The Ripples Project
About the Ripples Project
The Ripples Project is a citywide public art initiative by The Avenue Concept in collaboration with the City of Providence Mayor’s Office and the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism. Over the next two years, this initiative will transform Providence with 50 utility box murals and 3,600 square feet of new wall art—building joy, connection, and creative capacity across the city.
Ripples brings together youth, emerging, and experienced artists through partnerships with community-based organizations. By providing training, mentorship, and professional opportunities, the project helps develop the next generation of public artists while investing in inclusive cultural expression and a stronger creative workforce.
Founded in 2012, The Avenue Concept is Rhode Island’s leading public art organization, with over 300 projects completed and $2 million invested in art and infrastructure. Our mission is to curate and produce bold, inclusive public art that inspires joy, dialogue, and community.
Murals
This summer, we will be installing FIVE murals as part of the Ripples Project by:
ABOVE
ABOVE is a legacy Legal Wall user. Mural Coming Soon on Smith St!
Bee Daniel
Mural Coming soon on Charles St!
Dark Window Tint
Mural Coming Soon on Douglas Ave!
Savonnara Sok
I’ve lived in Providence for 12 years and become really close to the art community. Avenue concepts and AS220 has given me a home where u feel comfortable and supported as an artist. Sok is the Ripples Open Call Mural Selected Artist. Mural coming to Westminster St the week of June 8!
… PLUS an additional TAC-produced surprise coming for PVDFest – stay on the lookout for more information!
Utility Box Public Art: 50 Boxes in 2025!
As part of Ripples, we’re painting 50 utility boxes throughout Providence—small-scale, high-impact murals that offer artists visibility and a platform to grow. Artists receive hands-on training in safety, technique, and working in public space—supporting long-term career development in the arts.
Participating artists include:
— 13 selected through a public open call
— 14 youth artists in collaboration with New Urban Arts
— A curated group of 15 experienced artists and community members
This inclusive model brings together creativity, mentorship, and professional growth—expanding access to public art and building a more vibrant, equitable city.
Meet the Utility Box Artists
Artifakt Studios
Ryan's work explores the raw, gritty textures of the urban sprawl, mixed with the vibrant, polychromatic landscape of psychedelia, creating a vast dichotomy that emulates the thin veil separating reality from imagination. He is constantly experimenting and evolving his creative process with new techniques and styles, embracing a fusion of organic and digital mediums, while utilizing tools both new and old. Ryan's pursuit is to make art more interactive, inclusive and accessible, dissolving boundaries between artist and spectator. He believes in radical self expression as a human birthright, and encourages creativity as a therapeutic practice essential to a happy, healthy life.
Armando Brindis
Providence native I've been deep rooted in graffiti for over a decade with a passion for creating. Turning nothing into something is what keeps me motivated to keep moving.
Mike Cels
Cels grew up on the train tracks. He was amazed by the graffiti he saw. Fast forward, here we are!
Tate Won Chen
Hi there, I’m Tate. My painting speaks as a celebration to our natural world. I was born in Boston, MA and am a first generation, multiracial American- or in other words, I’m your all-American mutt. Some areas that I’m constantly striving for growth in my creative practice are my use of color, creating dynamic compositions that express movement and harmony, and to collaborate with those who might not exactly identify as artists, per se, and together bring creative aspirations to life.
Ervin Figueroa
I’ve been drawing and painting for a long as I can remember, it’s been a passion of mine that has remained consistent through my years. Although I mainly study typography I’m very big on comic book and manga art. I hope to inspire those who come after me to express their selves through color and design.
FlowrBomb
FlowrBomb is a self-taught artist whose work is deeply rooted in intuition, exploring the spiritual and emotional layers of creation. Her art blends bold storytelling with cultural symbolism, reflecting her journey of self-discovery and resilience. Through her practice, she reclaims space for underrepresented voices, transforming everyday moments into powerful visual narratives.
Sophie Foulkes
Sophie is an illustrator and designer based in Providence, RI, creating bold, playful artwork inspired by her local community and surrounding nature. Her work spans editorial illustration, murals, and book design, often emphasizing a strong sense of place. Recognized by American Illustration, her art can be found in publications, galleries, and public spaces across Rhode Island and Western Massachusetts.
Han Paints on Things
Hannah Rose Schlieder is a multidisciplinary artist who explores realms out mythology, nature and spirit through her work. She has been live painting at concerts, fundraisers and events across New England since 2018, and works out of her studio creating Paintings, Jewelry and Hand Tufted Rugs. She loves growing flowers and immersing herself in nature in her free time.
E'ean Johnson
I Am a Self Taught Creative Visionary that Uses Multiple Mediums to Express and Manifest the Visions and thoughts that inspire Me & Others.
Diego Juarez
I'm a Providence local excited to put some of my abstract work out in the view of the public.
Martha Kuhlman
Martha Kuhlman is a mom, a professor, an artist (graduate of the Sequential Arts Workshop), and a translator of graphic memoirs from Czech to English. She loves teaching students about graphic novels and creativity. Kuhlman lives on the West Side of Providence and runs "Drink and Draw" sessions with her fellow cartoonists Elise Dietrich and Tom Hart at RiffRaff bookstore in Olneyville.
