Our Jackson Home announces projects and Artists for the 2026 year
Jackson, Tenn. (March 23, 2026): Our Jackson Home, in partnership with the City of Jackson, will install new public art in Downtown Jackson, featuring seven different West Tennessee based artists to expand public artwork displayed in Jackson’s Arts District. The projects come just weeks after Jackson, Tennessee, was named the fourth Best City for Street Art in the country by USA Today’s 10Best. Projects for the 2026 year include: a mural on the Ned, asphalt mural on Royal Street, two temporary alleyway murals, a sidewalk mural outside The Carnegie, and an archway sculpture on Highland Ave.
Each public art project involved a competitive open call process and careful selection of artists chosen by four different selection committees and overseen by the City of Jackson’s Public Art Commission. When each project is completed, there will be public reveals of the art announced at a later date.
Artists for the 2026 public art projects are:
Samantha Wood: The Ned Mural
Samantha Wood is a Jackson-based artist who will be painting a permanent mural on an installed metal canvas on the front of the Ned R. McWherter Cultural Arts Center in Downtown Jackson. Wood will design four corresponding matching banners to compliment the mural, adding original artwork to the entire front facade of the building. The project is meant to beautify the space and reflect the ongoing cultural arts activities in the building. The project will be completed in May 2026.
Cari Griffith and Patricia Santos: Temporary Alleyway Murals
Cari Griffith and Patricia Santos are both Jackson-based artists who have a wealth of experience in creating artwork centered around plant life. The two artists will create two separate murals with a theme of “West Tennessee Plant Life” during the University of Tennessee Agricultural Center’s annual Plant Sale on May 1 - 2. The public will be able to interact with the artists during their creation of the murals at the event. The murals will then be displayed temporarily in the downtown alleyway between Liberty and Church Streets for the public to enjoy for a minimum of one year.
Ashley Akerson: Royal Street Asphalt Mural
Ashley Akerson is a Jackson-based artist chosen to create asphalt art on Royal Street that will be installed between the historic Neely House and Jaxon Station. The asphalt mural is meant to be an extension of the safety efforts in the area to slow traffic, coming just months after a new crosswalk installation by the City of Jackson, encouraging pedestrian safety and the slowing of vehicular traffic in the area. The artwork chosen for the project will be vibrant colors and reflective of the rich cultural history of the area. The project will be completed in June 2026 by Akerson with the assistance of community volunteers.
Katie Howerton and Hilary Griffith: Carnegie Sidewalk Mural
Katie Howerton and Hilary Griffith are both Jackson-based artists who will create a new sidewalk art installation in front of the Carnegie Center for Art and History. The artwork will add to the Arts District’s growing sidewalk and asphalt art collection, and is meant to drive additional foot traffic to the Carnegie as it undergoes a significant increase in program offerings. It will be installed in collaboration with the students of Dreamers and Makers Art Club in May 2026.
Suzy Hendrix: Highland Avenue Sculpture
Suzy Hendrix is a Memphis-based artist chosen to create a sculpture framing the new sidewalk at the intersection of Highland Avenue and East College Street. Hendrix brings a wealth of experience in working with stained glass sculpture, and will install a large, colorful stained glass and metal archway that reflects the use of the space, including botanical elements that compliment the nearby West Tennessee Farmers Market. The sculpture is meant to beautify the area and encourage pedestrian walkability from the neighboring public parking lot. The sculpture is on schedule to be installed in August 2026. The project is a collaborative effort between Our Jackson Home, the City of Jackson, and Jackson Downtown Development Corporation.
For more information about the upcoming projects, follow along on Our Jackson Home’s social media or their website ourjacksonhome.com/publicart.