NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, located at 1400 Pelham Pkwy. S., unveiled a new community mural on Monday as part of the Arts in Medicine department’s Community Mural Project.
Created by New York-based artist Ebony Bolt, the mural—called “Healing for All”— emerged from a series of focus groups involving residents, hospital staff, and patients. Community members later brought the design to life during a collaborative paint party.
The mural is one of seven completed this year under the Community Mural Project, which has produced 50 murals since its inception in 2019. The project’s first wave, spanning 2019–2021, is featured in the book “Healing Walls: New York City Health + Hospitals Community Mural Project 2019-2021.” Both the book and the murals are available for viewing on Bloomberg Connects. The initiative is made possible by support from the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.
“Decades of research show that the arts are a powerful tool for healing and enhancing well-being,” said Laurie Tisch, Founder and President of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. “Jacobi is a vital healthcare facility serving a diverse population in the Bronx, and Ebony Bolt’s stunning mural beautifully reflects that. Her work celebrates the richness of the community and the dedication of Jacobi’s healthcare team, creating an inspiring and immersive experience for patients and visitors alike. We’re proud to have helped make this possible.”
“Healing for All” conveys themes of inclusion, honoring the dedication of healthcare workers depicted performing essential functions for patients, caregivers, and community members. While the figures lack facial features, they powerfully represent diversity in culture, gender, and age through detailed clothing, posture, and hair. The faceless design invites viewers to see themselves in the mural’s narrative.
“Arts and expression have been found to have therapeutic benefits to both our staff and patients,” said Christopher Mastromano, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi. “We are pleased to welcome this display at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, which portrays a canvas as vibrant as the Bronx community we serve.”
Fruit, a recurring element in the mural, underscores the importance of nutrition in sustaining good health. The mural encourages viewers to reflect on how food choices impact well-being. An accompanying audio component features voices of healthcare workers sharing inspiring stories and offering words of encouragement.
“Through a series of focus groups, artist Ebony Bolt was able to conjure the spirit and vitality of the workforce at Jacobi Hospital,” said Larissa Trinder, Assistant Vice President of Arts in Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals. “The ambiguity in the faceless images allows the viewer to hold multiple interpretations that all celebrate this dynamic workforce and community. Arts in Medicine is honored to have this piece in the collection and as part of the HoME study, the first global study of how large-scale murals impact our health.”
Bolt, who draws inspiration from her background as a CAD Print Designer in the fashion industry, creates vibrant patterns reflecting New York City’s diversity. Her artwork often blends sketches of urban life with elements of nature, celebrating the city’s rich tapestry.
“The mural serves as a visual representation of the strong community culture at Jacobi Hospital,” Bolt said. “There is pride in creating a positive and inclusive space for staff, patients, and family members. The goal was to highlight how intentional the team members were in providing care and assistance to all. I wanted everyone to be able to see parts of themselves in the diverse characters that were depicted.”
The Community Mural Project fosters collaboration between hospital staff and neighbors, providing stress relief while enhancing healthcare environments. Addressing healthcare worker burnout—a critical issue heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic—the initiative focuses on supporting low-income, immigrant, and historically excluded communities, which comprise a significant portion of NYC Health + Hospitals’ patient base.
The Community Mural Project is one of the largest public hospital mural programs in the U.S. since the 1930s, when Depression-era Works Progress Administration (WPA) murals were commissioned for public buildings, including hospitals. The WPA murals formed the foundation of NYC Health + Hospitals’ current art collection, now the city’s largest public art collection with over 7,000 pieces spanning multiple disciplines. These artworks aim to enhance healing environments, inspire creativity, and engage staff and visitors.
NYC Health + Hospitals is participating in the Hospital Murals Evaluation (HoME), a global study led by the Jameel Arts and Health Lab in collaboration with the World Health Organization. The study assesses how murals in clinical settings impact patients, staff, and visitors, measuring outcomes such as workplace belonging, perceived quality of care, and well-being.
“Murals are a meaningful and accessible way of transforming healthcare environments into optimal spaces of healing, especially when they reflect community values, interests, and concerns,” said Dr. Nisha Sajnani, Associate Professor at NYU Steinhardt and Co-Director of the Jameel Arts and Health Lab.
