Philly's Mural Arts gets new leadership

Driving the news: Emily Mello will take over as executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia on Sept. 1, the program revealed Wednesday.

• The long-time art educator and curator last served at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago as a director of learning and public programs.
• Her other career stops: New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York and Pérez Art Museum Miami.

Context: She'll take the helm from founder Jane Golden, who has been with the program (which has gone by different names) since its inception 42 years ago.

• Golden has led the program since the mid-1990s.

Zoom in: Mello, who was selected after a nationwide search, will oversee an agency with a collection of at least 4,500 murals across the city.

• The program also churns out 80+ public art projects and employs 250+ artists every year.

Axios Philly asked Mello a pair of questions before she takes over.

❤️ What's your favorite mural in Philly?

Mello: My favorites are always the ones that have most recently sparked stories and conversations.

• Right now, that includes the recently completed murals "In Pride, In Power, In Memory" by Santiago Galeas at Voyeur Nightclub in the Gayborhood.

💡 What's 1 big thing you want to bring to Mural Arts?

Mello: To make public art recognized and supported as a public utility, like water and electricity.