TRUE COLORS: The Gusset Project

TRUE COLORS: The Gusset Project is a sprawling community art gallery installed under the El along Kensington Avenue between Lehigh and Tioga. Everywhere a column meets a beam on the iconic structure, there is a triangular connecting plate called a gusset. It is there to strengthen connections. Taking this as inspiration, Mat Tomezsko and the Color Me Back: Same Day Work and Pay Program set out to strengthen connections within the Kensington community. Participants were given a triangle shaped canvas and an open invitation to create freely. Over 12 months, at 30 public events with over 20 community partners, 500 people made 434 paintings. They have been thoughtfully arranged and curated from one to the next over a 1.2 mile stretch of continuous artwork.

LEAD ARTIST: Mat Tomezsko

ASSISTANT ARTISTS: Danilo Carbonell, Nadiyaah Dashiell, Larissa Juelg, Maria Luisa Pani Tenesaca, Adrian Reyes, Michaylo Wuykiv

TEACHING ARTISTS: Katie Brown, Corey Cooper, Caridad “Angie” Hernandez, Lisa Kelley, Corey Kram, Jose Rios

COMMUNITY PARTNERS: Councilmember Quetcy Lozada + Team; SEPTA; IMPACT; NKCDC; Esperanza CORE; HACE; Klean Kensington; Memphis Street Academy; Safe-Hub Philadelphia; Friends of Harrowgate Park; McPherson Square Library; Russell Conwell Middle School; The Rock Ministries; Sunshine House; Prevention Point; The Simple Way; The Apologue Center; UV Space; Frankford CDC; Mother of Mercy House; Sunday Love; K + A Boxing; Participants of the Color Me Back: Same Day Work and Pay Program; and more.

SPONSORS: The Office of Councilperson Quetcy, Impact Services, Sheller Family Foundation, the City of Philadelphia, and the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, City of Philadelphia Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO).

PROJECT MANAGER: Ricky Yanas

SPECIAL THANKS: Emily Crane, Nadia Malik, Marangeli Mejia-Rabell, Jeremy Chen, Slade Roff, Councilmember Mark Squilla, Jane Golden

Photos by Steve Weinik

Press:

Metro Philadelphia

Gusset Plate Project brings art under the El in Kensington

More than 400 murals have been installed along a mile-long stretch between Tioga and Huntingdon stations.

https://www.metrophiladelphia.com/stories/gusset-plate-project-kensington,154558

Fox29

Kensington underpass transformed: 400 community paintings installed under Market-Frankford line

https://www.fox29.com/news/kensington-underpass-transformed-400-community-paintings-installed-under-market-frankford-line

Univision

Nueva galería de arte al aire libre embellece la avenida Kensington en Filadelfia

Este martes 8 de septiembre, representantes de Mural Arts, Servicios de Impacto y la concejal hispana Quetcy Lozada presentaron una nueva galería de arte bajo la línea de Market-Frankford de SEPTA, desde Huntington hasta Tioga. Con esta iniciativa, toda la avenida Kensington luce pinturas triangulares, destacando además la obra titulada “Árbol de la vida”, creada por la propia Lozada, quien explicó su profundo significado.

https://www.univision.com/local/philadelphia-wuvp/nueva-galeria-de-arte-al-aire-libre-embellece-la-avenida-kensington-en-filadelfia-video

CBS News

400 new triangular murals painted under the Market-Frankford Line in Kensington

Mural Arts Philadelphia, Impact Services and Councilmember Quetcy Lozada's office teamed up on small triangular murals brightening up the area under the Market-Frankford Line in Kensington.

https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/video/400-new-triangular-murals-painted-under-the-market-frankford-line-in-kensington/

Northeast Times

Kensington Gets 400 Triangle Murals Beneath the El in Year-Long Community Project

https://northeasttimes.com/2026/09/09/kensington-gets-400-triangle-murals-beneath-the-el-in-year-long-community/

https://www.phillyvoice.com/art-under-el-gusset-plate-paintings-kensington/