Artist to transform whole exterior wall of Fall River school into work of art for second time

Fall River Public Schools has announced that an exterior wall at the newest school building will soon be transformed into a piece of art. Montreal-based artist Kevin Ledo has started working on his latest project in Fall River. The four-story mural is located at 2501 South Main Street, the new location of the Stone Day School.

Fine and Performing Arts Director Jackie Francisco and Chief Operating Officer Ken Pacheco worked together to, once again, enlist Ledo’s talents. In July 2022, Ledo also created the John J. Doran Community School mural. The mural at 2501 South Main Street will be similar to the one at Doran. It will span from the bottom to the top of one exterior wall on the north side of the school building. The mural, Identity and Sense of Belonging, features a Fall River Public Schools preschool student. Francisco said the mural is just one way of celebrating students via the arts.

Ledo and Samantha Robison arrived in Fall River on Monday and will spend about two weeks here completing the mural. Ledo anticipates the mural will take about 70 hours to complete. In February 2024, the Fall River School Committee approved the funding for the $28,500 project using money from the district’s operating budget.

Kevin Ledo is a Montreal-based artist who grew up in a mix of urban and ethnic cultures. He was raised by Portuguese parents from the Azores Islands and began his artistic practice in 2005. Since then, his work has allowed him to live and work in places such as Taiwan, Vancouver, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and China. He graduated from Dawson College with a degree in Illustration and Design in 1999.

Ledo is known for participating in mural festivals and public art initiatives in Canada and around the world. He has also been featured in several art media outlets and his work has been written about and featured in many television and news outlets. His work can also be seen on his website: kevinledo.com.