East Village, New York City, 2019: Joel worked with Central American youth to create characters that “come to life” via Augmented Reality, telling the stories of the participants. Partners: Artolution, KIND (Kids in Need of Defense), We Are Royale, Key Food Supermarket, Education Alliance

East Village, New York City, 2019: Celebrating the resilience of Central American youth seeking safety in the US, who created the first Augmented Reality Mural led by youth plus an incredible theatrical performance, performed right in front of the mural for the whole community to experience. Partners: Artolution, KIND (Kids in Need of Defense), We Are Royale, Key Food Supermarket, Education Alliance

East Village, New York City 2019: The central portrait is Joel’s toddler daughter, Amara, representing the importance of imagination and play across all cultures.

Cali, Colombia 2020: Joel collaborated with local youth and Cali artist Teca to create this mural of unity in the face of violent divisions and xenophobia in the community of Aguablanca. Partners: Artolution, Fundación Pintuco, Centro Cultural Colombo Americano.

Akkar, Lebanon 2018: Through collaborative art-making, Syrian and Lebanese children learn to come together in friendship and solidarity. Partners: Artolution and German Development Agency (GIZ)

Azraq Syrian Refugee Camp, Jordan 2019: “There is Still Hope in Life” collabo with Seddeq Ghoush, the Syrian Artolution artist team and local children. Parters: Artolution and UNICEF

Azraq Syrian Refugee Camp, Jordan 2019: The power of art to unite the community! Joel has been supporting the Artolution Syrian artist team and the children of Azraq Camp through a partnership with UNICEF.

A second view focusing on the border wall as a symbol for the xenophobia that migrant youth are facing.

Washington, DC 2019: Created with asylum seekers from Central America, this mural explores the conflicts they’ve faced and their contributions to their new community. Partners: Artolution, KIND (Kids in Need of Defense) and Paul Hastings Law Firm

Amman, Jordan 2017: Mural with Syrian and Jordanian girls in a school in Amman, bringing together newly-arrived refugees with their host community peers to combat the tensions between these two groups and promote social cohesion. Partners: Artolution and German Development Agency (GIZ)

Amman, Jordan 2017: Detail of kids’ art by Syrian and Jordanian girls: Joel’s youth murals are unique in that hundreds of smaller paintings by the participants are integrated into one cohesive work of art.

Rohingya Refugee Camps, Bangladesh 2018

Rohingya Refugee Camps, Bangladesh 2018

London, UK 2015: Joel at work on one of his trademark portraits that incorporates the characters of many participants.

London, UK 2015: This mural on the iconic Village Underground in Shoreditch was created for the Street Child Summit, an event that brought together former homeless youth from Brazil, Pakistan and Burundi. Joel collaborated with the youth and local artists Bec Dennison and Meghan O’Malley. Partner: Street Child United

Manchester, UK 2018

Manchester, UK 2018

Manchester, UK 2018

Guachaca, Colombia 2019

Johannesburg, South Africa 2016: This orphanage was transformed by a mural designed and painted by the children and teens who live here, who expressed their dreams for the future and the importance of social cohesion between distinct ethnic groups. Partners: Artolution, Radisson Hotels, 5Cees Orphanage

Johannesburg, South Africa 2016: Our enthusiastic little artists!

Johannesburg, South Africa 2016: Children in an orphanage created an homage to the significant animals in their culture. Partners: Artolution, Radisson Hotels, 5Cees Orphanage

Azraq Syrian Refugee Camp, Jordan, 2018: A father and son reach for one another across a generational divide, eager for familial love in times of great conflict for the Syrian people. Partners: Artolution and CARE International

Bloomington, Illinois 2019

Bloomington, Illinois 2019

Bloomington, Illinois 2019

East Village, New York City, 2018: 2 groups of teenagers, one who have struggled with bullying due to their LGBTQ identities, and another with autism and other challenges, joined forces on this mural. It includes the “Birdstrument,” a sculptural element made from repurposed trash, which is also a percussive instrument. Joel co-led the project with Max Frieder. Partners: Paul Hastings Law Firm, Harvey Milk School and Manhattan School of Career Development.

East Village, New York City, 2018

East Village, New York City, 2018

Queens, New York 2018: Collabo with Chris Soria and Marc Evan

NYC 2018

Brooklyn, New York, 2018: The Eye-Fish-Mobile!

Cali, Colombia 2020

Stuttgart, Germany 2017

Stuttgart, Germany 2017: Joel worked with youth from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Gambia, Ghana, the Dominican Republic and Germany, this mural tells the stories of life’s journeys from struggle to hope, and of our ability to work in partnership across borders. With Park Inn by Radisson, Stuttgart.

Tripoli, Lebanon 2018

Beirut, Lebanon 2018

Santiago, Dominican Republic 2017: The Boatstrument was created with repurposed trash, and has drum sticks attached so that the students can continue to play this sculptural percussion instrument. Created with local Santiago artists and teens, Max Frieder and Joel Artista

Poughkeepsie, New York 2019

Buritaca, Colombia 2019

Planada, California 2016: A mural that celebrates Alex, a local hero, pays homage to the campesino and to the rural, mainly Mexican population of this region.

