Finally on 13th

A dreamchild of applicant Jacen Bowman and the many members of Philly’s Ballroom scene, Finally on 13th celebrates the 30th anniversary of Philadelphia ballroom culture. This mural, designed by Nile Livingston, will stand alone as the Gayborhood’s first mural, honoring this rich practice of Ballroom that has recently become mainstream. The mural is the first in Philadelphia to celebrate black queer culture in a neighborhood steeped with that history which is fast impacted by gentrification. The mural will be dedicated on September 23, 2023, on 13th Street between Pine and Spruce Streets.

With deliberate input from the community through discovery and documentation, Nile Livingston has painstakingly created a mural that incorporates and celebrates actual Philadelphia Icons of ballrooms. The Icons include Michael Gaston, Tiny Cartier, Kerri Mizahri, Renee Karan, Kelly Harper, Alverian Prestige, Jay Blahnik, Meechie Lavin, Jacen Bowman, and Mann Prodigy.