Photo by Jonathan Furlong
With this mural, “Uplift Justice,” I wanted to create something that connects the ideals of the past with the questions we face today. Nearly 250 years after the founding of this country, we have an opportunity to ask ourselves what the next 250 years should look like—a continuation of where we’re headed, or maybe a reset.
I chose a woman as the central figure because I see women as natural peacemakers, builders of family and community—the qualities we need most right now. The patterns around her draw from the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s textile archives, paying homage to the city’s history while also reflecting a universal language of design found across cultures.
My hope is that this mural invites people to reflect on justice, history, and the values that guide us today. Philadelphia has such a strong mural culture, and I’m honored to add to its tradition of putting art into public space.
-Shepard