Ron LeBrasseur
Ron LeBrasseur is a cartoonist living in Beverly, Massachusetts. If you like cartoons, street art, or comics, there's a good chance you may have seen his work on Boston's North Shore. He has created street art throughout eastern MA and now he is setting his sights on Providence, look out!
George Lin
George was a natural artist from an early age. Since the age of six, he has received international recognition, honors and awards. George’s artwork demonstrates a masterful use of color and imagination as he examines the real world and transforms what he sees into artistic reality.
LUMUKU
LUMUKU is making the world a brighter place! The approach is holistic, creating art that resonates emotionally with the individual, serves as a basis for fun interactions between people, and adds joy to society through uplifting public art. We hope you enjoy this new project with the Avenue Concept!
Rebecca Macri
Rebecca Macri is a multimedia artist whose work spans painting, fiber arts, printmaking, and ceramics. She is influenced by her background as a graphic designer and master gardener. She graduated from Boston College with degrees in Studio Art & Biology, and has shown work in galleries across Rhode Island.
Keara McHaffie
Keara McHaffie is a New England based artist and educator who’s work revolves around archiving memories and constructing new spaces through color and constructions of imagery.
MinioMindWarp
Erminio Pinque, educator, Illustrator and creature fabricator, is editor of the Comics Page center-spread in Motif Magazine, a project for which he recruits artists who work in multiple mediums to create monthly comic panels for old-school print media. Pinque, also known as “MinioMindWarp”, is illustrator of the award winning graphic novel “CHAZAN! Unfiltered” and has filled several hundred sketchbooks with portraits, landscapes, costume designs, surreal doodles, imagined creatures and observational renderings. The surreal and sometimes grotesque characters that appear in his work are results of the artist’s desire to assign abstract, emotional and political concepts corporeal forms that aren’t particularly human but still seem somewhat familiar.
Natalie Moreno
Natalie Moreno (b. 2003, Washington, DC) is a Bolivian American multi-disciplinary artist currently based in Providence, RI. Natalie will earn a BFA in Sculpture with a concentration in Drawing from the Rhode Island School of Design in June 2025. Her work in sculpture, painting, and video reflects a layered understanding of coexistence, transformation, and resilience, informed by her own background as a second-generation immigrant, and a deep curiosity about our shared and individual growth.
Diane Polanco Rojas
I'm a visual artist based in Providence, Rhode Island. My artwork embodies themes of freedom and joy, drawing inspiration from vibrant colors and the sense of wonder that arises when harmonizing contrasting hues and forms. Through my creations, I aspire to evoke a sense of inspiration in viewers, encouraging them to engage with art without preconceived expectations.
Rebecca Pry
Rebecca Pry is a muralist, illustrator, and designer based in Providence, RI. She has designed and painted murals all over the country. When Rebecca is not painting, she is probably outside wearing a brightly colored sweater.
Apollo Rios Lomba
Apollo Rios Lomba (he/they) is a Black Latino trans-masc visual storyteller that blends physical and digital media. They were born and raised in Providence, RI and they have a BFA from Pratt Institute in Communications Design: Illustration. Their body of work lovingly spotlights people of color by using elements of epic fantasy, dynamic movement, and bright chromatic colors.
Seren Robinson
I create with color, letters, and shapes to evoke emotion and meaning. Bold hues and abstract forms spark curiosity. My work invites personal interpretation through structure and spontaneity.
Danny Seliger
I'm a therapist who keeps bees and writes on things. I think being healthy is important. Nature is cool.
thecollab
thecollab is the coming-together of artist educators and longtime friends, Jaimie & Kate. In our work, we consider ourselves creative problem solvers, using color, shape and texture as abstract storytelling tools on a variety of surfaces. We are focused on crafting unique, engaging spaces, experiences, and goods that invoke energy, joy, and community.
Niko Tolentino
My name is Nicholas "Niko" Tolentino and my aim is to harness the transformative potential of art and culture to empower individuals to cultivate self-care and live a life rich in experience. Drawing from my own personal journey, I'm excited to share this practice with others and see its far-reaching effects.
Amelia White
Amelia White (b.1995) is a visual artist and apparel graphics designer currently residing in Pawtucket, RI with her giant dog Mabel. Originally from the Greater Boston area, she graduated from RISD in 2017 and considers both Boston and Providence her home. Her personal work has been shown in galleries throughout New England and beyond and frequently references the millennial female autistic experience, and dogs.
Youth Partners
New Urban Arts, one of the partners of the Ripples Project, pulled in youth from the NUA Mural Team, NUA Knights, Youth Pride Inc., Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts, DownCity Design, and Providence Student Union to paint 14 Utility Boxes across the city.
Got a Wall with Potential?
We’re always looking for new walls to bring public art to life! If you’re a property owner, business, or developer, submit your wall here to be considered for future mural projects—and help shape Providence, one wall at a time.
On View Now: West End Funk by Swerve, Greg Was Here, & Back
Photos by Small Frye Photography
Want us to keep doing Public Art Projects like this? Donate to The Avenue Concept today!