, in partnership with The Experience Alchemists, commissioned six Boston-based artists to imagine climate-themed artworks using materials that have no long-term environmental impact.

‘Game On’ installed at Fenway Park in Boston.

As humans, we burn fossil fuels which release carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions that warm the Earth and the oceans, causing sea levels to rise. The mural aims to bring awareness to potential flood damages if we continue on this path while connecting with the Fenway community through baseball and the historical park. The imagery hopes to instill a sense of urgency and call to action with Big Papi at the center stage. The title alludes to accepting the challenge and being ready to pursue it.

Materials: Wheatpaste (flour and water), chalk (limestone, composed primarily of the mineral calcite and formed mainly from the remains of floating microorganisms and algae), and pastels (made of pigments combined with a binder, usually gum tragacanth)

Special thanks to my favorite assistant Maria Cristina Nuñez Lopez.

Project documentation: Jim Olson + Bob Packert

Learn more at Action Pact Boston

‘A Community Reflects’ is part of the Kendall Square Art Activation within the MIT campus during Fall 2021, made possible by MITIMCo. Engaging local neighbors, residents, students, and businesses, to create a temporary street-level art on glass windows, the artist incorporated stories, reflections, hardships, and hopes of the past year in portraits, patterns, and words sourced from community contributions.

Through playful outdoor arts activities and an interactive photo booth at Kendall/MIT Open Space Programing, Cambridge, the artist teamed up with art therapist Laura Menucci to engage the community to make art and respond to three questions:

A word/drawing for what this year challenged.

A word/drawing to describe what helped you keep moving forward.

A hope for the future.

The responses were overwhelmingly honest and beautiful. These events provided a safe space to reflect and process together as we re-emerge to social, school, and work settings during a very challenging time. Photographer Dominic Chavez made portraits of families and individuals as sources for portrait drawings at 290 Main Street glass windows. People contributed to the portrait drawings by adding color, patterns, and words to their environment during a community paint day—the project culminated with an unveiling party with music, games, a walk through the murals, and warm beverages.

Special thanks to the MIT Open Space Programming team, MITIMCO team, and Laidy Saenz, who assisted throughout the project. Photos by Dominic Chavez and the artist.

This temporary public art installation at MIT in Kendall Square, Cambridge, commissioned by MITIMco, encompasses two parts: A glass mural on 314 Main St. and a program series with MIT Open Space Programming to engage people and create art at 290 Main St. that incorporates stories, reflections, hardships and hopes of the past year through color, portraits, patterns, and words sourced from community contributions.

The images in this gallery show work in progress and finished shots of the 314 Main St. installation, which is home to the MIT Press & Bookstore along with offices and retail space.

Based on Cambridge’s demographics and data research from the Census and the American Community Survey, the imagery borrows elements from cultural patterns and symbols that represent the makeup of Cambridge’s population. Textiles, tiles, and objects of various world regions and countries of origin of the people living and working in Cambridge inspired the artwork. The mural utilizes acrylic paint, markers, stencils, hanging paper shapes, and dichroic film on glass. It incorporates 16 words using the prefix /rē/, which hope to create connections to meanings relating to the return and emergence of people back into society after a tragic year and serve as a moment to reflect, recognize our similarities, and see themselves as a vital part of this environment.

Grateful for the MIT + MITIMco teams along with Graffito SP, Bluebird Graphic Solutions, assistants, interns, and volunteers that made it all happen! As well as the amazing documentation of Dominic Chavez. THANK YOU!

A collaboration between artist Silvia Lopez Chavez and GreenRoots’s ECO Youth Crew.

Inspiration for this mural comes from the people of Chelsea, who, as a community, come together to lift each other, working in unity to thrive during challenging times. The imagery features diverse hands modeled by Chelsea youth. The hands hold flags with words in ten different languages currently spoken in Chelsea: Resilience, unity (Spanish), perseverance (French Creole), pride (Portuguese), diversity (Chinese), togetherness (Vietnamese), strength (Hindi), determination (Somali), and courage (Amharic). A garden of national flowers blooms across the wall representing 33 countries of origin and foreign-born residents in Chelsea's demographics. The mural celebrates the diverse people of Chelsea, shining a joyful light on the resilience and collective strength that makes this community so beautiful.

