Universities are more than classrooms and labs. They’re living environments where culture, identity, and community all intersect.
Increasingly, schools are turning to wall murals as a way to showcase creativity, enhance campus life, and connect with the surrounding community.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) has embraced this approach through its 1807 Galleries project.
What started as a single wall installation has evolved into a multi-phase initiative that has turned ordinary concrete structures into vibrant, outdoor art galleries and transformed the daily experience of students, faculty, and visitors.
Why Universities Are Investing in Murals
Across the country, murals are redefining how campuses feel and function. The benefits include:
- Cultural Storytelling – Murals celebrate the identity of a university, its history, and the community it serves.
- Student and Faculty Engagement – They give students and staff a sense of pride and belonging by showcasing their creative contributions.
- Community Connection – Public art helps bridge the university with its surrounding neighborhood, breaking down barriers between “campus” and “city.”
- Aesthetic Transformation – Murals turn plain walls into destinations, making campuses more inviting and memorable.
- Educational Value – They create opportunities for art appreciation outside of traditional galleries or classrooms.
These advantages make wall murals one of the most effective and cost-conscious ways to elevate both the image and atmosphere of the university.
The Birth of UMB’s 1807 Galleries
UMB, the founding campus of the University System of Maryland, sits in the heart of West Baltimore. While it’s known for its medical, law, and social work programs, its leadership also wanted the campus environment to reflect creativity and inclusivity.
That’s where the 1807 Art & Literary Journal came in. This annual publication features the artistic work of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and even community members.
It includes painting, photography, sculpture, textiles, and poetry — a reflection of “who we are, where we live, and how we see the world.”
The idea behind the 1807 Galleries was simple but powerful: bring this journal to life by displaying the art directly on campus walls.
Instead of remaining bound in a book, the work would become a living, breathing part of the urban campus.
The Pearl Gallery: From Concrete to Culture
The first installation, known as the Pearl Gallery, debuted on the east side of the Pearl Street underpass next to the campus garage. It featured 32 pieces of art from the Spring 2019 and Summer 2020 1807 issues.
AP Corp’s role was to handle the technical challenges of transforming raw concrete into a seamless mural gallery. Our team:
- Power-washed and prepped the walls for long-term adhesion
- Installed professional lighting to enhance the display
- Applied weather-resistant vinyl murals with techniques like torch heating and precision hand-rolling to create a painted-on look
Featured works included a turtle gliding through the sea, iconic Baltimore cityscapes, and poems exploring themes like mental health. The result was a striking public display that immediately drew attention.
UMB President Bruce Jarrell, an artist himself, remarked:
“I am in awe of the creative talent that is evident in our University community.”
At the official reveal, UMB hosted a shuttle-bus walkthrough attended by University leadership, including UMMC Midtown Campus President Alison G. Brown, underscoring campus-wide support for the project.
Following the success of the first Pearl Gallery installation, UMB expanded the project the next year with Phase 2 on the opposite side of the street.
This phase showcased a fresh issue of artwork, bringing even more variety and color to the underpass corridor.
Expansion: Arch Gallery and Pearl Gallery North
The success of the Pearl Gallery led to new phases:
- Arch Gallery (2021): Located on the west side of the Pearl Garage, this gallery showcased works from the third 1807 issue, including Alex Likowski’s heron photography.
- Pearl Gallery North (2024): The newest addition displayed Issue 4’s works, featuring a beaded mermaid, lunar eclipse photography, a giant cicada sculpture, and more than two dozen striking pieces.
Pearl Gallery North also integrated poetry alongside the visual works, continuing the journal’s blend of art and literary voices.
Each phase broadened the range of artwork and reinforced the galleries as a cultural bridge between the university and West Baltimore.
Community Impact
The impact of the 1807 Galleries went beyond beautifying the campus. It strengthened the relationship between UMB and its surrounding community.
- Public Accessibility: Located near Lexington Market, the galleries offer art to anyone passing through the area.
- Community Pride: Residents have praised the university for contributing beauty to public space.
- Artist Recognition: Contributors, from students to staff to local creators, felt honored to see their work displayed on such a scale.
One featured artist, Alex Likowski, described the experience simply:
“It was exciting. My kids loved it. My wife is very happy.”
Technical Expertise Behind the Murals
Large-scale outdoor murals on concrete and brick are not easy to execute. AP Corp’s installation expertise was essential in overcoming:
- Uneven surfaces and grout lines
- Exposure to weather in a busy urban environment
- High-traffic pedestrian areas requiring durable finishes
The specialized vinyl materials used ensure long-term performance, while strategic seam placement and surface prep keep the art looking flawless.
As one of our installers explained:
“It looks like it’s been painted on the wall, which is amazing when it’s done right.”
Why This Project Matters for Other Universities
The 1807 Galleries demonstrate how effective wall murals can be for universities as a strategic investment. Instead of building new green spaces or facilities, UMB leveraged existing infrastructure to:
- Enhance the student and faculty experience
- Celebrate diversity and creativity across the campus community
- Make art part of everyday life, not just something to visit occasionally
- Create a more welcoming, connected campus environment
Universities everywhere face the challenge of making their campuses feel engaging and inclusive.
Murals are a flexible, scalable way to meet that goal while also showcasing the unique identity of each institution.
A Lasting Legacy
With three distinct galleries completed and more phases planned, the 1807 project is now a long-term fixture of UMB’s identity. It has earned recognition from leadership, faculty, students, and community members alike.
Senior VP Jennifer Litchman summed it up well:
“UMB is an urban university … and now we’ve added all this gorgeous art to the concrete … we have one more place to go where we can see the beauty in our everyday life.”
Transforming Campuses Through Murals
The University of Maryland, Baltimore’s 1807 Galleries show just how powerful murals can be when integrated into a university setting. They transform not just walls, but the entire campus experience.
If your institution is considering ways to bring life, culture, and connection to its environment, AP Corp has the expertise to design, produce, and install murals that align with your mission. From initial concept to final reveal, we turn walls into stories that inspire.
Because sometimes, the best way to tell a university’s story isn’t through words alone — it’s through the art that lives on its walls.
Call us or get a free quote to start transforming your campus with murals that truly make an impact.