'Artfully United' Brings the Power of Community Art to the Screen

 

'Artfully United'

 Brings the Power of Community Art to the Screen

The documentary “Artfully United” opens nationwide on February 20, streaming on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, and YouTube. After an awards-qualifying run, the film introduces a national audience to the work of Los Angeles muralist and visual artist Mike Norice—and to the communities that shaped him.

Directed by Dave Benner and produced by Chris Walters, “Artfully United” focuses on art as action. For nearly eight years, Norice has painted large-scale murals across some of Los Angeles’ most underserved neighborhoods, placing messages of hope, unity, and affirmation in public spaces often defined by neglect or conflict.

Born and raised in Watts, Norice grew up in the same neighborhoods where he now paints. He launched the Artfully United project in 2017, turning walls in impoverished areas and gang-impacted blocks into sites of dignity and visibility. What began locally has grown into a national series of more than 20 murals.

The film goes beyond the artwork itself. Family members and longtime friends reflect on growing up in Watts, the pressures of survival, and an unexpected reunion that reshapes Norice’s personal story. Rather than framing success as departure, the documentary centers on return, responsibility, and connection.

One of the film’s most visible works is Norice’s mural at Tam’s Burgers No. 21 in Compton, painted after Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us music video brought renewed attention to the site. Despite vandalism, the mural was restored and embraced by the community—underscoring the film’s central idea that public art becomes communal once it enters shared space.

Today, Norice’s work spans murals, sneaker art, and collaborations with major institutions, but “Artfully United” keeps its focus where it belongs: on how art can strengthen communities, bridge divides, and endure.

“Artfully United” streams nationwide beginning February 20.