Inner Peace at the Beach
Beach Pop Up with artist Carolyn Lewerberg for Save the Harbor Save the Bay.
About this piece:
Inner Peace at the Beach was a collaborative public art experience led by Puerto Rican Boston artist and graphic designer Eileen Riestra of Depict Brands—a woman- and minority-owned creative studio—alongside public artist Carolyn Lewenberg. Inner Peace at the Beach was an interactive public art project designed to provide a meditative and healing experience by blending the natural serenity of the beach with the Japanese tradition of Zen gardening.
Recognizing the rise in mental health challenges, especially among youth, the project aimed to offer a moment of peace and reflection through creative engagement with sand. Large-scale Zen-inspired rakes allowed participants to "comb" the beach, creating patterns in the sand as a form of artistic and meditative expression. For those who preferred a more personal experience, individual mini Zen garden sand trays with small tools were provided, encouraging quiet moments of mindfulness.
By merging art, culture, and wellness, Inner Peace at the Beach transformed the shoreline into a sanctuary for relaxation and self-discovery, offering visitors a chance to slow down, connect with nature, and find a sense of inner calm.
2023 Location: Constitution Beach. East Boston, MA / Malibu Beach. Dorchester, MA / Carlson Beach
Hispanic Heritage Month
window mural for Excel Academy East Boston, MA
About this piece:
I was honored to design the vibrant window mural at Excel Academy in East Boston for Hispanic Heritage Month, a tribute to the amazing Latino students and their rich culture. The mural transformed the school's windows into a shining display that celebrates the unity and diversity of the Hispanic community. At the heart of the design, I placed a Mexican Calavera surrounded by colorful elements that reflect our cultural pride.
I’ll admit, as a perfectionist, I started out feeling nervous about the project. But after just an hour of sketching, high school students gathered around me, offering their support and appreciation. Their encouragement was like a chorus of angels, reminding me to trust my own talent and the power of inspiration. This experience reinforced the message: don’t let fear hold you back from inspiring others.
2023 Location: Excel Academy, East Boston, MA
Calle La Esperanza
public art by Eileen Riestra. Collaborators: Eric Estrada, Ivan Richiez, GreenRoots, Jeny Alvarez, Mario Alvarez, Mia Alvarez, and Lucero Price.
About this piece:
The “Calle La Esperanza” mural is a vibrant public art installation celebrating Latin heritage, resilience, and community pride in Chelsea, MA. Created by mural artist Eileen Riestra in collaboration with the City of Chelsea and the Chelsea Cultural Council, this mural transforms Ash Street into a visual landmark of cultural identity and empowerment.
Inspired by the colorful architecture of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, the mural features flags from across Latin America, hand-painted tiles every detail was created to celebrate our latino community’s diversity and resilience. Surrounding the words "You are meant for greatness," tropical flowers bloom to remind everyone that no matter where you come from, you’re destined for something big in this world
The mural unveiling featured a vibrant art installation of colorful butterflies, symbolizing Chelsea’s resilience and transformation. This celebration came to life with a block party filled with live music, mini açaí bowls, and a joyful atmosphere—reflecting the energy, strength, and cultural richness of Chelsea’s Latin American community.
This project was made possible through the Chelsea Heritage Grant, which funds cultural initiatives that celebrate the city’s rich history and multicultural identity.
2024 Location: Ash Street, Chelsea, MA
Featured at BostonGlobe
Bajo Las Palmeras
Beach Pop Up with artist Carolyn Lewerberg and Tanairi Garcia with Aloe Natural for Save the Harbor Save the Bay.
About this piece:
“Bajo Las Palmeras” was a collaborative public art experience led by Puerto Rican Boston artist and graphic designer Eileen Riestra of Depict Brands—a woman- and minority-owned creative studio—alongside public artist Carolyn Lewenberg and Chelsea-based activist, creative entrepreneur, and local politician Tanairi Garcia Vega.
Funded by the Better Beaches Grant, “Bajo las Palmeras” brought tropical vibes to local beaches through a series of interactive pop-ups celebrating Caribbean culture. The project featured large-scale palm tree installations crafted from reclaimed building materials and produce packaging, inviting the community to slow down, engage with nature, and appreciate beauty in the details. Visitors enjoyed free açaí bowls, played with sand rakes from a previous project, and participated in a scavenger hunt to discover hidden shapes within the palm tree shadows. By creating a space for cultural connection and environmental awareness, Bajo las Palmeras transformed the beach into an immersive, creative retreat.
