Harvard Innovation Labs: Art Mural Celebrates Creativity & Resilience

Experience the vibrant "Invent, Endure, Outlive Them" installation at Harvard Innovation Labs – a powerful testament to art, innovation, and overcoming challenges.

Harvard Innovation Labs has transformed its space with a striking new mural, "Invent, Endure, Outlive Them."  This permanent installation marks the innovation center's first foray into large-scale public art.

The mural comes to life thanks to artist Madison Elyse Rubenstein, whose partnership with Harvard was facilitated by ArtLifting. This former Harvard Innovation Labs venture champions artists who have faced disabilities or housing insecurity.

From a young age, Rubenstein (who is gender-fluid and uses any pronouns) found creative expression through art. Painting became a way to visualize chronic pain and process complex emotions. "Artmaking is a tool of adaptability," Rubenstein explains, "it helps me survive in the world as a disabled person."

"Invent, Endure, Outlive Them" bursts with Rubenstein's distinctive style. The artist focused intently on how colors interact, seemingly changing, pulsating, and shifting depending on their proximity.  This dynamism is balanced by diverse brushstrokes, adding textured energy that never feels chaotic.

The mural, unveiled in 2024, has become a vibrant centerpiece for Harvard's community of over 1,600 student innovators.  Rubenstein sees a clear link between art and innovation: "Disabled folks are constantly dreaming and reinventing the world...we have a greater capacity to conceive of... imaginative forms of community care.”

Art installation

Mural installation at the Harvard Innovation Labs

Harvard Innovation Labs community members stop to take in "Invent, Endure, Outlive Them" during a tour of the i-lab.

Madison Elyse Rubenstein’s painting that they used for the mural

Learn more about ArtLifting artists and projects at artlifting.com, on LinkedIn, and on Instagram.

Follow Madison Elyse Rubenstein and learn more about their practice on the ArtLifting website, Instagram, or at MadisonElyseRubenstein.com.