Words by Roads
White paint; 10’H x 160’W
Words by Roads is a series of four large-scale public artworks created in collaboration with fifteen students from three Oakland public high schools. Each piece, painted directly onto urban surfaces, transforms ordinary streets into spaces for reflection and dialogue. The students selected themes that resonated deeply with their own experiences and concerns within the community—issues ranging from social justice and environmental awareness to identity and collective aspiration.
By engaging youth directly in the creation process, Words by Roads merges artistic expression with civic participation. The scale of the work—spanning 160 feet in width—ensures visibility from both pedestrian and vehicular perspectives, turning streets into conduits for storytelling, social commentary, and connection. In this way, the project highlights the power of collaboration, amplifies voices that are often underrepresented, and fosters a sense of ownership and agency among the students and the broader community.
Words by Roads exemplifies how public art can bridge the gap between personal experience and shared urban space, transforming everyday pathways into platforms for dialogue, creativity, and social awareness.