Local artists’ project engages community in painting 10 murals across Ann Arbor and Ypsi

This story is part of a series about arts and culture in Washtenaw County. It is made possible by the Ann Arbor Art Center, Destination Ann Arbor, Larry and Lucie Nisson, the University of Michigan Arts Initiative, and the University Musical Society.

Just across the hall from the cafeteria at Ann Arbor’s Mitchell Elementary School, layers of color and texture in a mural tell a story that extends far beyond paint. The mural, completed in spring 2025, is part of a larger project by local interdisciplinary artists Avery Williamson and Krista Skytta. They have collaborated on 10 community mural painting projects since April, engaging community members in designing and painting the murals that they’ll see on a daily basis.

Whitmore Lake-based Skytta and Ypsilanti-based Williamson had both completed other murals in the Ypsilanti-Ann Arbor area before. But when Skytta reached out to Williamson about collaborating on something new, Williamson says it “felt like the perfect opportunity” to accomplish something “ambitious” that she wouldn’t have attempted alone.

Their first collaboration, a STEAM learning-inspired piece at Ford Early Learning Center in Ypsilanti, quickly set the tone for their ongoing partnership. The artists’ 10 murals in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti so far have included projects at the Ypsilanti District Library (YDL) and Rutherford Pool, as well as other schools.

Connection is central to Williamson and Skytta’s approach. Rather than arriving with a finished concept, they begin each project with place-based research: walking the surrounding area, listening to community members, and gathering visual inspiration directly from the site. Their designs tend to focus on abstract forms drawn from nature, emphasizing color, texture, and movement over literal imagery.

“At Mitchell, themes of nature came up again and again,” Skytta says. “We even went on a nature walk in Scarlett Woods and used sticks and leaves as painting tools, so the shapes really came from the place itself.”

While Skytta and Williamson collaborate and decide on the mural’s final design, their work hinges on input from those who frequent the space they’ll be painting. Skytta says the collaborative approach has reshaped how she approaches large-scale public art.

“Designing together instead of alone makes the whole process more joyful,” she says. “It also gives us more opportunities to connect with students while they’re painting.”

For the Mitchell project, students were involved directly in the painting process, using brushes as well as natural tools collected from Scarlett Woods as Skytta and Williamson guided them through the process. For many students, it was their first time contributing to a permanent piece of public art. Some weren’t sure if they were even allowed to paint on the wall. 

“When kids get to help paint and create the design, there’s so much more excitement and a real sense of belonging,” Skytta says. “They come back later, point out the spots they painted, and feel incredibly proud.”

That pride, Skytta adds, extends beyond the students. It also positively impacts families and other school staff. 

“The response from families has been overwhelmingly positive,” Skytta says. “Parents get excited seeing their kids paint, and even kids who were nervous at first were thoughtful and respectful.”

For Mitchell Elementary Principal Samantha Cucu, the mural aligned closely with the school’s broader goals around community engagement and creating welcoming spaces. She says working with Williamson and Skytta was “super easy” and that the entire process was “joyful from the start.”

“This is our one and only mural at Mitchell, and we were very excited,” Cucu says. “Our students want a say in what their environment looks like, and this became a way for them to feel welcome.”

Williamson and Skytta explain that when working in schools, they do their best to teach students about the process of painting, as well as artistic concepts such as abstraction. Cucu says the project’s hands-on nature sparked curiosity and enthusiasm throughout the building, even among students who weren’t painting that day.

“When school feels joyful, students want to be here,” Cucu says. “These kinds of anchors help support attendance and achievement, because kids can’t learn if they’re not in the building.”

Across Washtenaw County, that approach has led to murals in a wide range of settings. At Ford Early Learning Center, more than 200 pre-K through first-grade students participated in a mural inspired by the school’s vision of transforming its courtyard into a hands-on garden classroom. Williamon and Skytta’s YDL project was a Juneteenth mural inspired by iconic quilts from Gee’s Bend, Ala., as well as Pan-African flags. That project invited participants of all ages to reflect on themes of resilience, belonging, and shared history.

Williamson says one of the most powerful aspects of community mural work is the diversity it naturally brings together.

“We’ve had people as young as 18 months paint,” Williamson says. “That age diversity and geographic diversity isn’t manufactured, and that’s why these spaces feel magic.”

Williamson and Skytta view these murals as opportunities for the community to participate in shaping a shared space. Each project is designed to reflect the voices and experiences of local residents, with students often playing a central role in guiding the artwork’s themes. 

“We usually present the mural as a gift to the school,” Skytta says. “We want it to be site-specific and shaped by student voices, not a back-and-forth with a client.”

“We’ve seen whole families wanting to paint together,” Williamson says. “It creates ownership because people can point to the wall and say, ‘I helped make that.’”

Williamson and Skytta hope to continue expanding their work throughout Washtenaw County, partnering with schools, libraries, and neighborhood spaces where people already feel invested and eager to participate. They say interest in community murals continues to grow as organizations look for meaningful ways to foster pride, creativity, and togetherness.

Community members or organizations interested in starting a mural project can reach Williamson at info@averywilliamson.com or Skytta at hello@skysummerdesign.com.

“It’s special in this moment to come together, because we all want the same things,” Williamson says. “Just being with neighbors, creating something together, is where the magic happens.”