Creating identity within the city

Abstract

Outdoor mural art in the city of Boston, Massachusetts has been effective in shaping the identity of locations within the city, playing an important role in resisting homogenizing effects of globalization impacting urban areas in the twenty first century. This study presents the city’s programs for outdoor mural creation and examines outdoor mural art projects commissioned through independent entities and collaborative efforts as well as those initiated by the city. In the contemporary context of reactions against traditional urban design, this study considers outdoor mural art as an approach to creating identifiable locations in the city through the creation of cognitive as well as material urban-scapes. Research explored the murals themselves, public records available through the city’s website, contemporary publications, and interviews with key individuals. Observations presented here offer insights into innovative uses of outdoor murals as an effective tools for creating identity in locations throughout the city.