As the Nelly Hannon Gateway mural in Emeryville enters its final stages, I’m filled with gratitude — not only for the opportunity to create, but for the many hands, stories, and shared visions that helped bring this mural to life.
Inspired by the poetry of Joy Harjo — “Sunrise, as you enter the houses of everyone here, find us.”
— this mural is a meditation on presence, belonging, and the gentle power of transformation. Titled “A New Day” it wraps around all four faces of the building, unfolding from the vibrant warmth of dawn into the contemplative glow of dusk, marking a passage through time and light.
The design was born through dialogue with community members, who offered insights and themes that helped shape the visual story. As the lead artist, I wove these reflections into a mural that speaks to resilience, unity, and our relationship to the natural world — especially the unique environment we live within here in the Bay Area.
Working at height, seven stories above the street, offered a breathtaking view of Oakland and the entire Bay Area basin. Each sunrise and sunset seen from the lift felt like a gift — and those atmospheric moments became part of the mural itself. The shifting crepuscular light, with its deep blues, golden oranges, and violet shadows, is echoed in the palette and rhythm of the work. Painting in those conditions, surrounded by the landscape that inspired it, was a rare and powerful experience.
To help realize this vision on such a large scale, I collaborated with the immensely talented Pancho Peskador, David Burke (a.k.a. Hungry Ghost), and Pablo Ruiz Arroyo. Their experience with large-scale murals and intuitive approach to painting made them ideal creative partners. Together, we built this piece stroke by stroke, wall by wall.
I also want to give thanks to Vogue TDK, who provided crucial technical guidance throughout the planning process and contributed to the mural’s execution. His support behind the scenes and on the wall helped make this ambitious project possible.
This mural is also rooted in the spirit of mentorship. Through my work at the REACH Ashland Youth Center, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring many young artists. Two of those former mentees, Jasmine Quiroga and Greg Duggan, joined me on this project and brought tremendous energy, focus, and skill to the work. Seeing them step into this scale of project and leave their mark was deeply meaningful.
And of course, I was proud to once again work alongside Tony Coleman, a longtime collaborator and fellow public artist whose grounded perspective and creative clarity continue to shape our shared projects in powerful ways.
As we approach the final stages of completion, I’ll be sharing more glimpses of the process and preparing for a community celebration. You can follow the journey on Instagram at @forrealizm.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this mural — your presence is in every layer of color, every shadow, and every rising light.
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Nelly Hannon Gateway mural in Emeryville, by Joaquin Newman
Mural in progress as the scaffolding is removed