Groundswell Community Mural Project, in partnership with the Fifth Avenue Committee, on Aug. 22 unveiled The Heartbeat of Gowanus, a large-scale public artwork now on view at the FAC Center for Community Development.
Measuring 100 feet by 20 feet, it pays tribute to generations of women-led and BIPOC-led organizing in Gowanus, highlighting movements for affordable housing, environmental justice and social equity.
The mural, at 182 4th Ave., was designed by lead artists Kristy McCarthy and Yolande Delius with 13 youth artists from Groundswell’s Voices Her’d Visionaries program. It was created in collaboration with local residents, leaders and advocates.
"This mural visualizes the harmful environmental and social impacts of racial capitalism, while championing the wins of local community activists and highlighting the power that lies within women-led, grassroots organizing and collective action," Kristy McCarthy, Lead Teaching Artist at Groundswell Community Mural Project said in a statement. "Our hope with this mural is to memorialize the rich history of activism in Gowanus and to inspire a future imaginary of community strength, equity and harmony with the natural world."
Painted in vibrant acrylic on polytab and installed on concrete, the piece reflects months of community research, oral histories and workshops with neighborhood groups, including the Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition for Justice and NYCHA organizers.
Its imagery draws on archival materials, protest symbols, and personal stories, reimagining the neighborhood’s history through themes of renewal, resilience and collective strength.
Visual elements include fish swimming in clean waters, solar panels, rooftop gardens and a tugboat named moving through the canal beneath a burst of color.
At the mural’s center, two silhouetted figures dance in celebration, surrounded by scenes of Brooklyn community life. Each youth artist contributed individual motifs, from native plants to cultural symbols that weave into the larger narrative.
"The mural is a testament to the power of collective action and steadfast belief that we all deserve to live with dignity and respect in communities that are thriving, healthy and inclusive," said Michelle de la Uz, executive director of Fifth Avenue Committee.
