“731” was created in 2020 as part of the Mayor’s Public Art Initiative. “731” was painted by Jonathan and Sarah Cagle and portrays many different aspects of West Tennessee life. Located at Southwest Tennessee Development District building, this mural was sponsored by Southwest, West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation and Voya Financial Advisors of Jackson.

When building owner Frank McMeen decided to commission a mural, his goal was to create an interactive piece for the people of Jackson. James Yelverton brought his vision to life with this 100 hour artwork, symbolizing hope and unity in our hometown. More about this mural

“Rockabilly Soundwaves”, installed on the LOCAL in Downtown Jackson’s Arts District, was a funded project by the Tennessee Arts Commission and the City of Jackson, now owned by Jackson Downtown Development Corporation. The design is based on Rockabilly Soundwaves, and has created a colorful backdrop to give the shops in the space a cool background to show off their wares and visitors use it to show off where they are in social media pics. The design was created by Kim in partnership with local artist, Elaine Mooney.

“The man standing on the steps of the streetcar commissioned the mural and helped me with the design and what should be in the mural. His daughter Susan Wright was very instrumental in raising the money and overseeing the whole process to honor her father.” - Les McDiarmid

“Prosperity” - Sheila MacDiarmid,
“Mercy” - Les MacDiarmid
“Dignity” - Susan Stewart
“Opportunity” - Melinda Hearn Reid
“Self-Respect” - Justin Hoover
“I have a Name (Respect)” - Andrew Boks

This North Jackson mural was created in collaboration between the Art Director of Catbird Studio, Leigh Ann Barrios, and owner of Catbird Studio, Suzanne Gillis. The mural was created to represent the studio’s philosophy about creativity and art - “All are creative and all can find peace, love, and joy in the arts.”

“The arts bring harmony and bond us together as humans, and in our case Jacksonions,” said Gillis.

That Saturday Feeling was designed and installed by Jackson-based artists Katie Howerton and Hilary Griffith in April 2025. Howerton and Griffith participated as a team in Our Jackson Home and the City of Jackson’s collaborative Design Dash event, a two day design event with local artists who proposed mural concepts for the Annex building at the Farmer’s Market. The artists’ design was chosen by a panel of community members at the event, resulting in the permanent installation of the mural you see today.

Howerton and Griffith set out to create a mural design that reflected the West Tennessee Farmers’ Market as more than just a market, but an experience for all who visit the market. With this design, they chose to encapsulate the feeling of going to the market on a bustling Saturday with friends, gathering favorite produce and goodies, and soaking in the slow pace, the high quality, and the carefully curated locally grown goodness: that Saturday feeling.

In creating this sidewalk mural, we wanted to visually celebrate the incredible heritage of The Carnegie’s 100+ years in our community—first as a library, later as a children’s museum, and now as an art gallery, music museum, performance venue, and so much more. The Carnegie has always served as a home for the arts in West Tennessee, and we have represented that through motifs of theatre, visual art, music, and culinary arts.

Leading the parade is a young Carl Perkins, once photographed on the Carnegie’s front steps as the first guitarist in his children’s marching band; his elder self brings up the rear, showing the passage time from humble beginnings to “Blue Suede Shoes” fame. Pictured reading a book is the beloved Alice Drake, who served as librarian of the Carnegie for nearly five decades. Her spirit lives on as this space continues to serve as a parade of possibilities for all people in Jackson.

Rooted in history and shaped by community, Patterns of Home invites viewers to experience Royal Street as a living landscape of memory, movement, and belonging. This communal space has long been part of Ashley’s own rhythm — a place where she’s gathered with others to dine, pause, and retreat from the busyness the world often demands. It has always offered an invitation to slow down and be present. That same spirit guides my work as a creator: to offer others a gentle reminder to breathe, move with intention, and simply be their best selves.

The mural brings together organic forms and bold, contrasting color fields that guide the community through the space, creating a visual rhythm that echoes the sense of connection encouraged by the surrounding businesses.

Threaded throughout the design are repeated orange linear elements, a gentle visual reference to railroad tracks. These lines honor the legacy of the nearby railroad depot and the historic Neely House, which once served as a railroad hotel. They act as pathways of memory, acknowledging how travel, labor, and infrastructure helped shape this neighborhood’s history and growth.

The color palette draws inspiration from the visual identity of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, grounding the mural in a broader cultural continuum. The clustering and natural movement of shapes are influenced by traditional African patterns, where repetition and rhythm carry meaning beyond decoration. Together, these visual languages speak to heritage, resilience, and collective presence.

