Color Squad

A collective of teen artists that design and implement public art that addresses needs in the community.

Color Squad is a collective of teen artists that design and implement public and community art. All projects are collaborative, from the design to the installation, with a strong emphasis on youth voice. Each year we pick a theme based on an issue in the community our youth want to explore. Past projects have included community murals in partnership with the Central Texas Foodbank, Cap Metro, Austin Community College, Austin Peace Academy, The HOFT Institute, Casa Marianella, and more.

“I feel a difference in my confidence when I paint. I see more accuracy and creativity in my work. This leads me to be more satisfied with my art than I’ve ever been. I know how to work well with other mediums and artists too. I’ve never been more proud of my work.”

-Color Squad member

A colorful mural featuring smiling people, flowers, and hummingbirds painted on the side of a house surround an air conditioning unit outside.

Guiding Lights • Casa Marianella • 2025

Mural painting of two colorful hummingbirds flying among pink and red flowers on a blue and white horizontal siding wall.

Colorful mural of diverse women with different skin tones, some smiling, some serious, painting with vibrant backgrounds, depicting unity and empowerment.

Guiding Lights is a mural located on the backside of one of Casa Marianella’s housing units in Austin, TX, where migrant families live as Casa Marianella assists them with gaining independence living in Austin. This mural design is meant to not only be representative of the clients that Casa Marianella serves, but to also bring something colorful, joyful, and fun into this communal area where families gather, children play, and people live.

In the center of this mural are several portraits of different Casa Marianella clients, painted by Chroma Collective alum Itzel Soto-Ferate, serving as the focal point of not only the mural design but also to reflect the client-centered care that their organization provides. Surrounding these portraits are several flowers and birds spread out onto other walls. Each flower and bird symbolizes the different countries that Casa Marianella’s clients come from: a King Protea for Somalia, a dahlia for Mexico; a red rose for Iraq; a red tulip for Iran; a waterlily for the Congo; a Hedychium for Cuba; a red-crested turaco for Angola; a turquoise-browed motmot; a scarlet macaw for Honduras.

A spacious modern conference room with large windows, a mural of children playing under a sunset tree on the wall, and rows of tables and chairs arranged for meetings or classes.

Community is our Middle Name • ACC Rio Grande Campus | Center for Government and Civic Service • 2025

Interior of a room with brick walls and a colorful mural painting depicting children, trees, clouds, and a sunset, with a large window showing green foliage outside.

Colorful mural depicting a woman with black hair in a green dress reaching for a flower, a girl with brown curly hair sitting on a large tree branch, and a landscape with mountains, sky, and flowers in shades of pink, orange, yellow, and purple.

This mural showcases connection and growth in the community of ACC. On the tree there is a quote "Community is our middle name" by Wilhelmina Delco. Our students got to learn about Mrs.Delco and how she became the first African American person elected in Travis county, as well as her work as one of the founding board members of ACC. Our intent for this design long term is that as people use the space, they can "carve" their initials onto the tree to commemorate their time at ACC.

Colorful mural of an underwater scene with sea turtles, fish, and coral on a wall outside a building.

Balance Through Migration • HOFT Institute • 2025

Colorful mural with a blue whale, fish, and sea creatures, set against a background of blue water and coral, in front of a building with trees and a stone wall.

A colorful mural depicting various ocean creatures like fish and a turtle in front of trees and a building.

Featuring migration and endangered animals, the wall showcases the journey of the people served by the HOFT Institute and how diversity and migration are essential to the balance of the Earth’s ecosystems.

A colorful outdoor mural depicting two women dancing, surrounded by bees, butterflies, sunflowers, and other flowers, with social media handles at the bottom.

Ecosystem • MLK & Comal • 2024

Colorful mural on a utility box depicting various nature and wildlife scenes including a deer, a raccoon, a tree with a bird, a basketball player, cacti, flowers, a bird flying, and areas of sky with clouds.

A street scene with a metal utility pole and a yellow electrical box with a large fan near the top. There is a container decorated with children playing and a yellow caution tape on the ground. Trees and a cemetery with headstones are in the background. The sidewalk is shaded by tree branches.

While engaging with members of the East Austin community, it became apparent that there is a strong desire for a future that embraces diversity and inclusivity. One community member said that to her, “true diversity is like a strong ecosystem.” This design seeks to honor the histories and stories of this area’s past, while also looking toward a hope for maintaining the diverse ecosystem that is Austin.

A colorful mural depicting a girl with dark curly hair, wearing a pink dress, sitting on a blue surface and holding a striped brown and beige object. The background shows green trees, grass, and stylized clouds, with a gray stone structure and a bunch of blue grapes.

Based on sentiments expressed through engagement with community elders, this design is meant to emphasize the role of children to build and grow the future of this city. The design also highlights the hope that East and West Austin will unite through the power of community and connectivity. Future generations have the power to shape our world and ignite change in our communities.

Colorful mural on a utility box depicting children playing outdoors, with trees, a river, and a blue sky with clouds, set in an urban environment with buildings and a street in the background.

Roots and Bridges • MLK and Alexander • 2024

Colorful mural depicting a woman with dark skin and curly black hair sitting by a stream, surrounded by trees, buildings, and a church tower, with a blue sky and clouds overhead.

Threads of Time • MLK and Chestnut • 2024

Colorful mural on utility boxes depicting a girl knitting on a pink quilt with a window showing a blue sky and mountains in the background, surrounded by greenery and a gray utility pole.

Colorful painted utility box with artwork including a woman looking out a window, a man holding a phone, and various plants and abstract shapes.

Colorful mural of a woman with pink hair sitting and knitting, inside a window-like frame with a bright blue background, and a plant with yellow flowers at the bottom.

This design depicts a family bonding across generations through the craft of quilting. Each generation builds on the work of the last, preserving family history as a base for the future. The patterns of this quilt represent memories that community members shared with us in regard to their past, present, and future living in East Austin.

Color Squad

Have questions? Email lindsay@creativeaction.org