All at Once

All at Once is a culmination of a two-year partnership between Mural Arts Philadelphia and Resources for Human Development (RHD) Morris Home, the only residential recovery program in the country to offer comprehensive services specifically for the trans, gender non-conforming, and non-binary communities. This work features departed members from Philadelphia’s transgender community, including Nizah Morris, for whom RHD Morris Home is named. Pictured in the mural (from left to right) are: Kyra Cordova, Charlene Arcila, Nizah Morris, Michelle Tamika Washington, Shantee Tucker, London Kiki Chanel, and Dominique Rem’mei Fells.

Artist Ali M. Williams developed the design concept for the mural with input from residents from RHD Morris Home, including symbols and imagery that came out of workshops facilitated by Wit López. The goal was to create a joyful and inspiring mural that commemorates and celebrates members of the local Philly Black trans community that have been lost. This uplifting mural includes a vibrant color palette. The design starts off on the left with dreamy pink and purple clouds releasing bold, painterly, abstract, neon-pink color bursts, and the Philly Pride flag. The center of the mural is made up of a flowing pink and blue trans flag with a quote scrolling across a quote from Alok Vaid-Menon that reads: “We are the past, the present, and the future. All at once.” Peeking out behind the flag are black and white drawings of roses. Red peonies and an orange rose with gold leaves sit on top of the trans flag as petals trail off into the black and white floral drawings. Black and white portraits of Philadelphia trans women arch over the flag, echoing a watercolor rainbow behind them and to the right. The dedication for the mural provided a space to remember those who have been lost.