This work celebrates Royal Street as a place of deep cultural history and living significance — a corridor that reflects Jackson’s commitment to Black entrepreneurs, businesses, and community wellbeing. The mural is both tribute and invitation: a reminder that the streets we walk every day hold stories of perseverance, creativity, and belonging, while also reflecting the evolving soul of this area as it grows into an even more vibrant and nurturing community where opportunity can thrive for generations to come. Viewers are encouraged to pause, move with the space, and recognize the layered histories and unfolding future carried within this beautiful partof Jackson.

West Tennessee artist, Les MacDiarmid, completed the Rockabilly mural in 2007. When asked about the creation of the mural, MacDiarmid said that he received a request from Paul McCartney’s agent requesting that McCartney be included in the final design, so MacDiarmid was happy to oblige.

Wendy Hailey Kim created the Unity Mural in 2020 as part of Our Jackson Home’s Artist in Residency program. During Kim’s residency, she completed projects for Jackson’s Blessing Boxes and Comeunity Cafe, finishing off with this mural behind the Lost Reserve and the Mother Thrifter. The mural was announced on 731Day, with a mural scavenger hunt throughout Jackson leading to the location.

West Tennessee artist Les MacDiarmid worked directly with the City of Jackson’s Mayor, Jerry Gist, to design and install both the Farmers Market and Dog Park murals.

The Unity Mural is located on the building of Martin’s Headquarters Barber Shop. Joe Martin is the owner/operator of this location. The mural was completed on August 6th, 2021, by local artist Rose Newhouse.

The Keep My Hood Good mural was commissioned work by the organization, Keep My Hood Good, designed by local artist of color, Ashley Akerson, and installed by Kim and the students at the organization. Leading up to the installation, Kim hosted public art workshops for the students, and they learned how to use different art materials and made stencils with positive symbols. The finished design is a collaboration between the students’ original creations, Akerson, and Kim.

“This was the most physically challenging local mural I have done because of the rough texture of the wall, but the most rewarding! I was lucky enough to be introduced to our local angel, Juanita Jones, who chose a design by a local artist of color, Ashley Akerson, and allowed me to install her work.”

“Rockabilly Walk” is a temporary crosswalk art installation at the intersections of Main and Church in Downtown, Jackson. Inspired by Jackson’s Rockabilly history, artist Callie Wright installed the crosswalk with the help of dozens of community volunteers. The artwork was an initiative of Jackson Downtown Development Corporation to increase foot traffic and slow car traffic in the area.

“Jackson Legends” was created by artist Trinity Rivard in April 2025. Rivard's concept to incorporate significant musicians in Jackson’s history led to his selection for this project by a panel of community members from a competitive pool of applicants. Although we acknowledge there are many more significant musicians in Jackson’s history than those depicted in “Jackson Legends”, the musicians included in this art installation were submitted by community nomination via public survey during the mural design phase.

“Jackson Legends” spells out “AMP” with each letter placed on each of the three walls of the site. Rivard leveraged the unique architectural design of the wall to create an iconic design that can be seen from afar as well as appreciated up close and personal.

Trinity Rivard is a public artist from Tampa, Florida, who is dedicated to creating vibrant, community-focused works that inspire and uplift. Through custom designs tailored to each community, he infuses local history, culture, and stories into every piece, fostering a deep connection with those who engage with the art. His collaborative approach involves working closely with residents during both design and installation, allowing the artwork to evolve organically through feedback and shared input. 

This 100-foot-long (1200 sq ft!) mural lives on the side of B3 Creative Agency’s new home in the heart of downtown Jackson, TN — and is a love letter to this city, its history, its people, and its landscape.

The design weaves together elements that reflect Jackson’s rich cultural identity — from iconic local architecture to deep agricultural roots, to its well known music legacy. The arches that bookend the mural were inspired by our beautiful mid-century modern public library — and act like visual parentheses to this whole story.

You’ll find sunflowers, corn stalks, soybean leaves, and crimson clover (yes, like the song!) — all nods to Tennessee’s farming heritage and the land that sustains us. The crimson clover, in particular, is a symbol of growth, resilience, and preparation — a cover crop that enriches the soil for what's to come.

There are musical instruments tucked throughout the mural, and a very special nod to Carl Perkins — his iconic glasses appear front and center, honoring both Jackson’s music scene and the building’s former life as Muller Optical.

You’ll also spot three lightning bolts — blue, yellow, and pink — scattered throughout the piece. They’re a symbolic (and slightly electric!) nod to B3’s brand and their creative spark. One of the most fun moments of this process was a group brainstorming session with the B3 team — ideas flew, and this mural wouldn’t be what it is without their energy and openness.

A moon quietly balances out all the sun-filled moments, reminding us that growth happens in the quiet, too.

