On the Wall

Energizing the visual landscape since 1968, New York City's community murals beautify, educate, protest, celebrate, and often motivate residents to action. Collaborations between artists and neighborhood groups, these painted walls reflect the social, cultural, and political climate of their times.
The result of six years of research and hundreds of interviews, On the Wall brings to light murals that were hitherto “lost” to history or unknown outside their immediate surroundings. Documenting six chronological periods, the book highlights significant murals and introduces the artists and sponsors that created them. In relating the many fascinating stories behind the murals, the authors describe the interactions between artists and residents—including the controversies that have led to the destruction of several notable murals.
On the Wall gathers together 150 color images and offers an aesthetic perspective on New York’s community murals in a lively and perceptive history.