( CNN ) -- We often walk past them without a second thought , but most murals tell a story about the communities in which they live . And yet , as features of our public spaces , they mean something different to each of us when we view them through our own individual filters . For our first CNN Instagram community assignment we invited followers to photograph murals or street art in their communities and tell us about them . We were thrilled to see more than 300 submissions from all over the world and hear the many stories behind them . Below are just a few highlights . Check out all of the submissions by searching the # CNNMuralStories tag in Instagram . Erica Firpo : Rome , Italy . Erica Firpo captured the latest mural by renowned Italian street artists Sten and Lex , whose stencil art has appeared in cities worldwide . This mural on the side of a building in Rome 's Garbatella neighborhood was completed in December . `` This abstract landscape ( a deviation from their usual pointillist portrait ) was entirely locally crowd-funded and chosen by the neighborhood to be a permanent public work , blurring the lines between street and fine art , '' Firpo noted . Ragheeb Faatih Moazzem : Chittagong Port , Bangladesh . Ragheeb Faatih Moazzem 's Instagram depicts a portrait of 20th century Bengali statesman Sheikh Mujibur Rahman , leader of the movement that led to the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan in 1971 . Rahman later became the first president of the Bengali state . Found on a wall near Chittagong , the country 's largest seaport , the portrait commemorates a historic speech by Rahman that called for liberation from Pakistan , Moazzem said in his Instagram post . `` If it had n't been for Bangabandu ( friend of Bengal ) Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his historical and emotional speech , we would to this day be the victims of oppression and torture . We are forever in his debt . '' Jorge Quinteros : Brooklyn , New York . Jorge Quinteros came upon this work in progress in Brooklyn . The artists told him they 'd been working on this mural of Nelson Mandela for three days . They told him that they owned the wall and typically used it as advertising space . `` We had a little spare time from work and we wanted to pay tribute to this amazing man . '' Kimber Kirton : Miami , Florida . Kimber Kirton documented a mural created this year by Evoca1 for 2013 Art Basel Miami Beach . The South Florida-based artist aims to `` merge art and humanity together for a timeless collection '' through his art and Sketches for Mankind , a collective whose work includes outreach to Miami 's homeless population . This mural is based on sketches the artist created from photographs of two homeless men . Word has it that the artist brings his subjects to the completed walls and shows them these beautiful interpretations , Kirton said . `` I can only imagine their emotional response , for even mine changed when I took a second glance at it after learning its backstory . '' Julian Castaneda : Uppsala , Sweden . Jullian Castandea showed off his pride in his small city in Uppsala , Sweden , and its coffee roasting plant `` Lindvalls Kaffe . '' Located near the plant , the mural proudly proclaims `` En BÃ¶nas VÃ¤g , '' which means `` The Road Of The Bean , '' Castaneda said . `` We may be a little city , but at least we can be proud to say that the best coffee -- 'Lindvalls Kaffe ' -- is done right here . '' Mike Gutkin : New York , New York . Mike Gutkin captured an authentic 20-foot section of The Berlin Wall in its current residence in a plaza in Midtown New York . Commercial real estate developer Tishman Speyer acquired the graffiti-sprayed wall in the 1990s . It `` was crazy standing next to this awesome piece of history , '' Gutkin said . Emily Rippe : Toledo , Ohio . Emily Rippe documented the Carter family in front of a mural in Toledo , Ohio , known as `` Juleeon 's mural . '' This public art is the result of a partnership between Art Corner Toledo and Food for Thought , a social justice organization dedicated to feeding the hungry . `` The Carters are just one of many families combating hunger on a daily basis . Amidst the struggle , 11-year-old Juleeon maintains a smile that could span the Midwest . His mural stands for hope and change in cities and towns across the county , '' Rippe said . Jeremiah Cowan : Atlanta , Georgia . Jeremiah Cowan captured this piece by Atlanta muralist HENSE on the side of Westside Cultural Arts Space building . `` This mural inspires me because of its pop of color in a gray area of town . I feel like this mural brings life to the Atlanta community , '' he said . Keith Weaver : Atlanta , GA. Keith Weaver met Kenny , an Atlanta resident , while exploring historic Auburn Avenue , the home of Martin Luther King . Jr . He has lived in Atlanta longer than Weaver has been alive . They talked about Kenny 's life , the history of the area and the community played in the civil rights movement of the 1960s . Weaver took his portrait in front of a wall created by artist JR that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington . `` This wall and this portrait remind me of the struggle citizens of my country went through for equality , opportunity , and freedom , '' Weaver said .
Photographers shared stories of their favorite photos for CNN 's first Instagram challenge . They paid tribute to political leaders , social justice activists , coffee shops . Mural in Toledo , Ohio , of boy laughing ` ` stands for hope and change , '' he says .