The project was created in partnership with GreenRoots, the City of Chelsea, and Roca. Made possible by the Chelsea Cultural Council. Grateful for the dedication of the ECO Youth Crew, and special thanks to the talented artists who assisted me throughout the project: Laidy Saenz, Ayana Mack, Gina Latham, Sabrina Dorsainvil and Laura Menucci.

Photos by Dominc Chavez, Darlene DeVita, Aiden Fitzgerald, and the artist.

"Connected Through Time" is a mural at Hood Park in Charlestown, MA, commissioned by HP Hood to celebrate its 175th anniversary. The concept highlights Hood's values and history of innovation, quality, and sustainability.

The mural encompasses three walls filled with color, graphical elements, and shapes that create a sense of movement and visual connection. The focal point depicts two women embracing in celebration of moving forward. It's personal and joyful, welcoming everyone to the neighborhood. The number 175 also takes a prominent graphic role and overlaps with a vintage glass bottle, paying homage to this year's celebration of Hood's commitment to its community.

Special thanks to the fabulous women who helped me install this mural, Laidy, Laura, Rixy, Yenny, Sury, and as always, Dominic Chavez, for documenting my work.

‘Creative Freedom’ installed at the Cambridge Public Library’s Central Square branch, takes inspiration from the library’s mission, and celebrates ways in which libraries serve communities. The design makes use of dynamic colors and graphic elements such as flying birds and pages turning into paper planes, books, with two focal points which are more rendered figurative areas at the corners of Franklin and Green streets. The Pearl Street façade incorporates words and patterns that serve as wayfinding mechanisms to identify the entrance more clearly.

The library mural is part of the Central MURALS program, a collaboration between the Central Square Business Association, the Central Square BID, Central Square Cultural District and the Cambridge Arts Council, to create new murals in high-profile locations along the Massachusetts Avenue Corridor. The murals are also a way to showcase and celebrate the rich character, history and culture of Central Square.

 Special thanks Michael Monestime for leading the program, to my assistants Amanda Hill, Sophy Tuttle and Laura Menucci, and to Dominic Chavez for all the support and amazing documentation!

Title: delight, 2020

A digital mural commission located at Boston’s Prudential Center.

'deLIGHT' is a celebration of the little things in life that bring joy and gives us hope when we need it the most. With so much happening out of our control right now, even the smallest act, a ray of light, a memory can lift us up, helping us bring our chin up and provide strength to get through the day. This piece brings a pop of color during the cold months with a hint of spring and summer to carry us through as the world opened back up again.

Photos by Dominic Chavez

I teamed up with the Leather District's community during the summer of 2020 to create a series of temporary murals to enliven street edges, create visual unity, and promote community engagement. #OneLD is a collective effort led by residents, property owners, and business leaders to bring positivity and brightness to the Leather District during difficult times. Its mission is to lift and strengthen the community by choosing optimism and hope.

Check out the Blog Posts by Jennifer Ingham:

"With each color block created in support of #OneLD, something intangible was created along with the artwork. The final product evokes interconnectedness, with stencil patterns inspired by architectural details like ironwork found in the area. Warm orange, brick red, blues, and greens were chosen intentionally, not only to be complimentary but to catch attention through standing out of the sea of grey, brown and black found on the block."

ldmuralproject.wixsite.com

Photos by Dominic Chavez, Drew Katz, Kate Gilbert, and the artist.

‘Art for the People: Earth’ is the second public art installation at the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Beijing, China. This effort highlights the universal value of freedom of expression, as well as our ongoing commitment to direct engagement with the Chinese public, says Sani Hoop who curated 15 artists during the first installment earlier this year ‘Art for the People’ and another 15 contributing artists for this second round, this time to bring attention to protecting our environment. An image of my mural ‘Rise’ created during SeaWalls Boston: Artists for Oceans in collaboration with the PandeaSeed Foundation was selected and reproduced almost as large as the original mural! The outdoor exhibit is scheduled to remain on display for six months and will also be shared virtually on the Embassy’s Weibo accounts.

Check out the press release, photos, and videos Here

and at @ArtforthePeopleBeijing.

Photos and videos by the Chinese Embassy team.

#ArtforthePeople #ArtfortheEarth #USEmbassyChina #USEmbassy #PublicArtBeijing #StreetArtChina #SilviaLopezChavez

Mural commissioned by Harvard Kennedy School of Government. The concept conveys energy, movement, a journey, and the idea of convening. I used layers and colorful patterns to create a sense of humanity's complex cultural fabric, with a world map at the center of the composition. Ultimately, is about coming together and celebrating our differences. It was completed in March 2020.

