About the Artist
Ruben Ubiera — known worldwide as Urban Ruben — is a Dominican-American artist whose work bridges the raw energy of graffiti with refined technique he calls "postgraffism." Born in Santo Domingo into a wealthy family, his world shifted dramatically when they immigrated to Salem, Massachusetts, where he discovered street art as both an outlet and an identity.
That passion earned him a full scholarship to the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, launching a career that's taken him across the globe — from the legendary Wynwood Walls of Miami to the Bushwick Collective in Brooklyn to walls throughout Latin America, Europe, and beyond. Now based in South Florida, he's become a fixture at Art Basel Miami Beach and has been named "Street Artist of the Year" by Miami New Times.
His work is instantly recognizable: bold colors, fluid lines, and an unmistakable blend of urban grit with Caribbean warmth. His sister serves as Chief Programs Officer at Salem's Punto Urban Art Museum, keeping the family legacy of street art alive on the East Coast while Ruben continues to put up walls across the country.
"My work often engages the community, bringing art to those who might not usually experience art. A building cannot be raised without a strong foundation, the same goes for a community."
About the Mural
This might be the most "Ontario" mural of the entire festival — a visual encyclopedia of the city's identity, packed with symbols that reward anyone who knows the history.
The roses are Armstrong roses — and that name means everything here. John S. Armstrong arrived in Ontario from Canada in 1889 and founded what would become one of the most influential nurseries in America. The Charlotte Armstrong rose, a cerise pink hybrid tea named for his wife, became Ontario's official city flower in 1962. Armstrong roses were planted in the White House Rose Garden. They put Ontario on the map. In the mural, they're a quiet nod to the city's roots — literally.
The picnic table is a tribute to the legendary All States Picnic, held on Euclid Avenue starting in 1916 and drawing up to 100,000 people. Tables were lined up along the Euclid Avenue median with signs for each of the country's 48 states — a celebration of how many transplants from across America had made Ontario home. It boasted the "World's Longest Picnic Table" according to Ripley's Believe It or Not! The picnic ran until 1981, was revived for the 1991 centennial, and remains part of Ontario's collective memory.
A classic car cruises through the scene, a clear homage to the Route 66 Cruisin' Reunion — Southern California's ultimate weekend celebration of America's love affair with the automobile and its world-famous highway. Every September, more than 22 square blocks of Euclid Avenue fill with over 900 classic cars and 150,000 fans. It's Ontario's biggest annual event.
The Mary statue references the 12 near life-size Nativity scenes, originally crafted in 1958 by noted Los Angeles artist and sculptor Rudolph Vargas. By 1976, the tradition had expanded to 12 scenes and they've been displayed together every holiday season since then along the Euclid median from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day. For generations of Ontario families, Christmas means walking Euclid.
And the hat? That's for Ontario's newest chapter: the Ontario Tower Buzzers, the city's first Minor League Baseball team, a Low-A Dodgers affiliate debuting at ONT Field in 2026. The "DTO" on the mural is the logo for Downtown Ontario — designed by Mia Melle herself — now woven into a mural celebrating where the district has been and where it's going.
Threading through it all: street culture energy, graffiti roots, Latino heritage, the warm scent of palo santo. Urban Ruben brought his postgraffism style to Ontario and made something that feels both deeply local and universally alive.
About the Sponsor: Lewis Group of Companies
Lewis Group of Companies is one of the nation's largest privately held real estate developers — and their roots in this region run deep. Founded by Ralph and Goldy Lewis in Claremont in 1955, the company has developed more than 35,000 acres and built over 59,000 homes across California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah.
Their connection to Ontario isn't just business — it's personal. City leaders have said: "Ontario has always enjoyed its relationship with the Lewis family and companies – it's a true partnership. Your longtime view and concern about what's best for the community has always resulted in projects of the highest quality."
The company actively supports charities and non-profits that share their values, with an emphasis on programs promoting healthy living, education, and leadership. Sponsoring a mural that celebrates Ontario's heritage fits squarely within that mission — investing not just in buildings, but in the culture and identity of the places they help shape.