Big. Bright. Bold.
These are just some words that describe the College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ (CHASS) new mural in Caldwell Hall Lounge that showcases the college journey and the transformative impact of the humanities and social sciences.
With its prominent figures, abstract shapes and vibrant colors, the mural is a figurative representation of the college’s strengths, culture and mission. Designed and painted by Maria-Jose (MJ) Lindo-Lawyer and Joshua Lawyer, On These Grounds We Walk highlights the college’s commitment to fostering critical and creative thinking, empowering deeper understanding, and creating human-centered solutions that address the needs of communities and the natural world.
The mural is also an integral component of the college’s new brand refresh and activation plan aimed at defining the unique values that shape CHASS’s influence on campus, North Carolina and beyond.
On These Grounds We Walk was selected from more than 150 mural submissions by artists across the country and was realized through a collaborative effort between the college, NC State’s Public Art Committee, Campus Planning and Strategic Investment, and the Gregg Museum of Art and Design. As part of NC State’s expanding public art collection, the mural encourages reflection and conversation, establishing Caldwell Hall Lounge as a destination where humanity takes center stage.
“The mural captures what we do best — help students discover who they are, how they think, and what they can contribute to a world that desperately needs human-centered solutions,” said Deanna Dannels, dean of the college. “It reflects our commitment to deep thinking, cultural understanding and creating a strong sense of belonging within our college and beyond.”
The artists said they were drawn to the CHASS project because they share the college’s guiding principles and enjoy connecting students, faculty and staff in a purposeful way through art.
“It is the best version of being able to pursue an idea that we are excited about and then collaborating with a team to create something that represents us both,” MJ said of the creative collaboration. “It’s kind of like we’re truly holding hands throughout the process.”
Faculty, staff and other guests gathered in Caldwell Hall Lounge on August 21 for the mural’s dedication. Dean Deanna Dannels spoke during the event, and one of its highlights came when the artists — MJ Lindo-Lawyer and Joshua Lawyer — signed their work, making the final stroke to complete the mural. We asked some members of the CHASS community about their reaction to the mural and what it says about CHASS.
Stephen Puryear
Professor of Philosophy and Department Head
Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
“The mural is vibrant and diverse. It symbolizes the unity of different cultures, customs, races, and ethnicities, demonstrating that everyone will feel included at CHASS.”
Miroslava Colan
High Impact Experiences Coordinator
“The mural is impressive and demonstrates movement and growth. It reinforces our ability to see the human and consistently engage with the human experience in everything we do.”
Juliana Nfah-Abbenyi
Associate Dean of Faculty and Staff Development and Success
“I really love the mural and appreciate all the colors and how well everything ties together. It shows everyone’s diversity, unity and respect for one another. The abstract portion represents all the ideas and majors we have at the college that come together to solve issues.”
Hailey Fisher
Political Science major
“The mural shows collaboration, unity and moving forward together. The figures are focused on reaching one goal and CHASS is helping them to achieve it.
Nilakshi Phukan
Professor of Hindi-Urdu
Department of World Languages & Cultures
“The mural conveys a message about vision, looking into the future or imagining new possibilities. What they’re pointing at doesn’t have a definite shape yet; it’s an idea.”
Of the house mural on the opposite wall, she added: “It represents CHASS being the home of innovation and big ideas.”
The mural, 25 feet wide and 15 feet high, occupies the west wall of Caldwell Hall Lounge — long a space for discussion, reflection and community. Its central theme is transformation, depicted by three students becoming who they aspire to be and stepping into the future they aim to create.
“The mural should feel like something’s about to change, like the beginning of a journey,” said the artists, the husband-and-wife team behind Rough Edge Collective in California. On the opposite wall in the lounge, the couple painted a house that “represents the ‘happily ever after’— not necessarily a physical place, but a place of joy and fulfillment.”
Transformation is also expressed through the mural’s palette. A grayscale tunnel gradually gives way to an explosion of color in abstract shapes, symbolizing the passage toward the unknown and its possibilities.
Campus icons like the Free Expression Tunnel and the Brickyard appear in the mural. The tunnel symbolizes transition, while the Brickyard — with its history of activism, concerts and college life — frames the mural around legacy and shared student memories.
Design Process
The artists described their creative process as iterative and intentional. It’s layered, MJ explained, adding that they begin with rough sketches and concepts, refine those ideas, hire models and then continue to build from there.
“This mural went through several different iterations,” she said, noting that there were at least 15 different directions the piece could have taken before deciding on the final version. Joshua added: “The process felt almost effortless, which usually means you’re creating something you’re excited about.”
What ultimately shaped their vision?
“Abstraction played a central role in guiding this mural, with three people kind of centered around it,” said MJ.
The idea originated from a conversation Joshua had with other artists, during which someone asked, ‘Why do humans create art?’ “I remember thinking — humans think abstractly and that ability allows us to create the things that live in our heads,” he said, adding that abstraction became a metaphor for the creative process and human capacity to imagine and create meaning.” MJ noted, “It just felt fitting.”
Joshua added: “It’s also about having the tools to make that abstraction a reality and the confidence to pursue your ideas.” And that, he said, underscores the college’s goals and highlights its message of human-centered thought, especially in today’s tech-heavy society.
The artists’ focus then shifted to enriching the story through visual elements. “The goal was to squeeze as much into the design as we can — not necessarily in terms of how many things are in it, but how much value we can add to the narrative,” Joshua said.
That meant weaving in small details and symbolic elements that invite closer inspection, like the vintage suitcase featuring a 1983 Wolfpack championship bumper sticker. “That kind of forces the viewer to think critically about the work,” he said, “and engage with it in a deeper way.”
During the summer, MJ Lindo-Lawyer and Joshua Lawyer worked in Caldwell Hall Lounge, turning blank walls into a vibrant celebration of CHASS. As the murals took shape, curious onlookers stopped by to watch and chat. One of them was student-athlete Anthony Carter Jr., an artist and football player pursuing a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies.
During their conversation, Carter mentioned possibly collaborating with NC State Athletics on a mural. The couple shared valuable tips for large-scale painting and gifted him their unused paint, a tradition they keep at the end of each project. It was a quiet gesture of generosity and, in true artistic fashion, a vibrant sendoff.
Artists for more than 20 years, painting murals for the last six, the couple’s work spans the globe. They have created murals in Japan, England, Germany, Peru, and across the U.S., including Florida and Pennsylvania. In addition to working with colleges and universities, they’ve also worked with libraries and commercial spaces, including a hotel.
The couple said they are inspired by pieces that convey the artist is feeling something, exploring, taking risks, pushing the limits, and doing something different. Joshua added, “Everything within that realm inspires us; it’s like our little battery recharge.”
That’s what directed the artists in creating the CHASS mural. “It’s for the people who use the space,” MJ said. “It’s yours.”
More than a decorative feature, On These Grounds We Walk aims to be a lasting source of pride and connection for students, faculty, staff and visitors. It also symbolizes CHASS as the power of human understanding to change the world.
This post was originally published in College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
- Categories:
