New Nokomis mural invites public to see animals differently

A new mural in South Minneapolis is bringing the animal protection movement into public view.

The mural, entitled “Be Kind to All Kinds,” was created by Minneapolis muralist Xena Goldman in partnership with local nonprofit Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA). Located at the bakery Vegan East, the mural celebrates animals of various species as individuals with their own thoughts, feelings, and personalities.

The large-scale mural is one of the first animal rights murals ever installed in Minnesota.

The mural depicts a pig, cat, dog, cow, and bee. Each animal is inspired by a real individual whose story offers a window into the lives of animals.

The pig represents Wally, a beloved resident of nearby SoulSpace Farm Sanctuary in New Richmond, Wisconsin, who made international headlines in 2017 after escaping from a truck headed to a meat processing plant. Wally survived a fall onto I-90 and went on to spend nearly a decade at the sanctuary, where he became a visitor favorite for his sociable personality.

The cat represents Nora, an internet-famous cat who enjoyed playing her caretakers’ piano, after she was adopted from the streets of New Jersey.

Viewers can explore all the stories by scanning a QR code on the mural. Together, the animals’ stories highlight the mural’s central message that every animal is someone, not something.

The project grew out of a volunteer-led effort to create public art that could connect the general public with the animal movement. The planning included a public listening session and an open call for artists that drew more than 50 applications from around the world.

“Movements grow when they’re visible,” said Julie Knopp of Compassionate Action for Animals who formerly worked at Keewaydin school and lived in Longfellow. She now resides in Highland Park. “For most of my life in Minnesota, I thought I was one of the few people here who cared about animals like cows and pigs. I eventually discovered an incredible community of farm animal advocates in Minnesota that I never knew existed. This mural helps make our community visible to the public and offers an invitation for people to join us and create a kinder world for all animals.”

The “Be Kind to All Kinds” mural was funded and organized by Compassionate Action for Animals with support from Vegan East. 

A ribbon-cutting celebration was held Oct. 10, 2026. Muralist Xena Goldman provided a behind-the-scenes look at her creative process, and there was music by award-winning singer-songwriter Mary Bue. Baked goods were available for purchase. The mural is located at 5501 S. 34th Ave., Minneapolis. 

About Compassionate Action for Animals

Compassionate Action for Animals is a Minnesota nonprofit working to inspire people to create a kinder world for animals through education, community building, and opportunities for compassionate action. Learn more at caa.mn.