‘I want it to inspire happiness’: Phoenix muralist cleans up alleyway, transforms it with art

PHOENIX — As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, 12News is launching a yearlong initiative highlighting everyday heroes making a difference in their communities.

For one Phoenix artist, that work starts with a can of paint.

Jesse Perry, known professionally as “Mr. Downtown Phoenix,” has spent more than a decade transforming walls across the Valley into colorful works of art — each with a deeper purpose.

“Artwork is similar to music. You don’t have to speak a certain language or have a certain background to appreciate color and line work and look at something and say, ‘Hey, that looks cool,’” Perry said.

Perry has painted nearly 200 murals since beginning his career in 2014, drawing inspiration from the desert and the Southwest.

“From the different colors and life and animal and just a lot of the different fun that happens in the desert,” he said.

His goal goes beyond aesthetics.

“I want it to inspire happiness and bring a smile to people’s faces,” Perry said.

In December, Perry partnered with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul through a city arts grant, creating murals alongside residents at the nonprofit, which supports people experiencing homelessness.

One part of the project, called Wings of Hope, quickly became especially meaningful. Perry said he has received several photos of people smiling in front of the wings, holding the keys to their new homes.

“It just brought tears to my eyes,” Perry said.

Now, he’s bringing that same mission closer to home — working on a project in his neighborhood near Osborn Road and 16th Street.

Perry is transforming an alleyway connected to a nearby canal, a space he says had become unsafe.

“There was broken glass, and it was becoming dangerous,” he said.

He is cleaning it up while adding new life through art featuring imagery of an owl, cacti, sunflowers and bees.

His long-term vision is to create something lasting for the neighborhood.

“The goal is to paint the entire alleyway and basically create an alley gallery that people can feel safe walking down any time of day,” he said. “I just hope they feel a sense of pride in their community.”

He hopes to complete the alleyway project within the next year and a half.

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