#BringArtBack

Columbia University Neighbors Features Thrive Collective

Our Executive Director, Jeremy Del Rio, Esq., speaks with Brandee Sanders of Columbia University Neighbors to discuss arts education as a means for community empowerment. Thank you, Columbia Neighbors, for profiling Thrive as one of your back to school features this month. “Creating an ecosystem of empowerment isn’t only crucial for students to thrive in…

read more

PS 250K: Extreme Mural Makeover

In Spring 2022, Thrive Collective partnered with PS 250 for a full mural makeover of the front entrance of their building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. After exploring different themes and design ideas with students, veteran street artists Kaves, RIBS, and Bianca Romero interpreted the student work on the wall. The completed makeover spans over 100 feet…

read more

Staten Island Advance Front Page features Thrive Mural Collabs

Over the last four years, Thrive Collective has partnered with Staten Island-based non-profit Projectivity Group, which has a similar mission of providing resources, opportunities, and education for anyone interested in pursuing the arts.  This Spring 2022 season, they collaborated on multiple projects throughout NYC.  Specifically, on Staten Island, they created murals at PS60, PS9, PS8,…

read more

Uplifting Community Visions at P.S./M.S. 183 Q

The playground murals were titled, “A Space to Dream,” and featured quilt-like borders inspired by Faith Ringgold. Art as a Catalyst for Change Our seventh mural at P.S/M.S 183 Q Dr. Richard Green School is complete! Made possible through Art as a Catalyst for Change, a city-wide program initiated by several NYC Council members and…

read more

15 Years of Murals at PS/MS 34

Nine Murals Later A full view of the mural. Aptly named, Make Your Mark, the newest mural at P.S. 034 Franklin D. Roosevelt illustrates a community that empowers its students to follow their dreams. Thrive Collective’s flagship mural location, P.S. 034, was the first school to participate in a mural project way back in 2007,…

read more

PS 18: A School of Superheroes

We the Power Credits for the mural. Photo: Vanesa ÁlvarezDíaz Taking their creative powers to new heights, teaching artists Vanesa and Arantxa transformed eighty-seven students and eleven faculty members into community superheroes at P.S. 18 this spring! The artists completed the three-story mural along the stairwells of P.S. 18 Edward Bush Elementary School.  Titled We…

read more

A Bright and Lively Community Mural

Kadeem Phillip, art director, beside the mural’s centerpiece portrait Dream Neighborhood With their newly completed 908 square foot “Arverne Adventure” mural, the students of M.S. 42 Q Robert Vernam are demonstrating that dreaming big pays off! Created under the artistic direction of Kadeem Phillip and project management of Lourdes Rojo, students collaboratively envisioned their dream…

read more

Dreaming Big at P.S. 89Q

“All Voices Must Be Heard” The mural rendition of a student’s “parrot pirate” “It was this drawing that made me realize I wanted to highlight the student’s work more than anything,” Thrive teaching artist Vanesa said as she introduced the new “Dream Big” Gleane Street mural at P.S. 89Q. The drawing shows two figures between…

read more

Frederick Douglass Mural Shows Pride

A front view of the finished mural. Photo:@hey-uhey8 Words of gratitude, delight, and pride abounded from faculty and students alike as artist Daze transformed Frederick Douglass Academy (FDA) with a new mural outside the school entrance. Painted predominately with spray paint, the mural was completed in just two weeks! The fast transformation meant each time…

read more

School Spotlight—The Ryer Ave. Elementary School

Recognizing In-House Heroes While the recently completed mural makeover at P.S. 9, The Ryer Avenue Elementary School, celebrates Bronx-born heroes and legends like Sonia Sotomayor, Stan Lee, MC Debbie Dee, and Neil deGrasse Tyson on the walls, it also celebrates the impact that people are making within the walls of P.S. 9! Tats Cru represents…

read more