At the 7000 block of Euclid Avenue stands a “We Wear the Mask” pop-up mural (pictured above). And now, a new, more permanent mural is on display on the RTA wall at the intersection of Woodhill and Mt. Carmel (Cleveland, OH).
The “We Wear the Mask” mural was spearheaded by Graffiti HeArt, with lead artist Stina Aleah. Phases of the mural’s development can be seen in the gallery below. An artistic expression of what it means to wear the mask today, the mural sheds light on the suppressed trauma of people of color as they wear the mask of conformity.
“Every painting offers an assumed perception of reality, and behind every brush stroke, transition of color, and embellished figure, underlies a hidden message.
When creating artwork, I integrate raw emotions and experiences from my personal life, always striving to keep my paintings honest by producing them genuinely from the heart.
I encourage viewers to look beyond the surface of the canvas to uncover stories that are relevant and identifiable to ourselves and our society.”
- Stina Aleah, Graffiti HeArt’s Lead Artist of the “We Wear the Mask” Mural
The community partners that backed the mural believe it has fostered healing and given a voice to community members who informed its design.
Artist Profile - Stina Aleah
Stina Aleah is Graffiti HeArt’s lead artist of the “We Wear the Mask” mural. But art wasn’t always her thing…
Life took a sudden turn for Stina in 2005, when she suffered a femur break while competing in the long jump at a track meet in which she was chasing the title and record. Before this injury, art was not a part of Stina's life, nor what she thought her future would bestow upon her. Due to this major incident, Stina was placed in the art room of her high school in order to heal from her injury and avoid the busy hallways of her high school. Devastated her track career may be over, anxiety and depression took over. As she sat in that art room, however, she began to create.
While healing both physically and mentally, Stina fell in love with the power of creativity and artistry. For years, she learned everything she could about drawing in order to express her feelings through art. In 2015, Stina began focusing her attention on oil painting. Her passion for art and storytelling became a staple in who she is and what her career means today.
Stina Aleah uses her life experiences to create breathtaking oil paintings, leaving you motivated and inspired. She can be seen collaborating with major corporations and participating in Emmy-nominated television series. Her work can be seen in the collections of celebrities, along with national and international galleries and exhibits.
Graffiti HeArt Mission & Overview
Graffiti HeArt inspires art and health in the community.
A non-profit organization, Graffiti HeArt is deeply rooted in the evolution of urban street art in the United States. Graffiti, at its core, is a raw and authentic affirmation of individual artist-pioneers from marginalized, disenfranchised communities who birthed the movement and continue to push it forward - in new and unexpected directions - today. The medium consistently serves to illuminate injustices, catalyze meaningful discourse and, ideally, spark systems-level change by building neighborhood cohesion and resilience.
Graffiti HeArt fosters its trusted reputation at the intersection of art + health by working with diverse allies to advocate for greater equity and improve health and well-being for underserved and marginalized groups. This “creative placemaking” approach is an evidence-based strategy leveraging arts, culture, and design to improve communities.
Graffiti HeArt is excited to provide ongoing support for Stina on the “We Wear the Mask” mural.
Interested in learning more about Graffiti HeArt? Check out its scholarship program that has sent more than 50 under-served youth through the Cleveland Institute of Art since 2015 (thanks to over $100,000 in grassroots scholarship funding generated through fundraising efforts and mural projects).