Laura De Rosa The "Botanic Pulse" mural in Manhattan combines street art and sustainability to promote environmental awareness, offering an immersive experience while encouraging global reforestation efforts.
©Kostromina production Andrew Gonzales
On June 2, 2025, a monumental eco-mural titled “Botanic Pulse” was unveiled in the heart of Manhattan at Hell’s Kitchen Park. This ambitious artwork is the brainchild of the Italian non-profit organization Yourban 2030, founded by entrepreneur Veronica De Angelis. The mural was created by artist Fabio Petani as part of the Walls of Tomorrow program, which interprets the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through street art.
For years, Yourban 2030 has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable urban art, and with this latest project in New York, it continues its mission to combine art and environmental activism. The mural was painted using photocatalytic paints that purify the air, directly contributing to improving air quality in the city.
“Botanic Pulse” depicts a lush nature contained in a pot—an image that evokes both protection and control. Outside the pot, the vegetation bursts free and expands wildly, symbolizing the life force that escapes human domination. The underlying message is clear: we can no longer consider ourselves masters of nature; instead, we must become its conscious stewards.
©Kostromina production Andrew Gonzales
A mural for a cleaner environment
The mural was painted with Airlite, an anti-smog paint designed to break down atmospheric pollutants. This innovative paint works as a concrete contribution to improving air quality, aligning with the mural’s environmental theme.
What sets this project apart is its augmented and multi-channel dimension. Through a QR code developed by the tech company Ecosapiens, visitors can experience an immersive experience, purchase the digital artwork, and even contribute to the creation of a fund for reforesting Manhattan’s West Side, in partnership with The Hort. The mural is also accompanied by an original ambient soundtrack composed by Akawalk, alias Andrea Marra.
This eco-mural, dedicated to SDG 15: Life on Land, is the first of seventeen artworks that will be created worldwide. The project is supported by prominent street artists from both Italy and abroad. These murals will be placed in urban spaces that are an integral part of daily life, serving as symbols of urban regeneration.
Transforming cities through public art
Hell’s Kitchen Park, the mural’s location, is not just a public space—it is also a multicultural neighborhood with a rich cinematic history, having been the backdrop for films like Taxi Driver and Sleepers. Here, art meets history, creating a space where people of all backgrounds can interact with the work, and where public art becomes a part of everyday life.
©Kostromina production Andrew Gonzales
Veronica De Angelis, founder of Yourban 2030, spoke with greenMe about the project:
“Walls of Tomorrow was born from a shared dream: to transform cities into open-air art galleries that not only inspire but also care for the environment. After years of work between Italy and the United States, we felt the urgent need to create a collaborative project that powerfully tells the story of the 17 UN Goals. This initiative blends public art, sustainability, and active participation.”
She added:
“Each wall will be a symbol, a call to action, a promise for the future of our cities.”
Through “Botanic Pulse” and the Walls of Tomorrow initiative, art becomes a tool for education, inspiration, and change. A quiet yet powerful way to leave a positive and lasting mark on the urban landscape and our relationship with the planet.
