Downtown New Bedford Fits the Pieces Together with New Tetris Mural

Look up! It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a new mural in New Bedford.

That's right, an innovative new mural has landed in downtown New Bedford atop the roof of PLAY Arcade at the bottom of Union Street. This striking piece pays homage to one of the world’s most iconic video games, Tetris, and is a tribute to the vibrant, growing art culture of the SouthCoast.

Visible from above, the mural has quickly become a must-see addition and a unique perspective on the city’s expanding art scene.

The mural is the brainchild of Fairhaven native and graffiti artist Brian "BB" Tillett, a well-known figure in the local art community.

PLAY Arcade owner Adam Katz, who commissioned the artwork, explained that the design of the mural symbolizes Tetris pieces fitting together, representing New Bedford as a city that is creatively "completing the puzzle" of Massachusetts' art landscape. The space background represents the vast creative options of the local art community.

"The lone Tetris piece represents New Bedford completing the puzzle in a play field of what is the artistic growth of Massachusetts," Katz explained.

What makes this mural even more special is its use of a unique, transformative paint. In the daylight, the mural’s colors come alive under the natural sunlight. At night, it transforms, glowing under ultraviolet light to give an entirely new experience, offering a vibrant twist for evening viewers and adding a dynamic, ever-changing quality to the artwork.

Tillett also collaborated with New Bedford resident and fellow artist Jeff Saint to create this colorful masterpiece. It’s a lively, enduring reminder of the city’s dedication to creativity, where art is both celebrated and accessible to all.