SEEN | HEARD | VALUED

In March of 2023, the Greenville Homeless Alliance commissioned local artist Nick Burns aka Ninja Picasso to paint a 47-ft-high mural on the back of Triune Mercy Center's sanctuary. The mural would celebrate GHA’s 5th birthday and feature eight stories of hope that honor those experiencing homelessness in Greenville and the GHA partner organizations that walked alongside them in their journey. The goal -for those experiencing homelessness to be seen, heard, and valued in a way that brings us together as a connected community, committed to finding solutions to end homelessness.

Artist rendering.

Actual Mural.

The story behind the mural…

Where it began…

On May 24, we announced the commission of the Seen|Heard|Valued mural in celebration of GHA’s 5th Birthday at Triune Mercy Center.

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(Highlight video by Rally Caps)

Meet the Artist

Nick Burns aka Ninja Picasso, is a Greenville native with a passion for his community. He is a multi-disciplinary visual and performing artist from Greenville, South Carolina. His style is inspired by the raw soul of street art and the refinement of the renaissance. He incorporates his inspirations with the use of oils, acrylics and spray paints; creating murals, commissioned portraits, multi-media art and live performances. Nick uses the tag NJAP, meaning “Not Just A Painting,” because he believes there is a story to be told in all of his work.

Nick began his art exploration at the early age of five, playing drums at a Baptist church and drawing on the back of sermon programs. As a young child, he was inspired by the 80s films Breakin’ and Beat Street. Nick developed into a caricature artist and teaching performance artist in Greenville and has been inspiring young artists for over a decade. His professional art journey began in 2012 but became his full-time passion in 2018 after gaining a residency at Greenville Center for Creative Arts in West Greenville. Nick’s large scale murals can be seen around South Carolina adorning buildings and personal residences.

GHA Block Party at the Mural

Thanks to everyone who donated, volunteered, and joined us at Triune Mercy Center to help paint the mural and celebrate being part of a connected community.

Photos credits: Lori Foushee and community members

STORIES OF HOPE

Meet some of the men and women featured in our Seen|Heard|Valued mural.