Joel Boyd, a native of Rector and resident of Little Rock, has been chosen to paint the Downtown Little Rock Partnership’s latest mural, at the southeast corner of Sixth and Spring streets, the Simmons Tower parking garage.
The mural will feature the image of a man on one side of the corner and a woman on the other, the man’s profile incorporating a scene from the Ozarks and the woman’s the Rock Island Bridge. Each profile is 28 by 26 feet. The commission for the piece, sponsored by Simmons, is $25,000.
In a news release, Boyd said he was “honored” to be selected for the garage mural.
The Downtown Little Rock Partnership is doing incredible things for Little Rock and I am very glad to be a part of it. My design is meant to illustrate a moment of reflection or a quiet moment of peace for the subject. I think a picture like this is well suited for the busy business district where it will be on display. I hope its viewers will be inspired to take a moment to breathe and reflect on a good memory or a special place. Follow me on Instagram to see the mural come to life: @joelboydfineart.”
The mural is the third to be sponsored by the DLRP for downtown. (A temporary mural on Louisiana is the fourth.) Little Rock is playing catch up to Fort Smith, which five years instituted “The Unexpected” mural project, featuring murals and other forms of public artwork by dozens of artists from all over the world.