Guachaca, Colombia 2019

Guachaca, Colombia 2019

Za’atari Syrian Refugee Camp, Jordan, 2017: Joel worked with local young people, the Syrian art collective Jasmine Necklace and Max Frieder on this Artolution art program. With the Norwegian Refugee Council and the International Rescue Committee.

Za’atari Syrian Refugee Camp, Jordan, 2017:Detail showing the expressions of dozens of Syrian children and artists in Za’atari Camp

Buritica, Colombia 2018

Zarqa, Jordan 2018

Queens, NY 2016: Collaboration with Chris Soria and Marc Evan for the Welling Court Mural Festival

Brooklyn, NY 2015: Collabo with Brooklyn-based Moroccan artist Rocko, who specializes in Arabic calligraphy. This piece was inspired by the photography of Barron Claiborne.

Planada, California 2016: Refusing to see each other…

Planada, California 2016: Open your Eyes!

Planada, California 2016: Standing Strong in the Face of Hate!

Planada, California 2016: ¡El Gallo Canta! Celebrating local culture in the rural agricultural communities of the Central Valley.

Za’atari Syrian Refugee Camp, Jordan 2014: “A River in Za’atari”

Siliguri, India 2016: This collaboration with 4 local Bengali artists (Anindya, Saptarshi, Santanu and Binod) was created for the International Anti-Human Trafficking Conclave. It aims to raise awareness for this issue, also known as modern day slavery, which is at epidemic levels in this region. Organized with Shakti Vahini, Meridian International Center and the US Consulate in Kolkata.

Bidibidi South Sudanese Refugee Settlement, Uganda 2019

Bucharest, Romania 2017: Joel worked with a talented group of street youth, who are empowered by their involvement in the circus arts.

Bucharest, Romania 2017: The group performing for the community during the closing ceremony.

Sharon, Pennsylvania, 2017

Sharon, Pennsylvania, 2017

Sharon, Pennsylvania, 2017

Cologne, Germany, 2015

UK, 2014: Joel created an interactive mural as part of the Greenbelt Festival outside of London, which focuses on progressive social causes, music and art. Joel’s piece was prominently featured along a long wall in the entrance to the event, and festival- goers were invited to participate in the creation of the piece by adding their poems, drawings and messages on the colored geometric shapes. The theme was the environment; participants were asked to reflect on what we— as individuals and as communities— can do to begin the healing process and reverse the damage done to our natural environment.

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil 2018

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil 2018

Mumbai, India 2016

Queens, New York 2016

Central Desert, Australia 2017: Joel and Max Frieder partnered with local Aboriginal organizations to engage youth and communities in public art projects that addressed social issues and the resilience of Indigenous peoples.

Central Desert, Australia 2017: Mural in Alice Springs created with local youth and Max Frieder

Central Desert, Australia 2017: child artists in a town camp.

Central Desert, Australia 2017: Joel working on a mural in Alice Springs

Beirut, Lebanon 2018

Kolkata, India 2016: Joel and his wife, CJ, worked with Bengali artists and young people who had experienced human trafficking, life on the streets, and chaotic family lives. This epic mural on the outside of the Birla Academy of Art tells their story, from the demons of the past to building new, positive lives with the support of positive people and activities.

Kolkata, India 2016: detail

Queens, New York, 2016

Jerusalem 2015: Arab and Jewish children and teens came together to create this mural with Joel and his Artolution partner, Max Frieder. It is now displayed at the US Consulate

Jerusalem 2015: This side of the mural portrayed the pain of disunity among neighbors

Krakow, Poland 2016: Joel worked with teenagers in foster care to design and paint this community mural that explores local culture and envisions the community and families that the youth envision for their future.

Za’atari Syrian Refugee Camp, Jordan, 2014: I Dream Of… Syrian kids painted their dreams for the future inside the shapes of this mural.

Buritica, Colombia 2018

Brussels, Belgium, 2015: Flying high!

Za’atari Syrian Refugee Camp, Jordan, 2014

St. Petersburg, Russia 2017: Joel worked with kids who had experienced the street life and chaotic family lives, creating a mural with a sci-fi, surrealistic vibe. With Park Inn by Radisson hotels and local youth organizations.

Santiago, Dominican Republic 2017: detail

Santiago, Dominican Republic 2017: The figure on the left represents a Carnaval costume popular in Satiago, while the woman on the right is a Mother Nature-style figure.

Staten Island, NY 2015: Mural on Fab Cup Coffee Shop inspired by cattle, a highly symbolic animal in many cultures throughout history.

Staten Island, New York 2015

Oslo, Norway 2016: a talented teen shows off her creativity!

Oslo, Norway 2016: Joel and his wife, CJ, worked with local kids at a community center to create this piece.

Azraq Syrian Refugee Camp, Jordan 2017: Playing music from the darkness: mural in Azraq Camp.

Azraq Syrian Refugee Camp, Jordan 2017: Mural showing a girl sending paper boats with messages back to Syria.

Brooklyn, NY 2015: Joel’s contribution to the Writing on the Walls event in Brownsville. Sponsored by the Brooklyn Arts Council, organized by Brooklyn is the Future.

Springfield, Ohio: Joel worked with teenagers who had been incarcerated as part of the arts activities of Project Jericho organization, supporting the reintegration of young people in the justice system.