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South Carolina artists Lauren Andreu and Jared Owens have received worldwide recognition for their mural, “A Great Cloud of Witnesses,” located in Columbia’s first Starbucks Community Store. The mural features three Columbia residents, including two artists and a nurse, surrounded by local Black history and culture photographs. The artwork is displayed on one of the interior walls at the Starbucks on Forest Drive.
The mural is now featured in Starbucks Stories, an online publication that showcases uplifting stories related to Starbucks worldwide. It is one of six murals featured in Starbucks Community Stores in Brooklyn, New York; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; Taiwan, and South Korea. The initiative is part of Starbucks’ commitment to provide more opportunities for underserved populations by focusing on education, workforce development, and job creation.
Lauren Andreu, a Columbia-based muralist, is known for using bright colors that draw attention to different parts of the story she is telling. Charleston artist Jared Owens, a South Carolina native, honed his artistic style while incarcerated in New Jersey by studying art magazines, books, and critics’ reviews in newspapers.
Through its Community Store Initiative, Starbucks supports the local culture in each community. Community Stores benefit the community directly and reflect the local culture through art and décor created by local artists.
