The Breaking Barriers Mural
The Breaking Barriers mural is a celebration of arts and culture in the city of Trenton. The mural represents the power that art has to break down barriers: mental, cultural, spiritual, financial, institutional. It also references how art has the power to break down walls figuratively and can transform a drab wall on a prison covered with razor wire and transport you to a sunset, a beautiful sky and beautiful colors.
The mural is a take on the classic postcard where each letter represents the city or state with Trenton being a capital city. A nod to Trenton’s place in the history of the United States, as the capital of the nation for a few months in 1784. The background of the mural draws the viewer into the mural, with the grass connecting to the physical grass that is present at the location to lead you in and out of the wall; the sky gives depth.
These letters that make Trenton literally and figuratively represent our history, style, and creativity synonymous with the City of Trenton. Our city and art scene is rich and diverse just like the artists.
Leon Rainbow | Lead Artist
The people of the city helped me pull myself up and out of that place just as I will reach down and help the next person up. The first “T” in Trenton represents the community uplifting each other.
Dean “Ras” Innocenzi | Letter Artist
With my letter I will be honoring Trenton’s own Olympic Gold medal winner Athing Mu. She is the youngest woman in history to hold Olympic and world titles in an individual track and field event. I painted a temporary mural of Athing in 2020, and for some time I have been waiting for an opportunity to paint a mural of her in a more permanent location.
Dave “Mek” Klama | Letter Artist
My letter showcases the New Jersey state bird the Eastern-goldfinch. They can be seen throughout the state and their beautiful colors will hopefully bring a nice pop of color to the neighborhood.
Jonathan “Lank” Conner | Letter Artist
My letter pays homage to the former mural that was on the prison for many years celebrating baseball in Trenton. This version acknowledges the current Trenton Thunder minor league team as well as the Hall of Famer Willie Mays who played his first professional baseball game as a Trenton Giant on June 24th 1950.
Jose “Busta” Bustamante | Lead Artist
Embracing Latino Heritage Through Art
I have decided to use the portrait of a young Latino girl donning traditional Guatemalan attire, complete with vibrant flowers that symbolize the essence of Latino culture.
The backdrop of the image features a rugged rock wall adorned with intricate Taino and Indigenous symbols, paying homage to the deep-rooted history and traditions of the Latino.
- Traditional Guatemalan Clothing: The attire worn by the young girl represents the diverse and colorful clothing that is prevalent in Latino cultures.
- Flowers: The flowers adorning the clothing symbolize beauty, growth, and the vibrancy of Latino heritage.
- Rock Wall: The rock wall signifies strength, resilience, and the solid foundation on which Latino heritage is built.
- Taino and Indigenous Symbols: These symbols serve as a reminder of the rich history and cultural heritage of Indigenous communities that have shaped Latino identity.
Through this image, I aim to celebrate and honor the Latino heritage, showcasing the beauty, resilience, and cultural richness that define this vibrant community.
Alia Bensliman | Letter Artist
Bensliman an immigrant from Tunisia who ended up in the art scene of Trenton. She is a full time visual artist whose works testify to seemingly incompatible commitments to preserve cultural practices under threat and to forge new imagery that resonates with the artist’s own unfolding identities.
Bensliman’s representations of Amazing women celebrate the indigenous people of North Africa who survived the antiquity in the face of oppression. She embeds her vibrant portraits within tessellations inspired by Islamic geometry or Arabesque by playing with the relationship between figure and pattern drawn from her memories of the architecture, color and landscapes of mosques, churches and temples in Tunisia. Creating her art made her very active and gave her the opportunity to exchange her culture and traditions with her community in Trenton.
April Cooper | Letter Artist
Trenton has a growing arts and cultural scene, with art galleries, music venues, and community events contributing to the cultural vibrancy of the area. A creative community which I am proud to be a part of.
Trenton is filled with a diverse community, with a mix of cultural influences. This diversity is reflected in the city’s various neighborhoods and community events. I means the world to me to see myself reflected in my community.
Artworks Trenton is proud to announce the official completion of the “Breaking Barriers” mural, a landmark project commissioned by the Mercer County Division of Culture & Heritage (MCDC&H) and located on the historic Cass Street Prison wall. This project was a collaborative effort led by seven talented artists from the Trenton area, who brought to life a vision of art as a powerful force for connection and community-building.
The mural, which spans 319 ft. wide by 19 ft. high on the exterior wall of the New Jersey State Prison at 600 Cass St., Trenton, is a testament to the diverse artistic talent in our city and the role of public art in fostering unity. Titled Breaking Barriers, the artwork represents the ability of art to transcend mental, cultural, and institutional barriers, providing a space for dialogue, healing, and connection.
“We were so excited to get started and we were able to get the design up quickly that it really set the mood for the whole process,” said Leon Rainbow, one of the lead artists.“The most difficult part was dealing with the sheer size of the project and scheduling the different artists to paint their letters. We are proud of the results and hope that it brings inspiration and excitement to the city both now and in the future.”
The project was spearheaded by Artworks’ Public Project Manager, Jonathan “Lank” Conner and included seven local artists who each contributed their unique styles and cultural backgrounds to the mural including lead artists Leon Rainbow and Jose “Busta” Bustamente and contributing artists, Dean “Ras” Innocenzi, Dave “Mek” Klama, Alia Bensliman, and April Cooper. Together, the artists created a mural that spells out “Trenton” with each letter highlighting how art can unify a community, break down societal barriers, and inspire a shared sense of pride. Special thanks our Assistant Artists: Chris Ponton, Christian Ezquerrena, JC Zerbe, Tishara Linares, and Franciszek Borek.
The project began in the Spring of 2024, and after months of design, collaboration, and installation, the mural is now complete and ready to be unveiled to the public. Artworks and the Mercer County Division of Culture & Heritage are excited to host an official ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the mural’s completion. The date for the ceremony will be announced soon, and the public is invited to attend.
Artworks Trenton, a longstanding leader in the local arts community, is proud to have played a key role in this important public art project, which was commissioned through an open “Call for Artists” by the MCDC&H. Over 50 artists submitted proposals, and Artworks’ team was ultimately selected for their outstanding concept and vision.
Photography ©Habiyb Ali Shu’Aib 2024
“Dean is a one of a kind, he is talented and his work speaks. We appreciated his willingness to showcase Athing, her talent, and other residents/ talents from Trenton, NJ! “
– Athing Mu
This project was made possible by:
