Artist Commenced Whale Mural in Ventura Harbor
A new 20-foot mural celebrates the ten-year sister city bond between Ventura and Loreto.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Painting
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Artist M.B. Hanrahan has begun painting a 20-foot-long gray whale mural at Ventura Harbor Village. The project commemorates the ten-year sister city relationship between Ventura and Loreto, Mexico.
Why it matters
The mural serves as a cultural exchange that mirrors an artwork created in Loreto by a Ventura artist in 2024. It aims to strengthen the international connection between the two coastal communities.
The mural measures 20 feet in length and features a gray whale as its centerpiece, incorporating various creatures from local kelp forests. The sister city association is currently raising $3,000 to support the project.
The players
M.B. Hanrahan
She is the artist responsible for painting the new mural at Ventura Harbor Village.
Ventura Harbor Village
This is a waterfront shopping and dining destination in Ventura that is hosting the new art installation.
The details
Located between the Boatyard Pub and the Coastal Cone Ice Cream Shop, the mural reflects a reciprocal artistic gesture between the two cities. M.B. Hanrahan is the lead artist tasked with capturing the aquatic theme for this cultural project.
Timeline
Ventura and Loreto established their sister city relationship in 2016.
A Ventura artist completed a corresponding mural in Loreto in 2024.
The mural project is currently underway as of October 2026.
The Ventura mural is expected to reach completion by late October 2026.
Culture Shift
The project follows the precedent set by the 2024 Ventura artist mural in Loreto, cementing a formal cycle of artistic exchange. This trend highlights a shift toward using public visual arts to solidify long-term international sister city relationships.
Residents and visitors at Ventura Harbor Village can observe the mural's progress between the Boatyard Pub and the Coastal Cone Ice Cream Shop. The final installation will provide a permanent cultural landmark for the community to enjoy during future harbor visits.
The takeaway
Cultural exchange projects like this mural offer tangible ways for sister cities to maintain long-term international connections. Residents can support these efforts by participating in local fundraising initiatives for public art installations.
Further reading
Learn more about local art projects in the Painting section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KCLU.
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