By Ericka Alston Buck Special to the AFRO
A vibrant new mobile mural celebrating Black excellence, culture and legacy was unveiled July 27 in West Baltimore. The work of art pulled together families, artists and local leaders in a festive community gathering outside of Jubilee Arts, located on Baltimore’s famed Pennsylvania Avenue. The mural, a collaborative effort by Creative Nomads and Afro Charities, marks a new chapter in both public art and Black history preservation—and it has found a permanent home on the fence surrounding the future headquarters of the AFRO at the historic Upton Mansion.
Designed through a series of community visioning sessions and painted with the help of local residents, the mural is a vivid tribute to the resilience and richness of West Baltimore. It features historic imagery from the AFRO’s archives—portraits of the paper’s founders, paperboys and iconic scenes from the former headquarters on Eutaw Street—interwoven with bold colors drawn from the AFRO’s own print palette.
“This project is about marrying community and art,” said Kayenecha Daugherty, executive director of Creative Nomads. “It’s about bringing vibrancy to places where there may be blight, and giving everyone access not just to beautiful art, but to the process of art-making itself.”
To deepen the experience, the mural includes an interactive digital element.
“It’s not just a mural you look at—it’s one you can interact with,” said Savannah Wood, executive director of Afro Charities. “The project includes an augmented reality (AR) video component, allowing viewers to unlock layered stories and visuals through their phones.”
The mural’s placement at the Upton Mansion symbolizes the future. The $16 million redevelopment project will transform the building into the new headquarters of the AFRO American Newspapers and a dedicated research center for its historic archive—the largest and most complete repository of Black journalism in Maryland. Construction is expected to be completed by June 2026.
“This mural reflects everything the AFRO stands for,” said Wood. “It tells the story of our community’s excellence, our history and our connection to place—all using imagery straight from the archive.”
The unveiling celebration had all the makings of a family-friendly summer block party: a bounce house, music, snow cones, burgers and hot dogs—all offered free of charge. “It’s about art, but it’s also about joy and belonging,” Daugherty emphasized. “When you bring people together like this, you create not just moments but movement.”
The mural was created by Baltimore-based artist Natasha Frank, who wove together the vision of the community, the legacy of the AFRO and the creative direction of both Creative Nomads and Afro Charities.
“We want to thank Natasha for bringing these stories to life with such care,” said Daugherty. “And we’re deeply grateful to the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs and United Way for their support in making this project possible.”
As redevelopment of the Upton Mansion continues, the mural will remain a public-facing symbol of transformation—literally surrounding the site with color, history and hope. And when construction wraps, the original artwork will move into the AFRO archives for future generations to study and celebrate.
For more information on upcoming events and projects, follow @CreativeNomads and @AfroCharities on Instagram. Creative Nomads is currently preparing for the Collective Giving Day on Aug. 8 and will host its annual fundraiser, Jubilee Noire, on Sept. 27 at Clifton Mansion. Afro Charities will also continue its biannual artist commissioning program inspired by the AFRO Archives, with more community programs scheduled for this fall.
“There’s a lot of good happening in Baltimore,” Daugherty said. “It’s time we amplify it.”
Great Job Ericka Alston Buck & the Team @ AFRO American Newspapers Source link for sharing this story.
