ABSTRACT
The community mural movement in the United States (U. S.) traces sources of inspiration in the Mexican mural movement, in particular the populist style of Mexican public murals officially sponsored by the revolutionary government in the 1920s. The artistic style and political orientation of the Mexican muralists inspired US artists, including several well-known African American artists, beginning in the early 1930s. Community murals are not always taken seriously as an art form, even by writers who support community art, “new genre public art,” or “social practice”. General books about the community mural movement can provide a basic introduction to its history. They include Community Murals: The People’s Art by Alan Barnett and Walls of Heritage, Walls of Pride, by James Prigoff and Robin Dunitz, which focuses on murals by African American artists, whether community murals or individual artistic creations.
