Queernesseseseses Mural
Queernesseseseses community project launched in 2024 lead by community artist, Maria Gabriela Aldana. Art of Solidarity and Bmore Liberated LLC collaborated through an intensive planning process since January 2024. The 35-foot-tall big LGBTQ mural draws attention to the importance of queer liberation and joy while training at-risk youth in visual storytelling, work skills, environmental design, and mural painting. The big gay mural on 156 N Lakewood Ave, faces Fayette Ave on the north side of Bmore Liberated, who served as part of the Advisory Steering Committee. YouthWorks and We Are CASA youth, high school students in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, queer therapists from Bmore Liberated, filmmakers, volunteers, and various LGBTQ leaders in Baltimore collaborated to create over 80 designs. By August 2024, the project earned local attention for its documentary shorts, telling the untold stories of local LGBTQ change-makers. Youth presented what they learned as part of their internship and gained valuable workforce experience as this was one of their first paid jobs. Thanks to a $10,000 planning grant through the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) in 2024 and a $30,000 implementation Public Arts Across Maryland, a MSAC grant in 2025 in partnership with the Patterson Park Neighborhood Association, the project was almost fully funded! Neighbors, supporters, and friends volunteered and chipped in donations to make this all happen! Queernesseseseses was completed in October 2025 and inaugurated by a multiracial block dance party featuring queer DJs, GRL PWR, a Mexican folkloric dance troupe, Danza Alegría, local BIPOC vendors, and a youth ceremony thanking the young people for the bountiful energy and wisdom poured into every step of the project.
"Queernesseseseses" was nominated for Best Mural and Best Visual Artist in Baltimore Magazine's 2026 Reader's Poll. The results come in this August!