Allegory of a Young Man

Allegory of a Young Man by artist Eric Okdeh was located in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The mural features the path of a young man throughout his life and his daily trials, as he avoids the negativity which surrounds him and how he succeeds with the guidance of mentors. He is surrounded and affected by both positive and negative influences that are ever-present in the inner city. Towards the end of the narrative, he is shown as a man, working in a professional field, and proving to be a source of inspiration to other neighborhood youth. The adult models that posed for the mural were community leaders and positive influences in that immediate area. The child and teen models that posed for the mural were children who the artist encountered during his work on a number of mural projects in the city. They were included due to their being standout leaders among their peers, while also demonstrating a surprising amount of civic pride and responsibility despite their ages.

Location Note: Mural no longer on view at this location (obscured by new construction ca. 2019).