The goal of our I HeART New Jersey series is to introduce our readers to local NJ artists. These Garden State makers hone their craft while working with items like clay, metal, paint, film, and more. This month, the focus is on mural artists; specifically, those who use their talents to add beauty to otherwise ordinary backdrops in New Jersey.
Quick Click Guide: Click a mural artist to go straight to their profile.
| Luis-Miguel Caraballo | Catherine Hart | Layqa Nuna Yawar |
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Luis-Miguel Caraballo
A native New Jerseyan, Luis-Miguel Caraballo was born and raised in the heart of Elizabeth’s inner city. It’s this upbringing that influences both Caraballo’s decision to be an artist as well as his style of art; everything from street art and contemporary art to murals.
As he puts it, the main purpose of his art is to inspire. In particular, Caraballo wishes to inspire children from the inner cities who want to pursue a career in the arts. This was a personal struggle of his growing up, because there weren’t many artist role models he could relate to. Still, following his passion led to a degree in studio painting from Montclair State University. Shortly after, Caraballo taught art at Perth Amboy High School until quitting in 2018; in order to be a full-time artist.
Now, with his murals found around the globe, Caraballo is the role model for inner city children he always imagined. Recently, Caraballo created a temporary 30 x 50 foot chalk mural in downtown New Brunswick called “Resurgence”. As part of the Arts Institute of Middlesex’s County’s “Drawing Strength Mural Project”, the mural aims to inspire unity. For more of Caraballo’s work, click here to visit his website or you can check out his Instagram page.
Catherine Hart
Growing up in Montclair, Catherine Hart didn’t realize until later how lucky she was; surrounded by diverse cultures, religious traditions, and ways of seeing the world. The proximity to New York City didn’t hurt either, as she has fond memories of local graffiti and street art. These experiences awoke her creative tendencies and led her to pursue a career in art.
Her foray into large-scale murals came after a two-month long community mural project in Waco, Texas in 2013. “Turns out, not only did I love painting on a large scale, but I was blown away by the power of the community process and knew I wanted to pursue this as a career,” Hart says.
One of the highlights of Hart’s career has been painting the Jersey City Giraffe; which you can find adorning a four-story building on Newark Avenue in Jersey City. She also loves being the Co-Director of the Jersey City Mural Arts Youth Program. At different times in her career, she has also been a glassblower, drawer and painter. You can view a collection of Hart’s creations on her website as well as her Instagram page.
Layqa Nuna Yawar
After spending his early childhood in Ecuador, Layqa Nuna Yawar moved to Newark, New Jersey in his teens. Immigrating to America and the challenges that came with it have always been major influences in Yawar’s art.
After graduating from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, Yawar went public with his art. What started as “unsanctioned street art” blossomed into a career creating murals that beautify the landscape and inspire the community. Click here to visit his website and see examples of his work, or check out his Instagram page.
Through his art, Yawar address issues such as racism, injustice, and xenophobia. Each mural he paints sends a message. For instance, his newest creation — “This Guiding Light” — on Newark’s McCarter Highway between Edison Place and Lafayette Street; this work was a collaboration with photographer Chrystopher Davis and poet Jasmine Mans (both Newark natives). It documents the rising power born from this year’s Black Lives Matter protests.
Click here for more stories from our I HeART New Jersey series.
Top (Hero) Photo: © Luis-Miguel Caraballo (left) & Layqa Nuna Yawar (right)
Other Photos (in Order) Provided by:
Luis-Miguel Caraballo
Catherine Hart
Layqa Nuna Yawar
