Featuring “Faces of Identity” Curated by Samantha Cortez, in Collaboration with Artistic Noise
Installation view of Faces of Identity © Calder Zwicky
The AHL Foundation is proud to announce the official launch of Murals on Display, a new public art initiative in collaboration with Artistic Noise, a Harlem-based nonprofit organization that empowers youth affected by the justice system through creative expression and community engagement.
Launching in May 2025, Murals on Display transforms the exterior wall of AHL Foundation’s gallery—facing 139th Street in Harlem—into a vibrant and accessible public art space. This initiative brings art beyond the traditional confines of gallery walls, making it viewable at all hours and contributing to the cultural vitality of the neighborhood.
“We are thrilled to present our first outdoor exhibition in partnership with Artistic Noise,” said Sook Nyu Lee Kim, Founder and President of the AHL Foundation. “We are grateful for the dedication and vision that made this project possible. We welcome artists, community members, and organizations to collaborate with us on future mural projects. Together, we can turn public spaces into powerful canvases for creativity and connection.”
The inaugural mural, Faces of Identity, features a large-scale installation of archival portraits created by youth artists in Artistic Noise’s Art & Entrepreneurship program and the Alumni Artists in Residence program. The exhibition was conceived and curated by Samantha Cortez, a visual artist and alum of Artistic Noise.
“Ever since they hosted our 2024 youth art show at their beautiful neighborhood gallery space, Artistic Noise has enjoyed a strong and vital partnership with AHL Foundation. Being asked to curate the inaugural edition of their new Murals on Display program means the world to all of us here; from our staff to our board to the community of system-impacted young artists that we serve. This artwork showcases almost two decades of artwork created through our programs, and we are proud to share it with our broader Harlem community.
The artwork was curated by Artistic Noise’s Alumni Artist in Resident Samantha Cortez, and features a selection of artworks created by (l to r) Samantha Cortez, Bishop McIndoe, Skyy Miller, Joseph Goodwin, Fradeline Branagan, and Briana Evans.
