Mark Ulriksen Painted Mural for Oakland JCC Campus
Artist Mark Ulriksen has completed a new mural at the East Bay Jewish Community Campus in Oakland.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Judaism
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Artist Mark Ulriksen designed a new mural featuring the seven species of Israel for the East Bay Jewish Community Campus in Oakland. The artwork now decorates the facility's outer wall facing Claremont Avenue.
Why it matters
The East Bay Jewish Community Campus commissioned this mural as a gift to the local community. It serves to artistically represent the landscape planted within the new campus walls.
Mark Ulriksen has illustrated 65 covers for The New Yorker throughout his career. His design for the Oakland campus mural focuses exclusively on botanical elements without human figures.
The players
Mark Ulriksen
He is an acclaimed artist who has illustrated 65 covers for The New Yorker since 1994.
Hayley Ferreira
She served as the project lead overseeing the painting process of the new mural.
East Bay Jewish Community Campus
This is a new community facility located in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland.
The details
Hayley Ferreira oversaw the execution of the mural, which was painted on the outer campus wall to integrate with the surrounding neighborhood. The design reflects the greenery and vegetation found inside the newly developed JCC grounds.
Timeline
May 1994: Ulriksen's first New Yorker cover was published.
June 1, 2026: Ulriksen's most recent New Yorker cover was published.
Late August 2026: The campus preschool and playground area opened.
March 2027: The grand opening of the campus is expected.
Culture Shift
The installation of the mural reflects a growing trend of organizations using large-scale art to establish a distinct identity within evolving neighborhood landscapes. By opting for botanical themes over figurative art, the campus leans into a movement emphasizing tranquil, symbolic aesthetics in public spaces.
Residents and pedestrians walking along Claremont Avenue can now view the mural as part of the campus aesthetic. The project completes a visual phase of the campus development following the opening of the preschool area earlier this year.
The takeaway
Large-scale murals can serve as accessible markers for new community hubs while softening the transition between private facilities and public sidewalks. Residents can appreciate the artwork as a permanent addition to the streetscape of the Rockridge neighborhood.
What happens next
The East Bay Jewish Community Campus is scheduled for its official grand opening in March 2027.
Further reading
Discover more about local religious life on the Judaism section page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by J..
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