Hope in Bidi Bidi by Joel Bergner in Washington, DC

I’ve painted murals in over 30 countries, often in unexpected locations– from Syrian refugee camps to American prisons, the favelas of Brazil to remote Uganda. My favorite part of art-making is collaborating with local youth and artists everywhere I go. My approach to muralism combines large aerosol portraits with colorful patterns, abstract expressions and children’s art, all seamlessly woven together. Beyond my painting, I help run a non-profit that I co-founded called Artolution, bringing art programming to communities affected by conflict and trauma around the world. I recently relocated to Washington DC, where I live with my wife and our two young daughters.