Make-A-Wish Mural Project: Brookdale Hospital East
The Make-A-Wish Mural Project is an ambitious, multichannel collaboration with LISA Project NYC to celebrate the resilience of wish kids and NYC! Together, we're bringing Make-A-Wish into our local neighborhoods through art to spread the power of a wish and celebrate the community that supports us.
This project is inspired by Rey Rosa, wish alum and co-founder of the LISA Project NYC. Rey has fought a critical illness since birth, and after growing up in the foster care system, he credits his wish with bringing color and imagination to his life. Rey’s wish to visit Walt Disney World® Resort at the age of 10 allowed him, in his words “To see color again.” Ultimately, it led him to becoming a street artist passionate about giving back to his community.
The Artist: Peach Tao
Peach Tao is an award-winning Brooklyn-based illustrator, muralist, and printmaking artist. She loves creating whimsical images inspired by her environments and traveling around the world.
Born and raised in Beijing, China, she received a BFA in illustration and printmaking from Savannah College of Art and Design. Peach enjoys painting fun murals and windows for all kinds of places throughout NYC and Beijing: public schools, hospital, small businesses, public spaces, bars and restaurants etc.
Her illustration and printmaking art work can also be seen in books, apparel, advertisements and many more. Peach is her nickname because her family name(陶Tao)shares the same pronunciation of Peach（桃Tao）in Chinese.
"Wishes give kids some sort of normalcy, some of their childhood back, so I thought to show some kids being kids. And also, an important part of childhood is curiosity. So I wanted to have some kids 'discover' a wish garden. I was inspired by a girl who fulfilled her wish of volunteering at an elephant shelter in Thailand - hence we see here an elephant putting a wish star high up." - Peach Tao
Peach's mural design was voted on and selected by children in the pediatric ward of Brookdale Hospital, where the mural is painted.
We are grateful to the Seadream Family Foundation for their generous support that made this mural possible.