Joel Bergner
Mission: To build creative experiences that elevate social sublimity, instill love into the world and provide an opportunity for community conversation and imaginative exploration.
Eternal Harmony
BY JOEL BERGNER
Joel Bergner’s “Eternal Harmony”, located in Anacostia, Washington, D.C., is a celebration of the intricate connections and interdependence between humanity and the natural world. At the heart of the mural, a commanding figure of a man—Barbushe Maina, an artist and community leader from Nakuru, Kenya—is seamlessly merged with a roaring bear. This fusion symbolizes the duality of peaceful strength and raw power. Barbushe, whom Bergner collaborated with during a mural project in Kenya earlier this year, is honored for his role as a cultural pillar in his community.
On the left, a bird with soulful, human-like eyes reflects the shared essence of life across species, while flourishing plant life weaves its way throughout the mural, representing growth and interconnection. On the right, a tender juxtaposition of a young girl and a baby deer highlights the purity and wonder of the youngest beings in both the human and natural worlds. The girl is a portrait of the artist’s 4-year-old daughter, a personal homage to innocence and beauty.
Abstract expressions and flowing calligraphy-style designs wind through the piece, evoking the unseen forces that bind all living things together. Through its dynamic imagery and symbolic layers, “Eternal Harmony” invites viewers to reflect on the profound unity that exists between humans and the natural world, urging us to honor and protect this fragile balance.
ARTIST INFO
Joel Bergner is a global community artist, educator, and CEO of the nonprofit Artolution. He leads collaborative mural projects with youth in conflict-affected and marginalized communities worldwide—from refugee camps and prisons to urban neighborhoods—empowering participants to tell their stories through public art. Joel’s work blends realism with community expression, guiding participants to design and paint murals that reflect local issues and identities.
Alongside his wife, CJ Thomas, a performing arts educator, and their two daughters, Joel travels the world supporting local artists and youth-led initiatives. Through Artolution, he partners with organizations like UNICEF and UNHCR to sustain ongoing programs in Uganda, Colombia, Bangladesh, Jordan, and the U.S.
With a background in counseling and a degree in sociology, Joel has led over 100 mural projects in 30 countries, using art as a tool for healing, empowerment, and connection. His work has been widely recognized by major media outlets and continues to impact thousands of children each year. He currently lives in Washington, D.C. with his family.
BY JOEL BERGNER
