LYNN — Beyond Walls, a nonprofit organization working to transform and uplift communities through public art, creative design solutions, curriculum, and hands-on training, has earned top honors at this year’s National Mural Awards ceremonies.
During the May 2 event, Beyond Walls swept the Northeast Region category, earning gold, silver, and bronze awards for three major installations.
“These awards are a testament to the local, regional, and international artists we collaborate with and the communities that inspire every project we undertake,” said Al Wilson, Beyond Walls Founder and CEO.
Beyond Walls’ winning entries are as follows:
Gold Winner: Wentpaint
The first-place piece is a nod to the maritime history of the wall owner’s family. Featuring a sailboat and hydrangeas, the mural enlivens Burlington, Massachusetts’ 3rd Avenue area. At 22 (W) x 35 (H), it is the largest mural that artist Brian Wentworth, AKA “Wentpaint,” has worked on to date. A Connecticut-based muralist, painter, and illustrator, his style is rooted in realism with bold illustrative elements, blending fine art techniques and storytelling.
Silver Winner: Bublegum
Known as Bublegum, Tirso Paz is a muralist from Lugo in northern Spain whose work is shaped by his connection to hip hop and graffiti culture. His self-taught style blends realism with graffiti-inspired imagery and focuses on female portraits, nature, and light. The 75’ x 37’ mural, titled “Ornamental Turtle,” was designed as part of Beyond Walls’ model education program, Classroom to the Streets. The piece features a vibrant sea turtle, a symbol of migration and diversity, reflecting Lynn’s rich blend of cultures and immigrant communities.
“We’re especially proud that the mural, ‘Ornamental Turtle,’ earned this prestigious prize,” Wilson said. “Its connection with our Classrooms to the Streets initiative underscores our deep commitment to education. Through Classrooms to the Streets, we partner with public schools, invest in meaningful teacher training, and create hands-on learning experiences that empower young people. At its core, Classrooms to the Streets was developed to bolster arts education, provide teachers with professional development opportunities, and strengthen our communities.”
Bronze Winner: Sophy Tuttle
Sophy Tuttle is an English-born American muralist, painter, and installation artist. Her work celebrates and promotes the connection between humans, flora, and fauna. Measuring approximately 200’ by 60’ feet, Tuttle’s colorful mural features the natural world; native species such as bobcats, cormorants, weasels, and other wildlife, along with plants she discovered in her own backyard.
This is not the first time that Beyond Walls’ work has attracted national attention. Just two years ago, Beyond Walls was the recipient of the National Mural Award’s prestigious Community Award, which was established to promote local nonprofits and foundations that “fund, coordinate or commission public murals that have made a quantifiable difference in their community through education, job creation, artist support, and overall neighborhood aesthetics.” In 2018, Beyond Walls earned the distinguished Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Design Excellence, and in 2021, the organization was honored by the American Institute of Architects with the Regional & Urban Design Award for epitomizing the best in urban design, regional and city planning, and community development
“This recognition is a testament to the local, regional, and international artists we collaborate with and the communities that inspire every project we undertake,” said Wilson.
Since 2017, Beyond Walls has been the force behind more than 200 art installations in 18 cities in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Florida that are home to the vibrant and diverse communities that Beyond Walls celebrates through art, curricula, events, programs, collaborations, and interactive design. Over the past nine years, Beyond Walls has been recognized for its efforts to eliminate barriers to art, provide educational and training opportunities for teachers and students, support local businesses, and promote visitation to urban areas that are the drivers behind regional economies.
Founded to celebrate excellence in mural art across the United States, the National Mural Awards showcase both outstanding individual artists and organizations leveraging public art to revitalize neighborhoods and foster connection. Beyond Walls’ dominant showing this year underscores its leadership in the field and its growing impact across the region.
