PUBLIC ART

Artwork in Process & Practice

Colossal Media is a Brooklyn-based, award-winning, global leader of hand-painted outdoor advertising and public art. At Colossal, we appreciate, practice, and breathe the art of artisanal advertising. From training world-class painters to perfecting every brushstroke in this century-old painted tradition, we are dedicated to human-made craftsmanship – transforming hyperlocal canvases into global cultural stages.

An artist working on a large face portrait mural on a white wall, using a reference photo of a woman with curly hair attached to the wall.

How Colossal Contributes

While the majority of our paint hours are dedicated to hand-painted outdoor advertising, we consistently commit annual project hours to public art and community murals through our corporate social responsibility program: Start Today. Our team of walldogs uses hand-painted media to elevate physical space and foster authentic human connection.

WHY It Matters

Public art alters how residents, tourists, and creative communities experience city streets. By turning shared walls into accessible galleries, hand-painted murals deliver distinct cultural and social benefits:

Public murals eliminate traditional barriers to creative expression. No ticket is required—just walkable or rolling transportation to a large-scale, community-inclusive canvas.
Tangible, analog artistry creates genuine moments of reflection, inspiration, and personal connection amidst digital fatigue.
As over 55% of the world’s population lives in cities—a number the United Nations projects to grow over the next 25 years—hand-painted public art enriches city architecture and fosters community pride.

How it’s done

With Colossal wallscapes stationed across major U.S. cities and paint crews executing global mural productions, our work blends historical sign-painting craftsmanship with modern technical precision. Every hand-painted campaign involves a meticulous behind-the-scenes production process:

Our execution relies on time-honored methods dating back to Renaissance leaders like Michelangelo, adapted for large-format outdoor advertising.
Before paint hits the wall, crews execute rigorous safety protocols, wall measuring, leveling, and pattern transfers to ensure exact artwork alignment.
Spectators watch steady hands, custom paint blending, and active execution unfold in real time. The production itself becomes an engaging, street-level spectacle.