Muralists across the Philadelphia area go unrecognized for their workday in and day out. Society tends to overlook the meanings behind the murals they pass each day. Joseph Dougherty, a Dougherty Electric electrician has another talent that is now being uncovered.
At the age of 23, Dougherty filled the buildings of Dougherty Electric with murals of all shapes and forms. By quietly transforming the walls of his family’s business from Looney Tunes to Bryce Harper, these hidden murals are the core representation of our city. Dougherty’s initial drive of encouragement stemmed from his father, the owner of Dougherty Electric, Gus Dougherty. Gus allowed his son to make use of the blank walls at the warehouse, by allowing Joey to let his creative freedom run wild.
“It started with Philadelphia sports to be honest. I don’t even know what year that was, 2018-19, and it might have been even later than that” says Doughtery, “It’s probably 2020 and we just got this warehouse. We owned this company for over 15 years. Bought this one in 2020 and my dad wanted me to paint the walls because it was all beat up.”
Ever since Dougherty was young, he had always possessed a deep love for art. Throughout school, Joey would find himself doodling or working on tiny projects that helped him establish a sense of belonging to the skill. Beginning in his parent’s garage, Dougherty now creates 40-foot murals across South Philly with just some spray paint and his imagination.
“I spend more time on my iPad mocking everything off, prepping for it then carrying it over to the walls. It’s not too much thought into it, but the prep and the iPad saved all my time,” Dougherty recalls, “It’s a lot harder when you’re 30 feet up on a scissor lift and you can’t get everything in a cowling proportion.”
Recognized as the “mural capital of the world” averaging 4,300 murals across the city, Philadelphia is the heart of some beautiful works of art. Murals Art Philadelphia, an organization that Dougherty had worked alongside, focuses on repurposing public spaces and creating an area for positive community behavior. Ultimately hoping to establish a sense of belonging for those muralists who lack proper appreciation for their dedication.
A vision that turns into reality, artists create masterpieces that hinder the walls of our city. But why? The residents of the South Philadelphia area are home to some of the biggest devotees in their city. Surely, their artist work doesn’t go unnoticed.
A resident of South Philadelphia, Paul Labbree, agrees with the lack of recognition, “I have passed by several murals on my way to work or just walking around the city, and some of them catch my eye.”
Beyond their visual appeal, murals play a key role in highlighting the cultural essence of a community. Each piece often reflects a sense of identity and pride, by sparking conversations and fostering social connections for passersby.
“But it’s not just about being eye-catching,” Labbree adds, “We know there’s more to the story, and it helps make the city life a lot more meaningful.”
Tai Baucom, a teaching artist at Murals Arts of Philadelphia, sheds light on her perceptions of the undermined artists that have gone unnoticed in every direction of our beloved city.
“There are 1000s and 1000s of murals all over the city, and everyone can always be everywhere but if you want to be recognized you must put yourself out there,” Baucom explains, “You must start somewhere and there are so many opportunities to do so, unrecognized murals need to be talked about more. There is so much love and meaning that muralists put into their work.”
Now teaching, the lessons Baucoum grew to learn over the years have helped her create life-lasting relations with her students. Kids who have the same urge she once did, now can prosper in an area of work that tends to lack any attention. Baucoum students have created a range of connections through the program and their drive, by putting their work out on the streets.
Mural Arts Philadelphia commissions up to 100 public art projects every year. Artists have had the chance to create new murals in many parts of Philadelphia neighborhoods including Kensington, Northern Liberties, and the Gayborhood. Students and teachers were allowed to work on projects such as, “Literacy Loop” a 10,000-square-foot ground mural at Farrell Elementary School designed to increase literacy skills through playful learning.
Event-focused, Baucoum encourages hidden muralists across the area to step out of their shells. Despite it not being everyone’s conventional career path, she believes young minds deserve to embrace any form of expression to their advantage. Even if that is through art.
Joey not only makes his mark on the city with each painting, but he also continues a creative and innovative tradition. Dougherty’s goal is to develop as an artist and take his art outside of South Philadelphia and into other communities. He does this in the hopes of inspiring other young artists who might be looking for a way to express themselves creatively.
“Sports Illustrated contacted me once and had Jalen Hurts come do a photo shoot in front of his mural. They wanted him to come here and have this be one of the locations for the shoot,” Joey recounts, “They used a bunch of different photos for him, and he even stayed and played basketball with my brother. I guess they found me on my Instagram from when my friends would repost my work and stuff.”
They are recognized, but they are not given the recognition they deserve. This is where the underlying issue lies, in cases such as Joseph Dougherty’s. Communities and advocates can focus their social media and local partnerships to promote their work. Whether it be through TikTok or attending art-focused events, artists will be able to gain more value within their work.
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