Joel Bergner
I’ve painted over 270 murals in 30+ countries, often in unexpected locations– from Syrian refugee camps to American prisons, the favelas of Brazil to remote Uganda. My favorite part of art-making is collaborating with local youth and artists everywhere I go. My approach to muralism combines large aerosol portraits with colorful patterns, abstract expressions and children’s art, all seamlessly woven together. Beyond my painting, I co-founded and direct a non-profit called Artolution, bringing art programming to communities affected by conflict and trauma around the world.
Our Dreams in Flight
This 7-story mural in Maryland celebrates our collective imagination, bringing together a diverse community. I worked with local children to create the hot air balloons with little characters riding inside, panted on Polytab (mural cloth). Once I finished painting the mural, I attached these elements, bringing the children's art to a massive scale. This participatory approach brings a sense of ownership and pride to the whole community.
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Satellites of Hope
This mural, commissioned by NASA, tells the stories of how satellite technology impacts our communities every day. It was painted on the headquarters for WMATA (Metro).
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Reaching Across Time
Community mural created with Syrian refugee children and artists in the Azraq refugee camp.
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Hope in Bidi Bidi
Community mural with children and local artists in the South Sudanese refugee settlement of Bidibidi.
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Unidad
This vibrant mural by Joel Bergner features two large, expressive faces surrounded by intricate doodles and symbols, with two hands clasped together above, symbolizing unity and community.
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Eternal Harmony
Located in Anacostia, Washington, D.C., this mural is a celebration of the intricate connections and interdependence between humanity and the natural world. At the heart of the mural, a commanding figure of a man—Barbushe Maina, an artist and community leader from Nakuru, Kenya—is seamlessly merged with a roaring bear. This fusion symbolizes the duality of peaceful strength and raw power. Barbushe, whom Joel collaborated with during a mural project in Kenya earlier this year, is honored for his role as a cultural pillar in his community.
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Red Hook Reborn
Joel worked with community members and local artists in Red Hook to creat this massive community mural, which "comes to life" via Augmented Reality technology. Partnership with Snapchat, Artolution and the Public Housing Community Fund.
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