( ENSPIRE Community Spotlight ) Peterson Embodies “Art: A Catalyst for Change” In Long Beach Mural
The 10th edition of the Long Beach Walls x Art Renzei, which transpired from July 20 to July 26, featured renowned artist Brian Peterson. Some of Peterson’s works include murals of Kobe Bryant, such as the one made for the Mamba & Mambacita Foundation last year, the one at the Dolby of Kobe winning his Oscar, and the sculpture/painting in Anaheim of him and Gianna. Although his creativity is aesthetically pleasing, Peterson considers himself a servant first and foremost, and a storyteller second. His goal for this project is to reflect dignity, spark dialogue, and create the quiet moments of internal reflection for youth.
The theme for Long Beach Walls x Art Renzei is “Art: A Catalyst for Change.” Peterson’s mural will be the tallest one ever for Long Beach Walls (measuring 86 feet high by 30 feet across, or 7+ stories high). He must travel from Miami, where he now resides, to LA. Ten years ago, Peterson rode a bike through Long Beach and spotted a mural of floating chairs. The moment captured him and was a pivotal moment in his creative life. Nearly a decade later, Peterson returns to the city that sparked his journey. The mural’s layout will be that it covers the facade of the Marriott Long Beach Downtown and depicts a child gazing up in wonder as bubbles illuminate the sky. This idea was inspired by Peterson’s wife. The idea symbolizes curiosity, imagination, and the journey of life. As Peterson states, “Art is when the dialogue is internal. It’s a moment that lives in the hearts of people, especially in the heart of a child.”
Peterson shares his surreal full-circle journey from his first experience of gazing at a mural to now creating several. He explains the creative strategies to capture the vision of the Long Beach Walls x Art Renzei project. In addition, he delves into his philosophy “servant first, and storyteller second,” and its spiritual and artistic impact on his artwork. Lastly, Peterson discusses the takeaways he hopes youths will have when viewing this mural and the challenges that came with creating it in the first place.
Over a decade ago, your life took an artistic turn when a mural of floating chairs in Long Beach captured your attention. Could you walk us through this surreal, full-circle journey from that initial moment to know, painting a piece designed to inspire internal reflection and stillness for youth in Long Beach?
My full circle moment began in 2016 when I traveled with friends to Long Beach to see the Pow! Wow! murals. At the time, I was not yet a muralist, just a painter practicing after hours from my corporate job. Nearly a decade later, in 2025, I have returned to that same city where I once stood in front of murals as a spectator, only now I am painting the tallest mural in the history of Long Beach Walls. This experience has shown me the beauty of connecting the dots in our lives and recognizing that nothing is wasted.
This process has encouraged me to search deeper within myself for seemingly small moments that, in time, grow into profound stories. Life often unfolds like a narrative, with chapters from our past foreshadowing those yet to come. My ten-year journey is a reminder that God is always working and that our stories are continually being written. For those who feel discouraged or believe their dreams may never come to pass, this is only one chapter in a much larger story. Keep moving forward and continue pursuing the passions that set your heart on fire.
Given that the theme is “Art: A Catalyst for Change” for the Long Beach Walls x Art Renzei, with your approach for this new mural to be a child gazing up in wonder at bubbles illuminating the sky, was there a different creative strategy to capture this vision versus your commemorative pieces you’ve done in the past?
The theme of this year’s Long Beach Walls festival, “arts as a catalyst for change,” allowed each artist to interpret the subject matter freely. For my wife and me, this was a meaningful opportunity to collaborate and shape a story for the thousands of people who would encounter the mural in downtown Long Beach. Artists often create from the deepest parts of the heart, and for us, much of that inspiration comes from the love we share for our children.
During our first brainstorming session, my wife suggested painting a child chasing bubbles, much like our own children often do at home. The idea resonated deeply with us, and we believed it could also connect with others on an emotional level. The finished mural has stirred memories of childhood joy and the relentless pursuit of something fleeting and beautiful. Unlike my commemorative works that honor well-known figures, this piece focuses on a universal concept rather than an individual subject. The bubbles represent the fleeting nature of time and opportunity, reminding us to chase our dreams with the same wonder and persistence as a child waiting for the next bubble to appear.
You have stated you consider yourself a “servant first, and storyteller second.” How has this philosophy helped with your creative process and been reflected in the designs you have created, such as the Kobe Bryant mural at the Mamba & Mambacita Foundation?
For me, standing in front of a wall with a spray can is more than creating art; it is an act of worship. I see painting as a way to return the colors and pigments of the earth back to God in gratitude. It is during this process that I feel most connected to Him. Each mural becomes both a service to the community and to my clients, because the act of giving my art is how I fulfill my purpose and walk in the destiny set before me.
One example is the Kobe and Gigi Bryant mural at Nickerson Gardens in Watts, Los Angeles. This project honored their legacy and reflected the mission of the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation. Inspired by the cathedral-like architecture of the gymnasium, we designed the “Courthedral,” drawing a parallel between Kobe’s reverence for basketball and the awe one feels in a sacred space. Visitors often described experiencing goosebumps as they entered, reminding me that art can be supernatural. When creativity is paired with worship, it has the power to move hearts in extraordinary ways.
Based on this year’s mural, through your wife’s inspiration and your goal for it to “reflect dignity, spark dialogue, and create the quiet moments of internal reflection for youth,” what message do you hope a child standing before this mural will take away?
When I envision a child standing before my mural, I imagine the spark of wonder in their eyes. Part of my mission as a public artist is to awaken not only the inner child within us but also the belief that anyone can be an artist. I want children to see that art is just as important as any profession, whether it be medicine, engineering, or law.
While painting the mural, I witnessed a young girl pulling on her mother’s hand, pointing up at the lift, and shouting, “Bubbles, Mommy!” That moment affirmed for me the power of color, composition, and subject matter to stop even a child in their tracks. My hope is that parents will pause with their children at murals like this one, inviting them to share their own interpretations. The honesty of a child’s perspective is often the most beautiful expression of art.
What unique challenges come into play when crafting a piece of this magnitude (86 ft high), both physically and conceptually, especially when you must evoke a sense of quiet wonder and internal dialogue rather than a loud statement?
Every mural presents its own challenges, but painting eighty-six feet high on a vertical wall is an experience unlike any other. The greatest hurdle was transposing the digital design onto the building. We began by projecting the lower third of the mural from ground level, then used a nearby parking garage to project the middle section, which included the girl’s face. For the highest section, we relied on virtual reality goggles to accurately map the bubbles at the top.
As the project evolved, we decided to allow some bubbles to float independently against the natural field color of the building, creating a composition that felt integrated rather than covering the wall completely. Beyond the artistic adjustments, there were physical challenges, aches, fatigue, and especially the relentless wind from Ocean Avenue that swung our scaffold several feet from the wall. At times, fear crept in, but prayer, focus, and inner dialogue carried us through. We found success by concentrating only on the five-foot section directly in front of us instead of the daunting scale of the entire wall.
In the end, I realized mural painting is not just a visual art; it is also a performance. The process itself, with its trials and triumphs, becomes part of the story written into the wall.
Peterson is mainly known for his portrait murals and for telling a story through loud colors. However, through this new achievement at being quiet and offering an internal reflection through his work, the Long Beach Walls x Art Renzei has given him the opportunity to break creative barriers and look within. As I’m sure people who will pass by this mural will be standing still, a spark of curiosity will flourish. For more information on Brian Peterson and his works, visit https://www.brianpetersonart.com/ or follow his Instagram.
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