At the MCW Center for Cancer Discovery (CCD), science and community meet under one roof to accelerate progress against cancer. This September, that vision took on new color as Milwaukee artist Mauricio Ramirez completed Translating Hope, a vibrant mural that turns the Center’s main conference space into a living symbol of collaboration, discovery, and progress.Before the first brushstroke, Ramirez had one goal in mind: to create a piece that would make people pause, look closer, and feel connected. “I wanted to create something that feels alive. Every color, every line, every shape represents how individuals are coming together in rhythm to achieve something greater,” he said.
Known for his bold geometric style, Ramirez created Translating Hope to celebrate the relationship between science and community. Across a layered backdrop featuring Milwaukee’s skyline and the landscapes of Eastern Wisconsin, a bright DNA helix stretches upward, symbolizing discovery and connection. Each of the 1,250 polygons and triangles, painted in 180 colors over 210 hours, comes together to tell a single, unified story.
Silhouettes of scientists, clinicians, and community members stand side by side, forming a visual metaphor for how collaboration drives progress. Lake Michigan and Lake Superior appear as angular blue forms framing the scene, while bursts of magenta and orange along the right edge evoke energy, motion, and the ripple effect of discovery.
Ramirez said the experience of creating Translating Hope gave him a new appreciation for the complexity of cancer research. “What surprised me most was realizing how much it takes, how many people, how many resources, to get closer to ending cancer,” he said. “I’m not a scientist, but through this project I learned that everyone has a role. My role is to celebrate and reflect that work through art.”
Gustavo Leone, PhD, MCW Cancer Center Director, said the mural serves as both a focal point and a message of belonging. “Mauricio’s work is a beautiful visual reminder of the people we serve and the impact we strive to make. It reflects the idea that progress can happen when community and science move together.”
For Ramirez, the finished piece—his most intricate to date—stands as a symbol of shared purpose. “I hope when people see it, they feel confidence and connection,” he said. “I hope they see themselves in it, because this mural, like the work happening here, belongs to everyone.”
Meet Ramirez and view his work.