Grateful to the amazing team at HKS and Boston Art Inc. that made the project come to fruition. Also to Laura Menucci for assisting on the project. Photos by Dominic Chavez and the artist.

Mural commissioned in 2020 by Caffe Ducali in Boston’s North End, a brick and mortar coffee bar located on Causeway Street.

Had a fun time working with Phil!

Always grateful to Dominic Chavez for documenting my work.

Interconnected, is a site-specific installation at Boston Children’s Museum, on view from November 16, 2019 – March 9, 2020. The exhibit instigated conversations on how we are all connected and part of a greater whole. A video illustrates how paper pulp shapes are made, highlighting the energy and resources it takes to create objects that we see as “trash.” Some of the most important environmental efforts include conserving energy and reducing water consumption, but how pollution can be reduced by recycling and finding new ways to reuse. Visitors were invited to interact with paper pulp pieces, to spark curiosity and imagination to transform everyday objects. Materials include recycled molded paper pulp packaging, stencils, and bright colorful paints.

“Silvia Lopez Chavez has created large-scale public murals that can be seen all over Boston. Interconnected is a delightful way of bringing her public art flavor inside for our visitors to explore up close,” said Faith Johnson, Museum Arts Program Manager. “This vibrant exhibit playfully illuminates our interconnectedness with a flow of shapes, colors, and textures, while incorporating recycled materials.”

Special thanks to the BCM staff, Laura Menucci for assisting and Dominic Chavez for the documentation.

Underground Mural Project June 24-29, 2019

Mural Festival curated by Street Theory Gallery in Boston’s South End.

Grateful for the amazing organization and documentation of the whole project!

@undergroundinkblock

Press links below:

https://www.metro.us/news/local-news/boston/underground-mural-project-Bostonhttps://www.nbcboston.com/multimedia/Underground-at-Ink-Block_NECN-511663162.htmlhttps://www.baystatebanner.com/2019/06/26/underground-at-ink-block-debuts-2019-murals/https://www.bu.edu/today/2019/street-artists-at-underground-at-ink-block/https://www.wbur.org/artery/2019/06/27/weekend-block-party-murals-ink-block-keanu-reeveshttps://www.boston.com/culture/arts/2019/06/27/marvel-at-nine-new-murals-at-south-end-block-partyhttps://www.wbur.org/artery/2019/06/28/new-murals-underground-at-ink-block-boston-south-endhttps://www.bostonmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2019/06/28/underground-getdown-ink-block-murals/https://digboston.com/its-a-dream-underground-mural-project-gets-a-fresh-coat-of-graf/

‘Togetherness’ is a colorful celebration of our return to enjoy the city outdoors again. Emerging from a tragic year, a restart of our social lives together. The artwork aims to be a relief just as the function of these public bathrooms in this historic beautiful park for everyone who needs them.

Grateful to the Friends of the Public Garden for providing such a critical need within the parks! Also to my friend Joel who services the bathrooms frequently :)

Photos by the artist and Maria Cristina Nuñez López

Mural completed in Chelsea for a brand new restaurant/Condo building on Pearl St. It pays homage to the industrial history of this city, where factories and mills thrived for many years making ceramic tiles, shoes, stoves, sailboats, spice and textile mills, and also the still running Chelsea Clock. The building is to be named ‘the pearl’ once construction is complete.

Thanks to Amanda Hill for assisting and Dominic Chavez for the documentation.

In the Spring of 2019, I had the amazing opportunity to be an artist in residence at Google HQ in California. During my residency there, I worked with Grace Hoyt who manages the Artist in Residence and VR/AR program at Google in tandem with Art World Escape, who curated me into the program. I got to spend time making art with googlers, printing on a Risograph for the first time, playing with cool technology to create 3D art, and scheming up ideas with engineers to build an AR experience for a mural I created within their office space. Can’t wait to share the finished AR piece once it is complete!

‘Wild Escape’ as I titled this mural, takes inspiration on the immediate environment of the bay area in Mount View where Google is located at. Life on the wetlands, tall grass, migrating birds, along with the flowering plants and succulents adorning building entrances and big parking lots. It looks at the relationship between past and current flora coming together. The mural serves as an escape from our hyper connectivity and an invitation to stop, and enjoy a little time off-line. 

