EPOCH

Titled “EPOCH” or “Timeline” by Oscar Joyo, this mural is a celebration of undeniable ingenuity and contributions of Black people, both past and present. Each wall captures the spirit and essences of notable individuals from Champaign-Urbana’s history, along with influential people in Joyo’s everyday life. Joyo’s love for the arts started when he was a child drawing cartoons in Malawi. Joyo eventually moved to Chicago and after graduating from The American Academy of Art with a bachelor’s degree in Life Drawing in 2015, he developed his signature style of tribal patterns and vivid portraiture. His work is a letter to his African heritage and the hope that there will be a better future for people of color. The three walls with murals confront us with an undeniable truth that we are never truly disconnected from the generations before or after us.

Location: 1801 W. John St., Champaign