DePaul Community Celebrated 25th Mural Anniversary

The campus community marked a quarter-century of the iconic St. Vincent mural on McCabe Hall.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Cultural

Bold vector editorial illustration showing wooden rubber stamps on a brick grid, reflecting the artistic process of a university mural. — DePaul University celebrated the 25th anniversary of its iconic 'We Are DePaul 2' mural, which transformed McCabe Hall into a community landmark. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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DePaul University held a celebration at Cortelyou Commons to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the mural titled We Are DePaul 2. The artwork, created by Mark Elder, features 16 repeating stamped faces of university community members.

Why it matters

The project represents a unique effort to weave an image of St. Vincent into the daily aesthetic life of the university campus. By immortalizing figures like former head custodian Danny Cruz, the mural serves as a visual bridge between the institution's history and its community members.

The mural required nine months of planning followed by a painting process that lasted two and a half weeks. It features 16 repeating portraits derived from a pool of 40 candidates.

The players

Mark Elder

Mark Elder is the artist responsible for designing and executing the mural on the DePaul University campus.

Danny Cruz

Danny Cruz is a former head custodian who worked at DePaul for 31 years and is featured among the portraits in the mural.

The details

Artist Mark Elder utilized a grid system to transfer the design onto McCabe Hall with the help of students. The work was created by using 16 rubber stamps featuring portraits to apply small impressions to the building surface.

Mark Elder conceived the mural idea in 1997.
The mural was completed on McCabe Hall in 2001.
The community celebrated the 25th anniversary on October 1, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

The anniversary reflects a broader trend of universities utilizing public art to solidify institutional identity and community connection. This piece follows the successful 2001 completion of the mural, showcasing how campus murals serve as enduring landmarks in modern academic environments.

The mural remains on permanent display for students, faculty, and visitors to view on the exterior of McCabe Hall. Community members can visit the university grounds in Chicago to see the artwork in person during standard campus hours.

The takeaway

Public art projects can successfully integrate institutional history into the daily experience of a campus population. By highlighting individual community members, institutions create lasting symbols that bridge the gap between staff, students, and university identity.