The Good of the Hive

Ridley Elise

Bees gave us color.

It is thought that before bees and other pollinators (approximately 120 million years ago), the earth was bland and lacking color – vast grasslands as far as the eye could see. As the pollinator species evolved with the flora, beauty and color began to expand, and the diversity of species along with it.

From a mural in Lake City, South Carolina

Matthew Willey and his The Good of the Hive® team are on a mission to show people how essential bees are to human survival and the survival of our planet. They’ve painted bees of all sizes on buildings, barn roofs, a zoo building, a tractor trailer, and a Cochlear implant receiver.

I love bumblebees more so than honeybees, but I am totally behind Matt, his team, and all bees everywhere! Below are my favorites. Please click the images to visit thegoodofthehive.com and learn all about each project.

First off, how great is this logo?? I’m gonna buy the t-shirt.
The first mural, for Harold P. Curtis Honey Co.
Colony Expanse, at the Smithsonian Zoo (2018)
World Bees poster
Bee Barns in Nebraska (video on the project page)
Bee Barns in Nebraska (video on the project page)
Mural for Hive Design
The Smithsonian’s Great Ape House (video on project page)
Smallest bees inside the Broadstone Sky Building

Some cool work in progress photos:

On a tractor trailer (video on project page)
Painting the Great Ape House
Closeup painting the Great Ape House

Links for The Good of the Hive: