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Local basketball players have a new reason to hit the courts at Malcolm X Park in Roxbury. Three new murals on the courts, created by local, national and international artists make the space one for art and community gathering as much as for pickup games and friendly rivalries.
Rob “Problak” Gibbs, Sydney G. James and Otra Ciudad were the lead artists selected for the project out of 44 proposals. Local residents, artists, activists and even Malcolm X’s family members weighed in to select these leaders. Each worked with a team of artists, and together, to create the three cohesive murals. Though the styles are different, each mural uses red, green and black to thread them together.
“The addition of these murals to the beloved Malcolm X Park in Roxbury serves as a reminder of how important it is to have art in all spaces and neighborhoods in our city,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Community gathering spaces like Malcolm X Park encourage multi-generational connection, bring enjoyment for residents, and call to mind the ways in which our history was shaped by leaders of the past.”
“Give Them Their Flowers” by Gibbs with local artists Lee “Soems” Beard, Ricardo “DEME5” Gomez, Michael Talbot, Ayana Mack and Luis Urena shows a large black “X” on a court painted half red and half green. The “X” is a reference both to Malcolm X and to Roxbury, Gibbs’ native neighborhood.
“Together, we’ve created something lasting—a heartfelt testament to our love and commitment to a place we call home,” said Gibbs. “We were raised to care deeply about our community, and we’re not just building something functional; we’re building something purposeful. This is Roxbury Love, Breathing Life into this destination for years to come.”
“Anything Under The Suns” by Sydney G. James with all-female team Gina “FlowrBomb” Latham, Ijania Cortez, Nadd Harvin/Nadd the Nomad, Sagie Vangelina and Sharinna “Rinna” Travieso illustrates the connection between Detroit and Roxbury with an image of two players jumping up to catch the ball.
“The piece was designed to reflect all of our individual artistic styles which resulted in a harmonic composition and harmonic and diligent working environment,” said lead artist Sydney G. James. “It was everyone on our team’s first time painting on a basketball court. The image we created, the beautiful Roxbury community, and the words that inspired it gave us the proper motivation to do the work beautifully and efficiently.”
“X-Legacy,” by Otra Ciudad and Nómada Estudio Urbano with Nicolas Orellana, Sebastian Cuevas and Miguel Mendoza, is an intricate geometric pattern of arrows and x’s representing Malcolm X and the local community. The pattern was designed to naturally adapt to a basketball game so as to not interfere with play.
The murals are part of a larger $9.6 million renovation of Malcolm X Park that prioritized improved lighting and accessibility, more community space and increased children’s play equipment.
Each mural represents the powerful, national impact of Malcolm X’s legacy and the strong, artistic community of the Roxbury neighborhood. The murals were completed at the end of October and have quickly become a part of the court culture.
“The community’s warmth and gratitude reminds us why public artwork matters,” said Orellana. “Locals have welcomed us, and their support means the world. We hope this vibrant artwork will inspire even more people to enjoy and celebrate this meaningful space.”
