In the fall of 2024, the Town of Lexington’s Economic Development Office embarked on a journey to install a total of 4 murals at several locations across the Minuteman Bikeway. This initiative is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act and came from the Center Charette and Lexington’s Rapid Recovery Program which recommended the adoption of an exterior storeback program. Through that effort, the Lexington Mural Program was born! This program brings local and regional artists together to create impactful, large-scale murals on exterior walls throughout Lexington’s business districts, bringing color, creativity, and community.
Why Murals?
1) Murals improve tourism and connect people to businesses (Lynne, 2021). When people walk down the Minuteman Bikeway, they may not realize that businesses exist in these areas. Beautification of these areas will attract more people to utilize these businesses. It will also reduce vandalism, foster pride
2) Murals have a strong return-on-investment value. According to the American Association of Arts, every $1 invested into non-profit public arts, including murals, generates $6 in tax revenue (Mattan, 2024).
3) Building a sense of local identity and community. The murals that are going up highlight Lexington’s history, and the different themes that make Lexington, Lexington.
East Lexington Mural Project
Property owners interested were engaged to host a mural at no cost – all permitting, materials, and compensation are covered by the Town. The Economic Development Office handles coordination and installation logistics. Building owners provide access and support during the painting and installation process.
The Town contracted artists Melissa Pandina and Gabriela Sepulveda to paint the collection of murals in East Lexington during the summer of 2025 at the following locations:
1) 55 Massachusetts Avenue (Berman’s Wine and Spirits back trailer)
2) 131 Massachusetts Avenue (Busa Wine and Spirits)
3) 135-145 Massachusetts Avenue (The Shops at 135-145 Massachusetts Avenue)
BEFORE
AFTER
About the Artists:
Melissa Pandina
Photo showing artists Gabriela Sepulveda Ortiz (Left) and Melissa Pandina (Right) at an art site.
Melissa is an award winning-multidisciplinary artist (BFA from MassArt) whose work has been internationally published and sold. Growing up as an Army Brat exposed Melissa to many cultures and instilled a great love of listening to people’s stories. This love shows in her work being dedicated to portraiture and bringing peoples’ stories to life. She has been included in Professional Artist Magazine and had artwork shown in the Berkshire Museum of Art, Fitchburg Art Museum. and Cape Cod Museum of Art. Her work can also be seen in large-scale murals. The largest being murals in Dansville NY and Southwick Zoo. In her Mural work, she uses her traditional oil painting skills and translates them into house paint. She is passionate about creating murals WITH the community, so the community feels the art is theirs and that they had a hand in creating it. She has done public arts pieces and murals across Massachusetts. She is a winner of the Saara Parker Painting Prize from Fitchburg Museum and has won 1st Place at Several Chalk Art Festivals and in the Boston 19th Amendment Poster contest. Oil is her primary medium, although she also works with egg tempera, Acrylic, and watercolor. She teaches non-credit painting at Holyoke Community College
Gabriela Sepulveda Ortiz
Gabriela Sepulveda Ortiz is an artist from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Known for her dynamic, versatile style, Gabriela crafts pieces that transcend cultural boundaries and unite diverse narratives, often inviting viewers into imaginative worlds where emotion and intellect meet.
A graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a Master’s from Atlantic University College, her style draws inspiration from visionaries like Moebius, Camilla d’Errico, Pop Surrealism, Science Fiction, and Comics. Her love for storytelling is woven into every piece, offering layers of meaning that invite exploration and connection.
As a recent member of the Higgins artist team, Gabriela has expanded her creative reach, publishing comics and helping cultivate supportive art communities. Her journey has been marked by achievements such as the Arts Next Up Showcase 2023 Award, and she earned “The People’s Choice” award at The D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts Community Gallery. Collaborative mural projects with acclaimed artists like Gretta McClain and Pablo Kalaka reflect her commitment to making art accessible to all.
Looking ahead, Gabriela remains dedicated to enriching her community. With every brushstroke, she continues to build bridges between people, fostering unity and inspiring new perspectives through her art.
In addition to creating murals, A Stich in Time Mural Project YouTube channel shares stories of why people immigrated to Lexington, highlighting personal journeys and the community’s diverse experiences. The interviews below feature conversations between artist Melissa Pandina and local immigrants, offering insight into their perspectives.