From Subway Walls to School Halls: Murals That Draw Connection with Marco Santini (Episode #216)
From the United Nations to school hallways, impact artist Marco Santini is helping people see themselves—and each other—in a brighter light. His murals and “One Love” logo bring unity, creativity, and joy to communities around the world, and today he’s here for a conversation about purpose, healing, affirmation, and the power of visual storytelling.
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About Our Guest:
There are few people who can walk into a room or a school—or a corporate gala or the United Nations, for that matter—and leave everyone changed without ever saying a word. Marco Santini is one of those people.
Marco is what the world is coming to know as an “impact artist,” though even that label doesn’t quite capture the full spectrum of his work. What Marco does goes far beyond paint and canvas—he listens deeply, translates human energy into visual poetry, and leaves behind artwork that becomes a touchstone that helps communities to remember their best selves.
After spending an hour with him on the Conspiracy of Goodness Podcast, I can say this with full certainty: the man is a modern-day alchemist. He takes words, colors, and hearts, and turns them into legacy.
The One Love Logo: Where It All Began
I first met Marco Santini during a wild experiment we ran at the Goodness Exchange back in 2020: an all-day virtual event that brought together thought leaders from around the world. Marco was in the background the entire time—listening, observing, absorbing—and at the end of the day, he revealed a single piece of artwork that encapsulated the energy and essence of the whole experience.
That piece now sits on the mantle in my Vermont log cabin, and it still makes me tear up when I look at it.
Since then, Marco has done that same kind of magic all over: He brings people together, listens deeply, and captures their stories and aspirations in paint. He’s done this at Fortune 500 events, schools around the globe, weddings, fundraisers, even at the United Nations—and his work doesn’t just hang on walls, it hangs in people’s hearts.
Marco’s journey to this extraordinary work didn’t start in an art school. It began, as many beautiful things do, with love.
One night back in 2018, Marco found himself sketching the word “love” in different languages. Arabic next to Hebrew, Ukrainian next to Russian, Armenian next to Turkish. That page in his notebook became the beginning of his now-iconic “One Love” logo—a heart composed of the word “love” in over 100 languages.
It’s a simple, profound reminder: there’s more that unites us than divides us, and the greatest of these great uniters is something we have a word for in every language.
And just like that, Marco took a leap of faith. He printed stickers, wheat-pasted posters around New York City, and (with a mix of courage and cleverness, because of local laws around hanging signs) added his Instagram handle. That small risk launched a tidal wave. Within weeks, he was invited to create live art at events across the country.
As Marco says, “Good art is about storytelling. Great art is about connection.” And that’s exactly what his work does—it connects.
Murals That Matter: Giving Voice to Students
One of the most jaw-dropping parts of Marco’s work is what he’s doing in schools. He’s not just decorating hallways—he’s transforming them into cathedrals of belonging.
Marco doesn’t walk into these schools with a design in mind, he walks in with questions: What inspires you? What does your school mean to you? What matters to you right now?
He collects those responses—from kids, teachers, and even parents—and then he turns their words into a collaborative mural. Sometimes their actual drawings are laminated and woven into the final piece; sometimes he lets them help with the painting itself. No matter what, though, he makes sure that the students see themselves in the final work—literally.
One principal in Brooklyn even told Marco that she uses his mural as a conversation tool when a student is struggling. She brings them to the wall and asks, “What word do you see?” From there, the conversation begins—not from punishment, but from possibility.
Creating Connections Across the Country
Marco has already completed over 35 school murals across 13 states, and his dream is to be the first artist to create murals across all 50 states. He’s looking for donors and brand partners who see the value in changing the emotional climate of a generation—one wall at a time.
Can you imagine what that could do? In a time when kids are navigating anxiety, bullying, and disconnection, Marco’s work gives them something to see every day that tells them: You matter. Your words matter. Your presence is part of this.
It’s not just a mural; it’s a mirror of hope.
One of the most powerful themes that came up in our conversation was this truth: what we give our attention to grows—and Marco’s art reminds us to give our attention to kindness, unity, creativity, affirmation, and wonder.
His pieces are full of single words—“authenticity,” “sparkling,” “respect,” “curiosity”—each one a declaration of what’s possible when we slow down and choose what we want more of in our lives.
References Mentioned:
Chapters:
- 00:00 – Intro & Welcome
- 03:52 – Meet Marco Santini, Impact Artist
- 04:40 – The Role of Art as Storytelling and Connection
- 10:00 –Transforming Schools Through Community Murals
- 13:00 – Art as a Solution to School Challenges
- 18:30 – Break
- 21:00 – One Love: A Global Symbol of Unity
- 25:53 – Capturing Events Through Affirmation Art
- 40:55 – From United Nations to a Vision for 50 States
- 52:49 – Closing
