Sussman mural: “Inclusive and universal”

“I don't think I really paid attention to the Railroad Museum until that mural showed up.”

This sentiment, shared by many students, captures how a newly transformed wall draws the attention of those passing behind South Cottage and Keil Hall. The building showcasing the art is the Robert McFadden Model Railroad Museum. Following McFadden’s death in 1973, the building was converted to house 80 Lionel engines, 200 pieces of rolling stock, and 200 feet of track. But while the building stores history inside, its exterior has become a vibrant canvas celebrating the modern Mercersburg community.

The artist behind the project is Mercersburg alumnus Nigel Sussman ’01, now a professional muralist and illustrator based in Berkeley, California. Known for his complex isometric style, Sussman creates bold line art filled with energy and vitality.

His contribution to Mercersburg Academy’s visual landscape spans more than two decades. Sussman’s campus art began before he even graduated. “One of my very first murals ever was in the stairwell of the building that was replaced by the Burgin Center,” Sussman recalled. He also said, “There was a sandwich painting I made in the dining hall for many years after I graduated. It was then moved to Romeo’s in town for a while.” For Sussman, returning this past summer to paint the museum’s brick wall felt like a continuation of his creative legacy. “This new mural feels like a much-deserved improvement.”

Sussman’s based his creative process for the project on collaboration and community feedback. “The wall was suggested, and I then worked with school staff to compile a list of relevant objects that felt important and specific to Mercersburg, while also being as inclusive and universal as possible,” Sussman explained. The resulting mural weaves together iconic elements of campus life—including the chapel, music, and sports—into a unified graphic piece.

Arts teacher Sydney Caretti noted the piece’s full reflection of the Mercersburg experience. “You can do and try all of the things that are visually represented, and it captures us as a whole community,” she observed. “And hopefully everyone sees themselves somewhere in that mural.”

Although Sussman’s time at Mercersburg predated Caretti, she praised his signature aesthetic. “I think that he has a very commercial graphic style, which is fresh and bold and very exciting visually because it holds a lot of contrast.” She also uses Sussman’s thriving career to challenge common misconceptions about pursuing visual arts: “So many people say that you can’t make a living in art. Poop on them.”

For Sussman, returning to paint the mural carried personal emotional weight far beyond a typical commission. It offered him an opportunity to give back to the institution where he first began his artistic journey. “It is always an honor to be able to create something that brings joy and color to a community,” Sussman reflected. “It is particularly emotional to be able to return to a place that was so formative for my journey, and leave something that will inspire future generations as well.”

By bringing a visual story to a previously blank space, Sussman gave a quiet piece of campus history a bold exterior presence. The wall now encourages anyone walking past to pause, look up, and trace the creative roots that began right here at Mercersburg.