This mural serves as a vibrant window into the creative energy found inside The Ned, mirroring the building’s unique architecture through its grid like composition. Each pane offers abstract glimpses of the theater and gallery, featuring elements like spotlights, velvet ropes, and gingko leaves inspired by the trees that appear along Main Street. The bold colors and rhythmic lines are a celebration of The Ned and its presence in downtown Jackson. It was designed by Samantha Wood, a professional artist recognized for her use of vibrant color palettes and bold, clean lines within her murals. Her work often combines architectural elements with abstract forms alongside botanical motifs to create landmarks that feel both modern and site specific. Through this installation, she invites you to experience the inspiration and joy that the arts bring to our city.

At just nine years old, Ava Ingle painted her “Unity” mural on the utility box on the corner of East Main Street and Liberty. Also a part of the Public Art Initiative, Ava spent her fall break from Trinity Christian Academy creating her masterpiece. Ava spent over five hours creating her art on both sides of the utility box, creating an otherwise dull canvas into a beautiful piece of art.

Rose Newhouse’s mural honors the memory of Jackson native and Civil Rights activist, Gil Scott-Heron, who is also known as the “Godfather of Rap”. He was one of the first three African American students to integrate Tigrett Middle School. It was completed on September 21st, 2023.

West Tennessee artist Les MacDiarmid worked directly with the City of Jackson’s Mayor, Jerry Gist, to design and install both the Farmers Market and Dog Park murals.

Les MacDiarmid, a West Tennessee-based artist, is known for his whimsical paintings of architecture, which are displayed in his alleyway murals in Downtown Jackson, as well as his depiction of the Neely House on Royal Street.

"Artist Juan Barroso painted the JACOA mural as part of Love Your Block's neighborhood improvement grant program. The mural contains historical figures from East Jackson. From left to right, the mural depicts Austin Raymond Merry, the old JACOA building in Montgomery Hall, Gil Scott-Heron–a jazz musician and poet and one of the first to integrate Tigrett Middle School, Carl Perkins, Isaac Lane, Lane College, the chairs from the Woolworth store from the sit in, the Casey Jones train and Shirlene Mercer."

Courtney Searcy's sidewalk mural, 'Seasons: Making, Growing, Dreaming', was installed in 2024 by community volunteers. Courtney's design draws inspiration from its location at the Farmer's Market, breaking the artwork into sections that represent the area in all four seasons; theLOCAL side representing Spring/Summer, and the Farmers' Market side representing Fall/Winter. The artwork contains regional and native plants and agriculture, and seasonal elements of how this area of Downtown Jackson is enjoyed throughout the year.

The artwork was installed with over 40 community volunteers who painted the piece in a paint-by-numbers style, with Searcy taking the lead in outlining her design on the sidewalk and providing instructions for painting to the volunteers.

The temporary murals in the Liberty St. alleyway were painted by local artists Crystal Brown and Callie Wright live during the 2025 Vintage Makers Music and Art Festival, and will be on display in Downtown Jackson for one calendar year.

Crystal Brown - The shapes in this painting are inspired by her friend’s 'ruined' patio table. The patterns are inspired by her ancestors' art form called Uli.

Callie Wright - Both images depicted were originally taken by photographer Hannah Gore and highlight Jackson's vibrant community and the legacy of our local artists and culture-makers

Freedom in Blooms, Patricia Santos (left)

This piece titled “Freedom in Blooms” painted by Patricia Santos, was inspired by the history of floriography during the Victorian era and how it empowered women to express their thoughts and opinions using florals.

Each flower represented a word and specific pairings would convey a meaning. If you were to pick florals native to West TN, the Swamp Leather flower (Clematis crispa, left) and the Copper Iris (Iris fulva, right) would mean that you admire the recipients creativity. The style of this piece hints at the art nouveau style that was commonly featured on the covers of floriography books during this time period.

Westwood Gardens Cyanotype Quilt, Cari Griffith (right)

Birch panels, cyanotype solution, acrylic paint 

Honoring the ancient tradition of women who've spent countless hours stitching quilts as comfort objects for their loved ones, this piece weaves together native plants from a place in my neighborhood that brings much comfort - Westwood Gardens. This mural was created using provided birch panels on which a cyanotype solution was painted, air dried, arranged with plants and exposed to UV light for 15 minutes. The plants leave their shadow onto the wood once the chemicals are rinsed off, revealing their true form. The plants represented are all native species, responsibly gathered from the fields of Westwood Gardens and returned back to their place to nourish the ecosystem. Cyanotype as an art form has encouraged me to embrace imperfection and lean into the beauty of the process of creating. If you look too closely, you'll only see mistakes. If you take a step back and look at the whole picture, I hope you'll be inspired to view the nature and art around you with wonder and a sense of communal responsibility.