Allegheny Center Alliance Church dedicated two new murals on one of its buildings’ walls this past fall when it celebrated its 130th anniversary. Their creator, artist Kyle Holbrook, wants residents to visit the North Side church on Monday and be inspired by his 60-foot vivid portrait of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. that incorporates a soaring dove and a Bible verse.
On the holiday celebrating the civil rights leader, Holbrook sees special meaning in that verse from Amos 5:24: “Let justice roll on like a river, righteous like a never-failing stream.”
One of his artistic ambassadors will be present for a dedication of the mural Monday at 11 a.m., framed by Donald J. Trump’s second inauguration as president in Washington, D.C., the same day. “In light of recent divisiveness, this mural is a reminder of Dr. King’s dream of unity, justice and perseverance,” Holbrook wrote in a news release. “Its vivid imagery and hopeful message are meant to inspire the community to work together as ‘one people, one America.’ ”
Holbrook wrote in an email that the most important thing isn’t his presence, but rather “it’s the message the mural conveys. It’s a tribute to Dr. King’s dream of unity and justice, unveiled at a time when our country needs that message most.
“The mural is a beacon not just for the North Side but for anyone who believes in the power of art to unite us and keep Dr. King’s dream alive.”
He painted the King mural and the church’s mission statement on two walls of a warehouse on church property, which fronts East Ohio Street, last year. Executive artist at Allegheny Arts, Holbrook is known for his impactful public art projects that emphasize community engagement and social justice, according to the release. This mural is part of his ongoing commitment to using art as a tool to inspire and unite communities.
Splitting time between Pittsburgh and Miami, the artist has dedicated his career to depicting the struggles and triumphs of African American communities highlighting themes of social justice and unity. He has completed nearly 400 murals in the Pittsburgh area and 150 in Miami, according to a Meet the Artist biography the church provided, plus murals in 43 countries and 49 states. Last year he finished four murals about peace during the Olympics in Paris. Right now he is working on a mural in Florida and cannot attend Monday’s dedication.
“Holbrook, founder of Moving Lives of Kids (MLK Mural Project), focuses on collaborative work, galvanizing people through the power of art, particularly adults and youth with special needs,” it continued. “Holbrook aims to show the true power of art to unite communities, champion causes and beautify neighborhoods.
“For ACAC, Holbrook was the natural choice to paint our warehouse walls.”

ACAC’s history explains its decision to remain on the North Side when other churches relocated to the North Hills during redevelopment of the neighborhood, which is well documented on its website and includes a documentary of its 130 years. It decided to remain there and persevere, building on its past triumphs and struggles as a congregation, especially moving from a mostly all-white church to becoming a diverse congregation in its urban neighborhood.
The second mural depicting the church’s mission reflects this history. From that Meet the Art biography, church officials explained it “highlights ACAC’s mission statement with a nod to the beautiful diversity of the congregation and North Side neighborhood.
Its anniversary included another dedication: the official opening of a new Community Hub that connects several of the church buildings and is open to residents beyond its congregation and provides services and activities that include a number of partners.
Jennifer Lawlor, creative arts director, said Holbrook came to the church through its Community and Advancement Pastor Ken Turnbull. He attends chamber of commerce and other community organization events and activities and knew of the artist’s work. It was Holbrook’s first project for the church.
Work started in the spring of 2024 after Holbrook consulted with the staff and fine-tuned the initial ideas for the murals, she said.
Holbrook wrote in the email, “While I’m not a member of Allegheny Center Alliance Church, I feel deeply connected to its mission and the incredible people who make it such a special place. This church truly embodies the spirit of community and faith. From the first day I walked through its doors, I was welcomed with warmth and open arms — whether it was Pastor Ken Turnbull’s thoughtful guidance, Pastor Alan Hannah’s wisdom or Jennifer Lawlor’s boundless energy.
“Painting these murals felt like joining a family. Whether it was sharing stories over morning coffee in the café or catching a quick snack from their ever-generous kitchen team during late-night painting sessions, every moment was filled with kindness and a shared sense of purpose.”
He wrote that the murals were a collaborative effort that took weeks of planning and about five weeks of hands-on painting. “Pastor Alan selected the powerful quote that became the focal point of the MLK mural, and his input — along with Pastor Ken’s and Jen’s — helped shape every detail,” Holbrook explained. “We even timed the final clear coat to beat Pittsburgh’s unpredictable October weather!
“Every brushstroke was a labor of love, and I can’t stress enough how much the church community’s encouragement fueled this work. Their faith and energy made it easy to spend long hours perfecting every detail.”
The church uses the former warehouse to store equipment and supplies, and Lawlor said it has sustained a fire and “is not the prettiest building.” The murals gave it a new look and provides inspiration, she said, something important not only for its congregation but also for Pittsburgh King PreK-8 students who walk past it every day as well as North Side residents and visitors to the neighborhood’s parks, businesses, restaurants and attractions.

Holbrook reflected on his work during the fall church anniversary dedication. “Immersing myself in this project has been an absolute honor and a blessing,” he wrote in the Meet the Art biography. “The energy, the people and the spirit of the church have made this my favorite project of all time — not just aesthetically, but also because of what the church stands for and the amazing work being done within its walls.
“As I was painting and I watched all the different people coming in and out, I saw the mission statement I was putting on the wall being lived out below me, every day. I fell in love with being here, and I put my heart and soul into these murals. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together.”
Lawlor said the church and its congregation funded the murals, and they are another contribution to the neighborhood along with its other many ministries and community services. “We made a less than attractive building look beautiful,” she said. “We have MLK on the side of the building that is facing the elementary school named for Dr. King. It’s a source of pride, inspiration and hope. The artwork on the other side is also beautiful, and the community has been largely positive about the effort that we made.”
Holbrook completed one more project for the church in 2024 – painting a Christmas scene as a soloist and the church choir sang as part of its Christmas program. It is captured on a YouTube video titled “Noël – The True Gift of Christmas” that can be viewed via the church’s website.
“It was really beautiful,” Lawlor said of the painting. “We have it and have been debating whether we will keep it – our new community building has lots of wall space – and hang it or do an auction or a raffle and use it for a mission appeal. I will be sad if we let it go because it is so pretty.”

Holbrook wrote that one of the most touching parts of this journey with the church was creating the Noël painting, inspired by the song “The Noël” that played on repeat throughout the process. “It was a collaborative and spiritual experience that reminded me why art is so powerful,” he wrote. “It has the ability to unite us and reflect our shared faith. Painting the baby Jesus felt like an immense privilege, and I truly believe the process was guided by a higher purpose.”
What made it more memorable for him is that his mother and daughter, a second-year medical student, shared that experience with him and the congregation. Holbrook wrote that she “witnessed the power of faith, art and community coming together. Moments like these remind me why I started Moving Lives of Kids 23 years ago: to use art to build bridges, foster understanding and inspire positive change.”
Helen is a copy editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but she's currently on strike. Contact her at hfallon@unionprogress.com.