Super grateful to AWE for making this happen and for documenting the process. Also thankful for Dominic Chavez for some of the photos and to assistants America Olivo and Homero de Pool for coming from DR to help!

This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to work alongside the staff at the Barr Foundation to develop together and create two murals: One for their North End conference room and the other at their staff lounge. After meeting with the staff, gathering information and learning more in-depth of what Barr does, I came up with the concept of water ripples, as a metaphor for the ripple effect of the foundation has in the arts, education and climate change ecosystems; which are the areas of focus they nurture and support.

Special thanks to Kate Chertavian Fine Art, the Barr Foundation leadership and staff, my female artist team who assisted me at different points on this project: Laura Menucci, Amanda Hill, Sara Barrientos, Laidy Saenz and Elisa Hamilton.

Photos: Dominic Chavez and the artist

Sponsored by The Boston Globe, Harvard University, MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital, HUBweek is a first-of-its-kind civic collaboration and weeklong festival that brings together the most creative and inventive minds making an impact in art, science and technology.

There is a unique concentration of brainpower, ingenuity, and creativity in the Greater Boston region; it draws people from around the world and from every industry. The unifying characteristic is a willingness to attack big problems, and a focus on making life better and improving the human condition at both a local and global level. HUBweek exists to support and strengthen that innovation ecosystem – and to connect people to it from here and abroad.

HUBweek Walls is a temporary outdoor art exhibit during the festival, where 11 artists were commissioned to create murals on shipping containers. My particular piece focuses on creative vision and wonder, under the idea of ‘We the Future’. Assistants to the project were artists Eli Brown, Lisa Small and Daniel Chapman.

Learn more here

In 2018 I was able to be part of the Gardner museum’s visiting artist program. This 3-month opportunity, along with being part of their Neighborhood Salon Luminaries program, allowed me to get to know the museum’s collection, engage with other local artists, curators, conservationists and educators. It provided time and space for me to explore the collection, spend time in the galleries, and create this glass mural and also engage visitors with lectures and art making.

Commissioned by the Esplanade Association and curated and produced by Now + There, Patterned Behavior takes inspiration from The Esplanade’s immediate environment, and the many ways this space is enjoyed and used day-to-day. It reflects on the relationships and patterns created by the human interaction with the space and the busy intersection of water, land and sky.

I had the opportunity to work side by side with six other women artists who assisted me throughout the process and several volunteers mobilized by Now and There. So grateful to the leadership of Kate Gilbert and her mighty team, as well as artists Laura Menucci, Silvi Naçi, Sara Barrientos, Sophy Toole, Julia Roth and Amanda Hill. 

Also grateful to the Esplanade Association for funding and supporting the process. 

Photo credits: Dominic Chavez, Kate Gilbert and Katie Miller

“City of Dreams,” takes inspiration from the diverse multi-cultural background of Chelsea’s people. A city which has welcomed immigrants from various countries for many years, working together to promote inclusivity, diversity, and tolerance.

The imagery honors Chelsea’s historic and present architecture, celebrating its resilience and capacity to re-build and dream big. It also borrows the bright hues of textile patterns from countries around the world. An abstracted wave of water connects the colorful structures, flowing down like a ‘good stream’ under the buildings, also making reference to “Winnisemet,” the native name for this area prior to being named Chelsea.

This mural was commissioned and produced by GreenRoots, in partnership with the City of Chelsea, through a MassDevelopment grant, and the generous support of businesses, residents, and friends of Chelsea.

"Together We Thrive," is a mural designed in collaboration with the Egmont St. apartment residents. The concept takes inspiration from the multicultural background that makes up the people living there, and the many ways the community room is enjoyed and used day-to-day. The colorful lush flora represent national flowers from many countries, accompanied by various musical instruments from around the world. The word ‘Welcome’ is sprinkled throughout the wall in 29 different languages which are known to be spoken in this community.

"Together We Thrive" was commissioned and produced by the Brookline Arts Center, in partnership with the Brookline Housing Authority, the Brookline Food Pantry and the Egmont Street Tenants Association; with the generous support of Brookline Community Foundation, Economy True Value and Evelyn Berde.

Special thanks to Dominic Chavez for helping document the project, assistants Laura Menucci, Margaret Robe, and to the many residents, who helped paint!

Temporary mural Commissioned just in time for graduation! April 2018 in Allston (Brighton Ave. and Chester Street.) Boston, MA.

