Philadelphia’s “Bells Across PA”
Public Art Installations

Close-up of a decorative vase with illustrations of green-skinned people in various historical and leisure activities, surrounded by a cityscape silhouette against a yellow background.

Photos by P. Kramer for Philadelphia250

In partnership with Mural Arts, 16 local artists were chosen to paint 20 replica Liberty Bells. Their designs, developed in collaboration with community stakeholders, reflect each neighborhood’s unique identity, cultures, and traditions. Philadelphia’s bells will be displayed in 20 neighborhoods where residents and tourists alike can visit throughout 2026.

The City Hall bell centers the city’s workforce, highlighting essential workers across different fields. Set against a bright skyline, the figures reflect the energy, care, and daily labor that keep Philadelphia moving.

The West Philadelphia bell is rooted in the history of Lancaster Avenue and the surrounding neighborhood. The design moves from past to present to future. Along the base, imagery references the area’s history, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, Lincoln Highway, and historic SEPTA trolleys. The middle of the bell focuses on the community itself, emphasizing connection and togetherness. At the top, decorative elements inspired by wrought ironwork and Adinkra symbols point toward future growth and cultural continuity.

A person with glasses and dreadlocks painting a colorful poster in an art studio, with paint containers and brushes in front of them.
A person with glasses and dreadlocks painting a colorful poster in an art studio, with paint containers and brushes in front of them.

Located at Philadelphia Municipal Services Building, 1401 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA‍ ‍&‍

‍3952-54 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

📍Schuylkill Yards, Philadelphia, PA

3151 Market Street

Murals painted on a building wall featuring diverse scenes of people, nature, and community life with vibrant colors and detailed illustrations.
Two colorful murals on a gray brick wall depicting people enjoying outdoor activities. The left mural shows children eating ice cream on a porch, with greenery and decorative elements. The right mural features two women sitting on the grass near trees, one holding a dandelion and the other reaching for a leaf, with a house and cars in the background.

(from left to right) “something sweet, something said” & “dandelion wishes”, 8’ by 9.5’, acrylic paint on mural cloth

  • Sketches

    For BEST PHILLY, I was invited to create two murals for Mural Row at Schuylkill Yards. I wanted to create work that felt connected to my time and experiences in West Philly, so I began by photographing the neighborhood and looking closely at the places, people, and everyday moments that I frequented when I was young.

    Hand-drawn illustration with two small panels depicting three people sitting on a porch, sketchy flowers, and a smiling woman with colorful hair smiling joyfully, some abstract lines and shapes.

  • Exploration

    I took the photographs and references I gathered and began combining them into collages, building each mural from different images and ideas. I wanted the finished pieces to capture the feeling of being in West Philly while highlighting the joy of spending time with the people you love. The figures, food, architecture, and natural elements come together to create scenes centered around community, connection, and everyday life.

    A person with dark skin and dreadlocks smiling while holding up a colorful illustrated sign or piece of artwork featuring a smiling character with curly hair, surrounded by green grass and white flowers, positioned on a metal platform outdoors with city buildings in the background.

  • Painting

    I translated the final designs onto mural cloth, working from a studio in North Philadelphia alongside assisting artist Tai Baucom and friends. Painting the pieces all together without being cut allowed me to focus on color, texture, and the details of each figure before preparing the finished panels for installation.

    A person painting a mural on a wall with various paint supplies and brushes on a table and utility tower.

  • Installation

    Once the paintings were complete, the murals were brought to Schuylkill Yards and installed on-site. I installed the two 8’ x 10’ murals by sanding down the Alumalite panels, affixing the mural cloth with mural gel, touching up the seams and finishing with a clear sealant. Seeing the murals come together on the walls was the final step in turning these ideas about West Philly and community into a public work of art.

    A person with dark skin and dreadlocks painting on a colorful mural with a sponge, wearing a blue jacket and a white shirt, in an indoor setting with a gray cinder block wall.

A reel by @streetdeptwalls’ Conrad Benner