The artist who will create a mural celebrating Watertown artists Arshile Gorky has been selected by the Watertown Arts and Culture Committee. See details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below.
After a public meeting on November 18th, the Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee (PACC) is excited to announce that artist Brandon Marshall will paint his mural design at the Grove Street underpass on the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway. Marshall’s original artwork stood out among the three strong proposals presented in November, resonating with those who attended and the selection committee.
The mural will serve as a lasting tribute to Arshile Gorky’s time in Watertown and his significant contributions to contemporary art. The project is generously supported by contributions from the Watertown Community Foundation, Mount Auburn Cemetery, the Watertown Cultural Council, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The selected artist will receive a $25,000 commission to complete the mural, which will be unveiled in Summer 2025.
About the Artist
Brandon Marshall is a visual artist, educator, and tradition bearer from Memphis, Tennessee, and Holly Springs, Mississippi. Serving as U.S. cultural ambassador to Nigeria in 2018, and a 2024 cultural ambassador to the nation of Malawi, Brandon’s strengths lie within his ability to
collaborate with diverse communities in a way that allows them to become active participants in
the public art process by the implementation of active listening, hard work, and authenticity.
Having lived and provided mural services professionally in both Memphis and Detroit, Brandon Gaia Marshall has established himself as a public artist specializing in murals with a strong focus on community engagement, mobilization, and conflict transformation. From the artist, “More than anything, my entire practice is about creating mutually beneficial and equitable relationships. The work I produce is meant to first engage the communities I serve, but also enriches my own understanding of the world around me. Each mural is an opportunity for me to learn and grow as an individual on my path to self-actualization. Heavily inspired by artists such as James Rosenquist, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, Frank Stella, El Lissitzky, and Kandinsky, my work generally evokes a contemporary aesthetic while also weaving in significant historical and cultural elements.”
Learn more about Brandon Marshall and see past work: memphismuralworks.com/about
About the Commemoration
The mural is one part of a larger commemoration of Arshile Gorky in Watertown throughout 2o25 Other initiatives include a call for art at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, a walking tour of the East End of Watertown, a film screening, and partnerships with the Armenian Museum of American and the Arshile Gorky Foundation. If you would like to get involved or learn more, details will be posted on the city website: www.watertown-ma.gov/1318/100-Years-of-Arshile-Gorky.
About Arshile Gorky
Arshile Gorky was an Armenian-American artist who arrived in Watertown in 1920 after fleeing the Armenian genocide. He lived in the East End of Watertown until 1925, where he worked at the Hood Rubber factory and pursued his artistic passion. Gorky’s work had a profound impact on the development of Abstract Expressionism and continues to inspire artists today.
For more information, please contact:
Liz Helfer, Public Arts & Culture Planner
Community Development & Planning
149 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
617-972-6417 x12167
Office Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday