Gatsby on Spring Street: A centennial mural brings Fitzgerald’s vision to life

Between bustling Nassau Street foot traffic and Small World and Tacoria lines, Princeton has a new and vibrant Spring Street art installation. The new mural is inspired by “The Great Gatsby” and painted on a canvas and hung across the walls of Spring Street, a beautiful homage to one of America’s most iconic novels, just in time for its 100th anniversary.

Painted by artist Allison Wong in partnership with the Princeton University Library and the Arts Council of Princeton, the mural commemorates a former Princeton undergraduate and his work — Fitzgerald started at Princeton in 1913, although he did not graduate. With vivid colors and with symbols from the piece, the art captures Gatsby’s gilded world in the heart of downtown Princeton for students, tourists, and locals alike to enjoy.

The Arts Council did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

According to the Princeton University Library, the Gatsby mural is one of several creative endeavors in the University’s “The Great Gatsby at 100” celebration. In this celebration, the mural serves as a bridge between the University and the Princeton community, a street-level celebration of a literary legacy that began inside the ivory towers but now lives in public imagination.

Walking through Spring Street, the mural’s dramatic visuals stand out: Gatsby’s yellow car seems to speed across the city, cutting through sleek art deco patterns. Above it all loom the unmistakable blue eyes from the original book cover, gazing over the entire piece, a reminder of the novel’s themes of surveillance and illusion. On the right side of the mural, Daisy Buchanan, bathed in the glow of fireworks, holds a glass of champagne.

These elements blend in a dreamlike scene that brings Gatsby’s world to life in one flowing mural that invites visitors to feel like they are walking through the story.

For some students, the mural also raises questions about what gets memorialized and why. “It’s beautiful,” said Brooke Xu ’28 in an interview with the ‘Prince.’ “But it also makes me think about whose stories get painted on public streets. Gatsby is iconic, sure, but I’d love to see murals that celebrate other voices, too.”

While the mural portrays symbols of luxury, such as Gatsby’s car, champagne, and fireworks, it also reflects a hint of the American narrative, centered on wealth and longing. For viewers like Xu, the mural is admirable, but it also prompts reflection on which stories remain in the spotlight and which ones are left out. Other viewers believe there is a meaning of finding yourself in the art.

“I think the Gatsby mural’s cool — it captures the idea of being ambitious, but in a way, it also warns you not to lose yourself,” said Israel Adeboga ’28.

Still, the mural turns a simple stretch of street into a cultural moment. Whether you are a literature buff or someone looking for a new photo op, the Gatsby mural has brought new color and conversation to Princeton’s sidewalks. So, next time you are heading to Princeton Public Library, don’t forget to look around. Gatsby is waiting right there on Spring Street.

Cynthia Lee is a contributing writer for The Prospect. She is a member of the class of 2028 and can be reached at cl9425@princeton.edu.

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