Committed to pushing the boundaries of public art, community practice and community engagement.

Studio

Amber Art and Design is grounded in the belief that art catalyzes positive growth.

Our team specializes in murals, public interventions, and creative facilitation, responding to community needs.  We use art as a tool to actively engage people in the design of public spaces, guided by three pillars of work: the design and fabrication of public art, community engagement, and arts education with a specific focus on environmental justice.

Five people standing in front of a colorful wall hanging made of various patterned fabric strips. They are smiling and dressed in a mix of casual and eclectic clothing.

History

Group of diverse young people, some in orange shirts and others in white chef uniforms, posing together at an event against a blue backdrop. Many are smiling, and some wear hats or glasses.

Established in 2013, Amber Art & Design is an artist collective founded by Keir Johnston, Linda Fernandez, Ernel Martinez, Charles Barbin, and the late Willis “Nomo” Humphrey.

The collective initially shared a studio on Amber street, inspiring the group’s name. Since then, Amber has added Martha O’Connell to the team and has completed over 60 public art projects.

Mission

We work across disciplines to bring together artists, designers, cultural practitioners, and partners to develop ideas that are thoughtful, accessible, and rooted in place. From early research and concept development to fabrication and implementation, our practice values experimentation, storytelling, and collaboration—creating work that invites curiosity, encourages dialogue, and offers new ways of experiencing the world around us.

Amber Art and Design approaches creativity as a process of discovery, exchange, and collective imagination.

A community gathering outdoors during the daytime, with a group of people wearing masks, some sitting at tables and others standing, in an urban garden setting with colorful mural building and residential structures in the background.

Your support helps us create meaningful art and design experiences that strengthen communities, expand access, and create lasting impact.

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  • Geometric drawing of an outline square with sections divided by vertical, horizontal, and half circle lines.

    Design

    Our designs are unique works of art informed by studies of culture, nature, and place. Through a community-driven process, we create thoughtful public artworks and experiences by developing creative programs that inspire participation, storytelling, and connection.

  • Geometric drawing of an outline square with sections divided by vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines.

    Consultation

    We’re committed to creating inclusive and accessible public spaces that reflect the needs of a community. We have served as consultants on large-scale public art projects, artist residencies, architectural spaces, and community-centered programs that encourage meaningful engagement and long-term impact.

  • Geometric drawing of an outline square with sections divided by vertical, horizontal, and circle lines.

    Education

    We believe the arts are a catalyst for expression, critical thinking, and connection. Our curriculum encourages learners of all ages to experiment with materials, explore ideas through inquiry, and build confidence through collaboration, creativity, and hands-on making.

  • Geometric drawing of an outline square with sections divided by vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines.

    Community Engagement

    We believe meaningful community engagement begins with listening, relationship building, and shared storytelling. Through public programs, workshops, and collaborative processes, we create welcoming opportunities for neighbors to shape creative outcomes and participate in collective design.

  • A simple line drawing of a house with a triangular roof and three windows.

    Fabrication

    Using a range of techniques, we have fabricated more than 60 interior and exterior public artworks of varying scale and complexity. In partnership with clients and communities, we transform ideas into engaging, educational, and thoughtfully crafted works of art.

In Remembrance

Willis "Nomo" Humphrey

Two men smiling at a gathering outside a building with a sign that reads "Luther King Jr. Recreation Center." One man is wearing glasses, a suit, and a tie; the other man is wearing a hat and a striped shirt.

Willis “Nomo” Humphrey was Born in Biloxi, Mississippi and graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta, and trained as a graphic designer. Throughout his time as a staff artist of the Mural Arts Program and as a founder of Amber Art and Design, Willis has worked with many Philadelphian neighborhoods and communities to fabricate murals that commemorate the lives and history of African Americans. In his work, Willis articulated inner freedom through outward expression. He channeled creative energy through many outlets from digital design to free-flowing acrylics on substrates that range from clothing apparel to thirty foot murals.

His body of work spans the city from playgrounds to senior centers, schools, and recreation centers; most notable are Staircases and Mountaintops: Ascending Beyond the Dream at the MLK Recreation Center, Colorful Legacy: Building Brotherhood in West Philadelphia, and Remembering a Forgotten Hero: Octavius Catto at the Universal Institute Charter School in South Philadelphia. Willis passed away in November 2018 and is deeply missed by the Philadelphian art community, and by those he has impacted through his community engagement and mural projects and initiatives.

Clients

Breck Built Studio

Clean Air Council

Delaware River Waterfront Corp

Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States

Mary McLeod Bethune

Moore College of Art


Mural Arts Philadelphia

NYC Department of Transportation

Philadelphia International Airport

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Playful Learning Landscapes

Rhode Island State Council on the Arts

Taller Puertorriqueño

Temple University

The Village of Arts and Humanities

Trust for Public Land

University City District

Playful Learning Landscapes

University of Nebraska

UPENN

Academia Antonia Alonso

African American Museum Philadelphia

Albright-Knox Art Gallery

Allentown Art Museum

Barnes Foundation

Big Sandbox

Brandywine Workshop

Collaborators

Aaron Ammons

Ali Bradley

Ambrose Liu

Angie “Agonza” Gonzalez

Anne Harrison

Ben Howard

Ben Miller

Beth Uzwiak

Betsy Casanas

Billy Yallowitz

Byran Martinez

Carlo Campbell

Carlos Valencia

Carol Zou

Conrad Benner

Daniel Tucker

Dave Guinn

DayOne

Dayannah Woody

Dig Ferreira

Efrain Herrera

Eric Okdeh

Eve Lewis

Felix St. Fort

Frank Barbella

Gabby Attaway

Gabe Tiberino

Gail Gayle

Grace Sheahan

Hal Blum

Heryk Tomassini

Holly Hazel

Intisar Hamilton

James Schuster

Jamie Hughes

Jamie Victor

Jaq “Jingle” Masters

Jared Wood

Jason Slowik

Jenn Procacci

Jenny Lee-Mas

Jess Jackson

Jocelyn Macdonald

Jocelyn Thompson

Joel Rosario Tapia

Johnny Buss

José Ortiz-Pagán

Jovi Sevon

Joy Best

Juan Carlos Valencia Michileno

June Lopez

Justin Keller

Kathleen Greene

Kate Welbes

Kayla Thomas

Kenni Field

Kenza Bousseloub

Katherine Shiwozoa

Kevin Shields

Kyra N. Thompson

Kim Torres

Kris Casañas

Laila Islam

Laura Bejarano

Li Sumpter

Logan Cryer

Madalyn Smith

Malcolm Burnley

Michael Ezell

Michelle Ortiz

Mtukufu Mtumaini-El

Mycah Dickerson

Nestor Rodriguez

Nila Devaney

Nina “Lyrispect” Ball

Nora Rabbins

Pedro Alanzo

Rachel Glidden

Rashayla Maree-Brown

Rodney Camarce

Sahiti Bonam

Sam Rodriguez

Sharon Leshner

Sheldon Abba

Shira Walinsky

Shirley Slaughter

Stephanie Garcia

Tai Humphrey

Taji Nahl

Tamara Diaz

Tash Billington

Tatyana Fazlalizadeh

Teddy Harris

Terrance “ShapShot” Anderson

The Future is Us Collective

Thomas Walton

Tim Belknap

Trisha Sealy

Yannick Lowrey

Ysanel Torres

Zoe Hicks