Streets Dept Walls: Wawa Welcome America Mini-murals Are Now On Display At The Oval

For the second year in a row, this summer Streets Dept Walls has teamed up with Wawa Welcome America and Mural Arts Philadelphia to showcase the work of four up-and-coming Philly muralists! Streets Dept Walls is an experimental public arts initiative that works with emerging Philly-based artists to design and create inspired artworks around Philadelphia. Founded by me, curator and Editor of StreetsDept.com, Conrad Benner. 

For this year’s project we worked with four incredible Philly-based artistic talents: Irregular Sean, Armoni Gilbert, Matthew Raghunauth, and Bobby Hunter, who each live-paited their 4′ x 8′ mini-murals at four different Wawa Welcome America events over the last number of weeks.

And as of today, you can find these four artworks together in one place for the rest of the summer! The mini-murals have been installed at The Oval, which is free and open to the public (check for open hours).

Here’s more about their artworks:

infinite medium by Irregular Sean

Artist Statement: “irregular is a infinite flow of reflections on what has come before and what will follow. Dancing in the echoes of imagination of our times. A celebration of you, the individual that reflects a web of community. Mirror captures the light, leading the way to endless inspiration. In self we create the realm of infinity, we are the medium that explores the abyss.” (Written with inspiration by @dreampoetforhire.)

Emancipation by Armoni Gilbert

Artist Statement: “‘Emancipation’ is an iteration of a portrait that mimics the likeness of some of our ‘Founding Fathers.’ As an artist, the goal is for me to bring emancipation through placing the figure in the same hierarchy as these historical figures were placed in. While also speaking on the meaning of emancipation.”

Stars Blazing Like Rebel Diamonds by Matthew Raghunauth

Artist Statement: “With this mural, I’m hoping to highlight some of the tenderness and togetherness in what it means to be queer. Often times, people have this conception of queer art being very explicit, when there are also very sweet subtle moments that deserve to be represented. This moment captured is inspired by a few people in my life, they represent our community. And as an Indo-Caribbean person, the colors and patterns from my culture animate this scene.”

Primary Party by Bobby Hunter

Artist Statement: “‘Primary Party’ is simply a few friends hanging out. This work features the primary colors because any color can be made from some combination of the three. This can also be applied to life. Sometimes really cool things happen with just a few basic ingredients. Pull up a chair and join the party.”

See Streets Dept Walls 2021 exhibition at the Wawa Welcome America here! And be sure you’re following the Streets Dept Walls Instagram account for regular updates on our various projects.