The South Bronx is officially home to the tallest mural in the United States.
Standing at a staggering 307 feet tall, the artwork scales 29 stories at NYCHA’s Morrisania Air Rights (MAR) development.
Dominican artist Néstor Omar García, also known as ‘Angurria,’ painted the piece. Titled “Un MAR de Gente / From Every Shore,” the mural beautifully reflects the multicultural heart of the Bronx.
Public art nonprofit ArtBridge commissioned the monumental project.
A community-driven masterpiece
The project took about five months to complete. During this time, ArtBridge, Angurria, and local organizers hosted collaborative workshops with MAR residents.
They taught locals about the mural-making process and asked how they wanted to be represented.
“When we began, we hoped to create the tallest mural in the Bronx,” Tanya Pedler, President of the MAR Resident Association, told the Bronx Times. “Now, we’re celebrating the tallest mural in the United States.”
Bronx native Fernando Ortiz noted that diversity and inclusion were core concepts for the piece.
Reflecting the people of the Bronx
The final design directly incorporates resident feedback. A local Muslim girl requested a woman wearing a hijab, which Angurria proudly included.
The top of the painting also features a child with earmuffs to represent community members with special needs.
“The residents of MAR gave us their stories,” Angurria said. “Now the whole Bronx can look up and see itself.”
MAR resident Carmen Capone shared her pride during the October 27 unveiling, calling the masterpiece historical and impactful.
Funding and future impact
The Public Housing Community Fund and a $165,000 grant from the M·A·C VIVA GLAM Fund supported the project. Local leaders celebrated the launch, emphasizing the critical need for continued arts funding.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson stressed to the Bronx Times that arts and culture are often the first to face budget cuts, making projects like this essential.
State Senator José Serrano praised the piece, calling the Bronx a global arts hub. Congressman Ritchie Torres echoed this pride, declaring the masterpiece belongs exactly where it is: in the ‘Boogie Down Bronx.’
Dylan Baker-Rice, NYCHA’s Chief Asset and Capital Management Officer, added that beautiful community spaces give residents a place they can proudly call home.
You can now view the nation’s tallest mural at Morrisania Air Rights in the South Bronx.
Don’t miss out! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and now on WhatsApp, too!