Newest New Rochelle Mural Earning International Attention

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — In a town already known for its mural arts, an impressive new entry has quietly appeared on the cityscape.

New Rochelle's newest mural can be found alongside the Modera New Rochelle building. The piece is described as a celebration of creativity, diversity and unity.

Artist Case Maclaim, internationally renowned for his iconic colorful hands in Wynwood in Miami, has brought his signature work to New Rochelle, with "1STep," a new mural part of the NRNY murals curated and produced by the New York-based non-profit Street Art for Mankind (SAM).

"We are thrilled to bring this new mural to New Rochelle, as it symbolizes the unstoppable movement towards a more diverse and inclusive future — and we all need this hope and drive to build a better future for all," co-founders of Street Art for Mankind, Audrey and Thibault Decker, said in a statement unveiling New Rochelle's latest installation."We would also like to thank the public and the residents of the Modera for their kind words and Mill Creek for supporting this meaningful artistic initiative. This mural is another vivid proof that together we can elevate people’s experience, one mural at a time."

The 7,500-square-foot mural was made possible with the support of the Modera by Mill Creek team. The new building-sized work of art features colorful overlapping hands walking forward. The new mural is already earning rave reviews as a burst of positive energy that celebrates in a conceptual way the diversity of people coming together as one to create a bright and colorful future for all.

Between 2019 and 2022, Street Art for Mankind (SAM) curated 22 massive murals in New Rochelle with prominent international artists to reflect on the creativity, diversity and resiliency of the New Rochelle community. The murals, linked by SAM’s free audio-guide app "Behind the wall," form an outdoor museum that locals and visitors from afar can walk at their own pace.

The citywide museum not only allows us to enjoy fine-art pieces, but also reflect on contemporary issues like climate change, diversity, gender equality, quality education, ocean protection and the pandemic. The initiative was supported by the City of New Rochelle, the New Rochelle Council on the Arts (NRCA) and developers.

At the Modera New Rochelle, located at 111 Centre Avenue, SAM has already curated the alley as a fine-art gallery experience on the theme, "People, Places and Relationships." The first phase, painted in 2022 by Spanish artist Cristian Blanxer, saw the creation of five large paintings using a double-exposure effect and featuring recognized New Rochelle residents with their rich backgrounds.

The new gigantic mural, on the Hallen School side of the Modera alley, completes the second phase of this gallery experience.

New Rochelle is now showcasing some of the most talented street artists of our time, and proving to have one of the most vibrant outdoor museums in our country, according to the organizers.

About Street Art for Mankind (SAM)

Street Art for Mankind (SAM) is a non-profit organization curating and producing large murals all around the world with prominent street artists. SAM’s goal is to raise awareness on social justice and environmental issues, and to give the public the means to become actors of change. Find out more on their website.