Mural commission for Minigrow’s new Boston location on Summer St. Photos by Kyle Huff for Honeygrow.

This gallery showcases three different murals commissioned by the Punto Urban Art Museum, Salem, MA. Two interior spaces within the North Shore CDC offices and one outdoor in Salem’s Point Neighborhood

Learn more about the project here: http://puntourbanartmuseum.org/

Special thanks to my assistants Laura Menicci and Sara Barrientos.

Photo credit: Dominic Chavez

"I've come to watch your flowers growing" mural was collaboration with artist Elisa H. Hamilton. The year-long project was commissioned by a mutual collector for their private home and completed in October of 2014. This multi-panel collage, came from the idea of life vignettes, 'looking in and looking out' at our everyday life and surroundings. The title was chosen by the couple as they connected the imagery with the 59th Street Bridge Song by Simon and Garfunkel.

The finished mural was made out of 8 painted aluminum panels of varied sizes, ranging from 24x24in. to 36x48in. 

Lemonade Stand uses a mobile lemonade kiosk as a vehicle to bring interactive art installations to communities throughout the city of Boston. In these collaborative pop-ups, the artists invite the public to identify their “lemonade” — that positive motivator that helps each of us rise above challenges, turning the sour to sweet in our day to day lives. Lemonade Stand seeks to engage people of all ages in acts of positivity, and provide an unexpected experience of joy through sharing, beauty, and creative thinking.

Lemonade Stand is Public Art Project by artists Elisa H. Hamilton & Silvia López Chavez in partnership with the Eliot School in Jamaica Plain. Lemonade Stand is made possible with funding by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ Creative City Program, with funding from The Barr Foundation. 

Learn more about the project at LemonadeStandBoston.blogspot.com

Thanks to Dominic Chavez and Leonardo March for helping document the project. 

Silvia López Chavez project, Fresh Air, explores the environmental and political aspects within air quality issues in Chelsea, MA, inviting the community to participate by sharing their story and serving as models for mixed media portraits. The one-year project is partly funded by a LCC, Massachusetts Cultural Council grant.

Chelsea is the smallest city in Massachusetts in terms of land area, with a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.4 km2). It is the second most densely populated city in Massachusetts behind Somerville.

Chelsea has one the highest asthma rate incidence along with Revere and Everett. It has heavy diesel trucking corridors that cut through and surround the city servicing many companies and industries. Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) is significantly higher for corridor towns, which is linked to respiratory deceases, lung cancer and asthma incidence. Chelsea is the 3rd most environmentally overburdened community in Massachusetts. It has the highest rate of respiratory illnesses (child-senior), strokes, and cardiovascular disease in Massachusetts.

WHO reports that in 2012 around 7 million people died - one in eight of total global deaths – as a result of air pollution exposure. This finding more than doubles previous estimates and confirms that air pollution is now the world’s largest single environmental health risk. Reducing air pollution could save millions of lives.

Changes are starting to happen thanks to the hard work of Chelsea community organizers, residents advocates and leaders who are invested to make Chelsea thrive. We can make this historic city who has welcomed so many immigrants for hundreds of years, a much healthier place to live, work and play for many more to come.

The project started as part of my participation in the Process Goes Public exhibition at the Mills Gallery in January 2013. To see the work from this gallery, please click here

Color Up! a public art project created by artist Silvia López Chavez as part of 'Lighting the Line' Fairmount Corridor Initiative. It was commissioned by the Design Studio for Social Intervention (DS4SI).

Color Up! created temporary art installations for the underpass of the Upham’s Corner MBTA train stop and surrounding areas.  The community engagement project provided opportunities for neighbors to participate in creative activities where they shared their ideas and vision for the surrounding areas of the MBTA’s bridge site, which included the sidewalks, concrete barricades and the Leon building facade. Their input informed the design of patterns that were then cut as stencils to be applied with colorful temporary spray paint. The patterns along with the bridge lighting at night, is a strategy to help make the passage feel more welcoming and safe; also to increase the residents’ ownership of this area. 

At the MBTA's Lighting the Line Celebration, Over 500 residents, community leaders, city officials and the MBTA's General Manager were present. The community event celebrated several public art projects and place making events which had taken place along the Indigo Line Commuter Rail. 

Special thanks to the artists who assisted the on project Thonah Ep, Nansi Guevara and Anyalee Suderman. Also to Dominic Chavez and Lina Maria Giraldo for helping document the process through photos!

#ltbColorUp