Unity Mural

A creative collaboration between the University of Maryland and Bowie State University

Created by University of Maryland (UMD) and Bowie State University (BSU) students and faculty following the murder of Lt. Richard Collins III, the Unity Mural was conceived to take a stand against racism and violence, reflecting upon themes of unity, peace and justice.

The mural’s creative process was a collaboration that took place over several months. Through a series of virtual meetings, students in BSU Professor Gina Lewis’s “New Media: Installation & Public Art” class and UMD Clinical Associate Professor Margaret Walker’s “Foundations of Art Education” classes worked together to design and outline the piece.

During The Clarice’s 2017 NextNO W Fest at the University of Maryland, attendees were invited to contribute their creative energy to the mural with the hope that community building and healing through art and creative expression could foster relationships across the campuses. Over 250 students and community members took part in hand-painting its four panels.

The process was documented from conception to community participation through photography, a website and a documentary film by students in a photojournalism class led by BSU Assistant Professor Jennifer White-Johnson. This collaboration sparked dialogue and a community call to action.

Since 2017, the mural has traveled to the Maryland House of Delegates’ House Office Building in Annapolis, as well as the Fine and Performing Arts Center and Student Center at BSU, McKeldin Library at UMD, and the Marietta House Museum, and currently hangs in The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. The Unity Mural will be touring several branches of the Prince George’s Memorial Library System later in 2022 and will eventually find its permanent home on the campus of Bowie State University.

The Unity Mural design has been incorporated into UMD’s new Collins Plaza created to honor the life and legacy of Lt. Richard Collins III.