Putting the Public Back in Public Art: How WALS Centers Community in Every Mural
At We Are Limitless Studios (WALS), we believe murals shouldn’t just be beautiful — they should belong to the people who see them every day.
Public art should reflect the faces, voices, and dreams of the community that surrounds it. From the very beginning, that’s been our promise: to put the public back in public art.
It also should belong to the people who walk past it every day, who see their own hopes, struggles, and stories reflected back at them in full color.
🎨 It Started With a Wall —
And 100 Believers
Our very first mural, Believe at DVB, is still one of our favorite reminders of what happens when people come together around a blank wall and an idea. After we were humbled by the fact we were painting a massive mural in our town, we just knew we wanted others to get in on the action.
Over 100 community members picked up brushes to help paint it — neighbors, kids, parents, people who’d never held a paintbrush before. That moment didn’t just create a mural — it created connection, pride, and ownership that rippled out into the neighborhood long after the paint dried.
That spirit has guided us through every wall since.
🐾 Painting Where People Gather — Like the Salisbury Zoo
There’s something special about painting where families naturally gather. Our mural at the Salisbury Zoo was a reminder that art can belong anywhere — even between the trees. This project brought together over 100 volunteers, zoo staff, and families to add color, share stories, and make the zoo feel even more like a community treasure. Sometimes the most meaningful art is the art you stumble on when you least expect it — and need it most.
🏫 Investing in the Next Generation — Like Berlin High School
One of our most meaningful projects so far is the Morgan’s Message® Wall at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin, MD. This mural isn’t just paint on a wall — it’s a message that matters.
Born from the vision of passionate students and staff, the wall honors the mission of Morgan’s Message®, a national nonprofit founded in memory of Morgan Rodgers, dedicated to eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health in athletics. The mural stands as a bold statement that mental health deserves the same care and respect as physical health — especially for student-athletes.
This project was built on collaboration from the very start. With support from the Worcester County Arts Council and the Freeman Arts Pavilion, and media support from outlets like OC Today-Dispatch and DelmarvaLife, the message reached far beyond the school’s halls.
But what made it powerful wasn’t just the funding — it was the people. Over 100 students and staff joined us on paint day to add their energy, time, and brushstrokes to the wall.
🤝 Collaboration Is in Our DNA — Artists Supporting Artists
Community means artists, too. At WALS, we’re deeply committed to lifting up other creatives. Whenever possible, we bring in local artists to collaborate with us. We’ve built multi-artist teams for big projects, invited guest muralists to lead sections, and given emerging artists a shot at large-scale work they might not have landed on their own.
Salisbury, in particular, has been the heartbeat of this mission. We see this city as the cultural anchor of the Eastern Shore — a place where artists can thrive if they’re given the opportunity. Every mural we paint here aims to keep that door open: more local talent, more collaboration, more walls that say “This is yours.”
🌟 What It Means To Put Community First
Putting community first means:
✅ Deep listening — because it’s never about our idea alone.
✅ Accessible walls — so anyone can feel welcome to contribute.
✅ Local collaboration — artists, students, families, neighbors, city leaders.
✅ Lasting impact — murals that feel like home, not decoration.
When you hire WALS, you’re not just hiring painters — you’re partnering with a team that sees art as a catalyst for pride, possibility, and togetherness.
✨ Join Us — Let’s Create Something Limitless
If you’ve got a wall, we’ve got a vision — but more importantly, we’ve got a process that centers you and your community every step of the way.
Let’s make your neighborhood more vibrant. Let’s put your story in color. Let’s do it together.
📩 Reach out to learn how we can bring your walls to life — and make sure they belong to everyone who calls your community home.
