“Lead with Love” Project with Celebrity Artist Cey Adams is Debuted by Community Foundation + Business for the Arts of Broward

The Community Foundation of Broward in partnership with the Business for the Arts Broward, debuted the second artwork in its “Lead with Love” mural project with a vibrant mural painted by renowned artist Cey Adams at Kingsley Park in Plantation.

The “Lead with Love” mural project is a transformative public art initiative in collaboration with Adams designed to spread a message of love and unity across Broward County. This ambitious project, running from Fall 2024 to 2027, aims to create nine distinctive murals, each in a different city. The project is spearheaded by a partnership between the Community Foundation of Broward and Business for the Arts Broward, with the goal of enriching and unifying the community and promoting cultural engagement.

The new artwork at Kingsley Park in Plantation marks the second of nine murals in this initiative. The first artwork in the project, the “LOVE Las Olas” mural, is located on the western exterior wall of Hoffman’s Chocolates at 601 E. Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale facing Tunnel Top Park.

The project seeks to foster a sense of unity and pride within each community by creating public art that reflects local identity and spirit. Each mural will serve as a cultural landmark, enhancing local character and providing a space for communal gathering and reflection. The murals are intended to be lasting symbols of love and cultural diversity, contributing to the artistic landscape of Broward County and fostering a deeper appreciation for art and community collaboration. Adams tapped into the Broward County arts community and invited select artists to join him in the mural creation process.

Adams, a New York City native and visionary artist, emerged from the downtown graffiti movement in the 80’s alongside fellow artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. He severed as the founding Creative Director at Def Jam Recordings, and along with his business partner Steve Carr, co-founded The Drawing Board, the label’s in-house design firm, where they “defined the visual culture of Hip-Hop.” The creative firm was responsible for some of the most iconic album covers, logos and advertising campaigns for Run-DMC, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Slick Rick, Public Enemy, The Notorious B.I.G., DMX, Jay-Z, Usher, Mary J. Blige and many more. Adams is celebrated for his LOVE murals that have appeared across the United States in cities like New York, Detroit and Boston.

On Sept. 9, Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Broward, along with other team members from the Community Foundation and Plantation Mayor Nick Sortal joined Adams to paint the mural at Kingsley Park.

“THANK YOU to the City of Plantation, Business for the Arts of Broward and the Community Foundation of Broward for inviting me to be a part of the revitalization of Kingsley Park. My LOVE murals are designed to encourage viewers to think and see beyond the surface. The work inspires examination and positive conversation. ‘ONE LOVE PLANTATION’ speaks to the vibrant and diverse community of this city and carries a universal message that resonates with everyone,” said Adams.

“We are proud to bring the second LOVE mural to Broward County at Kingsley Park in Plantation. In partnership with the Community Foundation of Broward, Business for the Arts of Broward is presenting this inspiring public art mural, featuring the powerful message of love by iconic artist Cey Adams, alongside three local artists who helped bring the artwork to life. This is yet another shining example of how business and art unite to uplift and strengthen our community,” said Jarett Levan, President and CEO of BBX Capital, CEO of IT’SUGAR and Business for the Arts of Broward Board Chair.

“The Community Foundation has been a part of this community for over 40 years, and it’s our goal to inspire people to find their voice and express their love of our community,” said O’Flannery Anderson. “These murals will inspire each of us to find a way to love our own community just a little bit more.”

“We have been working diligently for the past several months to bring some ‘love’ to this park, adjoining commercial space and neighborhood, recently adding multiple improvements including new exercise equipment and shade structures, in addition to renaming it Kingsley Park in honor of one of the founding members of the Park East HOA and long-time city Activist Kingsley Smith who created this greenspace from a Former Texaco Gas Station site,” stated Glendon Hall, CRA Redevelopment Administrator. “These efforts are part of a larger holistic approach to enhance the quality of life in the area and honoring its leaders that Cey Adams immediately understood and wanted to be a part of. We are grateful to BFA, Cey and his partners for selecting Plantation to paint this historic ‘One Love, Plantation’ mural recognizing the substantial Caribbean community within the city and amplifying the universal One Love message of peace and unity.”

The “Lead with Love” Plantation mural project was supported by various sponsors including the Community Foundation of Broward, Business for the Arts Broward, Jarett & Dara Levan Fund for the Arts at the Community Foundation of Broward, Florida Power & Light, The City of Plantation, BBX Capital Fund for the Arts at the Community Foundation of Broward and Vicki Gelfund.

For more information about the Community Foundation of Broward, please visit https://www.cfbroward.org/.

For more information about Business for the Arts of Broward, please visit https://www.bfabroward.org.