art_works is founded on the belief that art can spark conversation, inspire change, and breathe life into the spaces where we all live and work. One of our recent commissions—a mural by Boston-based artist Michael Talbot—is a living example of this mission in action.
Originally from Jamaica, Michael Talbot is a freelance illustrator living in Boston, MA, whose work is a unique blend of hyperreal visual storytelling and vibrant imagination. With a BFA in Illustration and Graphic Design from Lesley University, Talbot’s practice sits at the intersection of design, fantasy, and narrative, generating richly detailed worlds just beyond the edge of reality.
For this site-specific mural, Talbot illustrated the monarch butterfly, a species newly listed as endangered, in a layered composition that celebrates and advocates. Set within a blooming backdrop of flowers native to Central and South America, Talbot’s mural charts the complete life cycle of the monarch—from caterpillar to winged traveler—symbolizing transformation, growth, and interdependence.
But this mural is more than a beautiful image. It’s a powerful call to environmental awareness, a reminder of the work we must do to preserve biodiversity. Says the artist:
“Having the opportunity to work on this mural felt like a full-circle moment for me; representing elements that I grew up with as a child and which now, being an immigrant, remind me of ‘home.’ I want viewers to feel a sense of serenity and calmness once they see the mural, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of city life outside and being transported to this whimsical, vibrant world where the endangered exist in surplus and endings are met with cycles of beginning.”
The mural is a vibrant addition to the lobby of a new mixed-income rental housing development community in Chelsea, MA, developed by The Neighborhood Developers and thoughtfully designed by the team at Utile.
Does this impactful project inspire you? If you're interested in bringing thoughtful, site-specific art to your space, we'd love to hear from you!
Artwork Crediting: Michael Talbot, Serenity, 2024. Hand-painted mural. Photography by Jane Messinger. © Michael Talbot.