Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, announced that American artist Adam Cvijanovic has been commissioned to create the largest artwork in the 146-year history of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The monumental mural, titled What’s So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding, will be permanently installed in the cathedral’s Fifth Avenue entrance vestibule and dedicated during a Mass on Sunday, September 21, 2025.

Cvijanovic’s mural, soaring to a height of 25 feet, depicts generations of Irish and contemporary immigrants, sacred figures inspired by the Apparition at Knock, Ireland, and New York City’s first responders. Through a combination of historic, contemporary, and eternal figures, the mural celebrates both the city’s immigrant history and the enduring faith that has shaped the cathedral and the Archdiocese of New York.

“With this mural, the archdiocese joins the Church’s long tradition of exhibiting extraordinary artworks in our places of worship,” said Cardinal Dolan. “It is all the more meaningful as it honors the Apparition at Knock and recognizes the contributions of immigrants and first responders who continue to bring their faith and hope to New York.”

The mural features prominent historical figures including Saint Frances Cabrini, Father Félix Varela, The Venerable Pierre Toussaint, Al Smith, Dorothy Day, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, and Archbishop John Hughes. Each figure is depicted in Cvijanovic’s signature realistic yet expansive style, illuminated by gold leaf and unified by a continuous sky across the three walls.

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and based in Brooklyn, Cvijanovic is a self-taught artist known for large-scale, site-specific works integrating art into architectural spaces. His previous commissions include murals at the Alexander Hotel in Indianapolis, Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and the Bean Federal Center, as well as exhibitions at Tate Liverpool, MASS MoCA, and the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.

Cvijanovic was selected through a competitive process overseen by the Archdiocese of New York, curator Suzanne Geiss, and the advisory firm Seven Willow Collaborative. The mural was made possible by the generosity of benefactors of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

This landmark work promises to be a lasting tribute to faith, immigration, and service, reinforcing St. Patrick’s Cathedral’s reputation as “America’s Parish Church” and a vibrant center of history, art, and culture in New York City.