6 New Public Art Installations Coming To Downtown Malden

MALDEN, MA — Six new public art installations will be added throughout downtown this summer and fall as part of the city's ongoing efforts to support local businesses and create more welcoming public spaces.

The project includes five murals and one mobile light installation at Malden Center Station, Exchange Street, the Malden Senior Center and Teen Center, Boda Borg, and a storefront overlooking the MBTA station. According to the city, the installations are funded through a combination of state and nonprofit grants as well as support from local business Boda Borg.

“These pieces advance two key priorities for the city: boosting economic activity by making public spaces more welcoming and attractive, and bringing people together by celebrating the identities, cultures, and stories of Malden residents,” Mayor Gary Christenson said in a statement. “This work would not be possible without our dedicated community partners, generous funders, hardworking staff, and talented artists.”

Malden resident Priyanka Manicka Vasagam created "Bloom Here," a mural that will be installed beneath the Pleasant Street bridge at Malden Center Station. Vasagam said the piece reflects her experiences as a person of color and mother raising a young family in Malden.

“'Bloom Here' ultimately serves as both a celebration and an invitation: a reminder that in Malden, everyone has the opportunity to put down roots, flourish, and be seen,” Vasagam said.

A second mural beneath the Centre Street bridge at Malden Center Station, "Hearth of Malden," was created by Malden resident Nicolas Orellana, a Chilean architectural designer and public artist who is also known to many local families as "Coach Nico" through Malden youth soccer.

Artist Clint Baclawski, another Malden resident, created a mobile light installation that will be displayed inside a vacant storefront at J. Malden Center facing the MBTA station. According to the city, the installation is intended to bring a piece of Malden's past into the present and may be relocated to other downtown locations in the future.

Exchange Street will receive "Game Night," a mural by artist Madeline Deiters celebrating Malden's Gaming District. Another mural by Mystic River Watershed Association artist-in-residence Andres Duarte will be installed on the Malden Senior Center and Teen Center building after being designed in collaboration with an intergenerational group of Malden seniors and teens.

Boda Borg will also unveil "The Next Adventure," a mural by Street Theory Collective artist-in-residence Michael Talbot inspired by curiosity, exploration, and discovery.

The installations continue the city's broader downtown revitalization efforts. Earlier this year, city officials proposed policy changes aimed at making it easier to start businesses in Malden, and the city was recently selected to participate in a competitive MassDevelopment economic development program beginning next month.

Malden has also continued expanding its Community Connections initiative, which has funded the Malden Farmers Market, cultural festivals, neighborhood events, and other public space improvements. The program's second year begins in July.

“We can make our community vibrant, beautiful, and representative of the power of the Malden community,” Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development Director Alex Pratt said in a statement. “The result will bring Malden residents and visitors alike to an exciting and welcoming downtown and strengthen the character that makes Malden stand out.”

The two Malden Center Station murals and the mobile light installation were funded through a state earmark secured by State Rep. Steve Ultrino in partnership with the MBTA and J. Malden Center. The Exchange Street mural was funded by the New England Foundation for the Arts with support from Boda Borg, while the Senior Center and Teen Center mural is funded by the Mystic River Watershed Association. Boda Borg funded and managed its own mural project.

The installations will be completed throughout the summer and into the fall. A celebration is expected to take place once they have all been implemented.

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