PaintCare and Keep America Beautiful were joined today by elected officials, local dignitaries, and industry stakeholders for a first-look ceremony unveiling the organizations’ new community mural at 422 Smith Street in Providence, Rhode Island. The project seeks to raise awareness of paint stewardship and local recycling efforts happening throughout the state. Local multidisciplinary visual artist, Greg Was Here, created the mural artwork, incorporating leftover paint collected by PaintCare’s leftover paint recycling program.
During the event, remarks were given by Michael W. Johnson, President and CEO of the American Coatings Association; Jason Smith, Keep America Beautiful, Director, Eastern Region; Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley; State Senator Jake Bissaillon; and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Director Terry Gray. Attendees also included representatives from Rhode Island College, where the artist attended college.
ACA CEO Mike Johnson delivers remarks at the Providence, Rhode Island PaintCare mural unveiling.
“We are proud to unveil this beautiful community mural created by local artist Greg Was Here, in partnership with Keep America Beautiful and Conflux Art Projects,” said Michael W Johnson, President and CEO of the American Coatings Association, which created PaintCare. “This project is a powerful example of stewardship in action. By incorporating recycled-content paint made from paint collected through the PaintCare program, the mural demonstrates how leftover paint can be given new purpose while beautifying communities and highlighting the value of responsible paint lifecycle management. It also reflects the collaboration and innovation that make projects like this possible.”
“Beautification projects are the heart of what we do here at Keep America Beautiful. Murals can bring communities together and create lasting pride in the places we call home,” said Jason Smith, Keep America Beautiful Director, Eastern Region. “This newest mural not only transforms a shared space but also encourages people to think about the role they play in keeping their local communities clean and beautiful, including participating in efforts like paint recycling.”
The project celebrates the state’s history of sustainability and paint stewardship by turning recycled paint into highly visible public art. The mural, seen in Providence’s Smith Hill neighborhood, features a collage-inspired design that symbolizes how existing materials can be transformed into something new, meaningful, and beautiful. In the area, Conflux Art Projects has been commissioning art from concept to completion for over two decades.
“The artist, Greg Pennisten, also known as Greg Was Here, has done amazing work throughout the city. You may have seen some of his mural projects throughout Providence,” said Sara Mintz, Conflux Art Projects Co-Founder. “We’re excited to work with PaintCare to spread the word on paint recycling through impactful artistic expression.”
PaintCare’s annual report in Rhode Island shows the continued scale of the program. In 2025 alone, Rhode Islanders dropped off 74,074 gallons of paint for recycling, contributing to the nearly 1 million gallons collected since the program began in 2014. Currently, the program has 30 collection sites across the state and 99.9% of residents live within 15 miles of a drop-off location.
Laura Honis, PaintCare Rhode Island and Connecticut Program Manager added, “The PaintCare program has been operating in Rhode Island for over a decade, providing opportunities for households and businesses to recycle leftover paint easily and responsibly. By working with community partners like Keep America Beautiful, we are finding another beneficial use for leftover paint and celebrating paint stewardship in the region.”
“Public art has the power to bring our city to life, celebrate local artists and make Providence a more vibrant place,” said Mayor Brett P. Smiley. “This mural is a showcase of how sustainability and creativity can come together to make lasting impacts. We are not only celebrating artists, but also reminding everyone of the roles we play in protecting our environment. I thank PaintCare, Keep America Beautiful and Greg Was Here for bringing this project to our city.”
State Senator Jake Bissaillon said, “I’m grateful to PaintCare, Keep America Beautiful, Conflux Art Projects, and Greg Was Here for bringing this beautiful mural to Smith Hill. The late Senate President Dominick Ruggerio championed paint recycling in Rhode Island, leading the effort in the Senate to establish our statewide program in 2012. It’s fitting to see that work come to life here on Smith Street, where a Providence artist has turned leftover paint into something the whole neighborhood can take pride in.”
State Representative Arthur Handy said, “Rhode Island’s paint stewardship legislation created a sustainable way to keep leftover paint out of the waste stream and put it to new use. This mural highlights how recycled paint can transform our communities. I would like to thank the artist, Greg Was Here, PaintCare, and Keep America Beautiful for this mural initiative.”
“If we cultivate a throw-away society, we will throw away our kids’ future. For Providence to thrive, sustainability has to be baked into everything we do,” said Councilwoman Althea Graves (Ward 12). “So, as the Councilwoman for Ward 12, a member of the Committee on Finance, the Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning, and a fan of Greg Was Here’s work, I am thrilled that we are not just celebrating public art in Smith Hill, but our duty to the environment.”
Terry Gray, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) said, “Lots of people have unused paint when they finish their projects. The PaintCare program provides a convenient opportunity for residents to return the leftovers for reuse and recycling with collection locations across Rhode Island. Today’s mural unveiling ceremony provides a great demonstration of how these paints can be mixed and put to use. Since its inception, the PaintCare program has successfully recycled thousands of gallons of paint, keeping it out of our landfill and environment. DEM has been proud to partner with PaintCare for over a decade to promote paint recycling and we look forward to continuing our productive relationship.”
To learn more about PaintCare and its paint recycling program in Rhode Island, including more 30 local drop-off site locations, please visit paintcare.org/states/rhode-island. Since 2014, the statewide program has collected more than 935,000 gallons of unwanted, leftover paint.