Colin Cooney (Founder)
I'm a student at Chaminade High School in Mineola, NY, and a National Youth Advocacy Corps fellow through the Rustin Institute. I've always been drawn to art — both discovering the work of known and unknown artists and developing my own technique. I co-founded Widen the Frame NYC and the Cultural Attaché podcast to help other young people see museums and public art as spaces they belong in.
The People's Canvas grew out of that same belief, applied to the walls we pass every day rather than the ones inside a museum. Through an internship with the Thrive for Life Prison Project and volunteering with the Free Minds Poetry Project, both dedicated to people impacted by incarceration, I saw firsthand how much power a message and a piece of public beauty can hold for a community. Street murals don't wait for permission to be seen. This project is my attempt to show how much they're already saying.
Henry Zizmor (Founder)
Henry Zizmor is a student at Little Red Elisabeth Irwin High School in SoHo, Manhattan. He is the co-founder and a member of the executive leadership team of the Friendly Fridge Network, an organization that fights food insecurity through community engagement and mutual aid. At school, Henry contributes to the literary magazine and participates in the Jewish Affinity Club, exploring both his creative voice and cultural identity.
He is also involved in the Groundswell Community Mural program, which has strengthened his understanding of how public art can empower communities. A passionate artist, Henry loves to draw and paint, constantly experimenting with new techniques and styles. Outside of school, he enjoys playing basketball and cheering for the Yankees. His commitment to art, writing, and service reflects his dedication to creativity, collaboration, and community impact.
The People’s Canvas is a project that we are passionate about. By mapping, spotlighting, and studying street murals across New York’s five boroughs and throughout Long Island, we hope to inspire other young people to see how art is a powerful tool. These murals were created to fight for basic rights, defend human dignity, and ignite social change.