The scenery around Brick City has changed in recent weeks. A mural can now be seen across the street, and you may have wondered how it got there and what it’s all about.

Drawing senior Michael Yates painted the mural for his Painting III class, and we caught up to him to find out more.

Who else was involved in creating the mural?

I collaborated with Jacob Burmood, my sculpture professor, who created the aluminum sculpture to the right of my mural. My professor, Sean Lyman, gave me the opportunity.

Where did your inspiration come from?

The portrait is of my brother, an activist and writer living in Los Angeles. He’s a huge source of inspiration for me and always encourages me to do things for the people. By creating a work of art outside of a gallery setting, it becomes free for everyday people to look at, not just rich people looking inside galleries.

What makes mural art different than something smaller like a painting?

A mural becomes a part of the environment, adding to the culture of a place. I like to think that people might stop and look at it on the way to a bus stop or on the way to work, hopefully enriching their lives for a second with art, rather than an advertisement on a billboard. I think that’s the main difference between a mural and a small painting, besides the amount of paint and dealing with the weather.