2024 Location: Constitution Beach. East Boston, MA / Malibu Beach. Dorchester, MA / Seaport
La Catrina
2020 A tribute to Frida Interior Mural
About this piece:
My hand-painted murals adorn the walls of El Huipil–a family-owned Mexican restaurant in Maynard, MA.
I drew inspiration from the artwork of Frida Kahlo to bring the business owner’s heritage to life in an authentic and eye-catching way.
Location: El Huipil Restaurant, Maynard, MA
Frida Calavera
About this piece:
Frida Calavera mural is a beautiful celebration of Mexican culture. The vibrant colors and intricate details pay homage to the rich artistic traditions of Mexico, while the image of Frida Kahlo herself serves as a powerful symbol of Mexican identity and resilience. Your mural is a testament to the enduring influence of Mexican culture on art and society, and it is sure to inspire and delight all who see it. Collaborated with Lead Artist Elena Fadel to create an iconic Frida Calavera for the Mexican restaurant El Huipil.
2018 Location: El Huipil Restaurant Maynard, MA
Unity Path @Salem’s Artist Row
About this piece:
Our vibrant murals fill the streets of Salem, drawing visitors in and encouraging them to explore the cultural richness of the community. Each piece features a blend of imagery that works together to create a single, beautiful design.
Lead Artist Liz LaMache and a team of community members, including myself, made headlines with this installation. Artfully incorporated into the designs you’ll find a diverse range of cultures represented, including: Latinx, African American, Indigenous, Middle Eastern, Albanian, Brazilian, Dominican, Afrohispanic,
Afro-Caribbean, Puerto Rican, South Asian and European.
Special thanks to Liz LaManche for making part of this art community experience.
Design team includes: Liz LaManche, Eileen Riestra, Keshia DeLeon, Miguel Cruz, Julia Cseko, Stephanie Espinal
Paint team includes: Anna Dugan, Stephanie Espinal, Erin Survilas, Scott Froeschl, Kate Holloway
Photo Credit: @espycreative 2020 Location: Artist Row Salem, MA
More about this project
Fruitful Resilience
About this piece:
With this piece, we set out to spark conversations about climate and community resilience. Working in collaboration with Lead Artist Carolyn Lewenberg, Ruth Henry, and youth members of La Colaborativa, I helped create this stunning pineapple sculpture in Island End Park. It’s meant as a symbol of welcome for all.
The piece is accompanied by a trail of stencil art that we helped the young members of our community design and bring to life. The art follows a path along the Mystic River at Mary O’Malley State Park, leading to our larger pineapple sculpture installation.
2021 Location: Island End Park. Chelsea, MA
Power of the Hidden
Wheatpaste Mural, presented by Chelsea Prospers, the City of Chelsea’s downtown initiative for neighborhood vitality.
About this piece:
“Power of the hidden” reflects women minority, immigrant workers who play an important role in the home as well in the workforce. Chelsea is full of humble hard workers women who are the foundation of work, life, and family. Their talent and positive energy towards a hardworking lifestyle is sometimes understated but with this art piece I aim to show the “power that comes from the hidden.
2020 Location: Cherry St. Chelsea, MA
Chelsea Prospers Copia y Pega Project
Green Crabs at the Beach
It all begins with an idea.
About this Piece
Green Crabs at the Beach is a coloring book about the introduced green crab: a species that causes a lot of problems in coastal Massachusetts. The coloring book teaches children and families about how this introduced species competes with local crabs, preys on local shellfish, and destroys important habitats. The coloring book also explores how eating these tasty crabs can help the environment. The coloring book was done for Save the Harbor Save the Bay in conjunction to Green Grab.org
To download your free copies of the coloring book will be available at each beach popup in English and digital versions are available online at greencrab.org/blog.
Paintbox: Vibrant Energy
It all begins with an idea.
About this piece:
As featured in the lifestyle blog “Caught in Southie”
This mural art is part of the City of Boston’s Paintbox program.
Vibrant Energy has a beautiful bird, flowers, and cactus with bold and bright colors, that aims to bring a bright and cheerful feeling to this corner of Southie.
The energy that comes from the vibrant colors and the elements of nature in this piece expresses the love for diversity.