Public art has a way of transforming familiar places into something newly alive, and few artists capture that magic quite like Bullseye Mural Co.’s Ruby Rose. Her recent collaboration with Spark Newton, Life Below, the pair of murals created for the Crystal Lake bathhouse, brings together imagination, community, and a deep love of place. We sat down with Ruby to learn more about her journey, her creative process, and what inspires her work across Newton and beyond.
Project Spotlight: Life Below
The artwork for the Crystal Lake bathhouse celebrates the familiar joys of the lake, swimming, paddling, biking, and picnicking, while imagining the playful, dreamlike worlds that might exist just beneath the surface.
I wanted the murals to feel rooted in a place people know and love, while still leaving room for imagination. The two pieces work together as a set, dense with activity and full of small discoveries for anyone who takes a closer look.
What You Valued Most About Working With Spark Newton
I appreciated the thoughtfulness and determination behind this project. I originally submitted the concept for Life Below to an earlier Spark Newton call. The team loved it but realized the proposed location wouldn’t allow people to experience all its details up close.
Instead of letting the idea go, Spark Newton spent the next year developing a new project from the ground up — working with residents, organizations, and the City of Newton to find the right site. That commitment felt really special. It showed real respect for my work, the location, and how the public would ultimately experience the murals.
What Drew You to Public Art
There’s a kind of magic when the sidewalk becomes your studio. People stop to watch, ask questions, share stories, bring their kids back to check on progress, and offer encouragement as they pass. Those exchanges are one of my favorite parts of mural‑making. You’re not creating behind closed doors — you’re inviting the community into the process.
What People Don’t See About Being a Working Artist
A lot of the work happens before the painting starts. Researching, running workshops, designing, presenting ideas, budgeting, hardware store runs, logistics — all the fun and not‑so‑fun parts of managing a business. Thankfully, I enjoy the variety. Every project teaches me something new, and almost no two days are the same. It makes you really appreciate the stretches you do get “on the wall.”
What Makes a Strong Creative Collaboration
The best collaborations start with a partner who knows why they want to create something, even if they don’t yet know what it should look like. I love learning about a place from the people who know it best: What do they value? What feels distinctive? What stories should the work tell?
After asking the right questions, my role is to translate those conversations into a visually engaging piece that resonates with a wide range of people.
About Ruby Rose
I first started painting murals as a teenager with Boston’s Mayor’s Mural Crew, where I got an early introduction to public art as the intersection of creativity, place, and community. (Yes, it may have been the greatest summer job on earth!)
I went on to study Communication Design at Washington University in St. Louis, served with City Year, and built a career across illustration and design. No matter what role I held, I kept finding my way back to murals.
In 2024, I took the leap and founded Bullseye Mural Co., a JP‑based studio that brings together all the parts of my practice. Today, I feel incredibly lucky to work full‑time creating custom and collaborative murals with businesses, nonprofits, and communities across Massachusetts.
What Are You Exploring Next
I’m especially excited about collaborative mural experiences — “paint‑by‑numbers” murals on canvas that groups bring to life together. No artistic experience needed! Dozens or even hundreds of people can contribute, many of whom tell me they “haven’t done art in years”… and are often the hardest to convince to put down their paint markers at the end.
In a few weeks, Bullseye is partnering with Pathway to Possible at their open house, where residents and families will help paint a collaborative mural we designed together. I love projects where people don’t just witness the creative process — they get to bring the artwork to life themselves.
Where to Find More Work
See more murals at bullseyemuralco.com and follow along on Instagram at @bullseyemuralco.
