Professional Artists & Murals Announced for Southside Mural Project
Professional Muralists & Artwork Selected for
Leon County’s Largest Outdoor Public Mural System
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Wednesday, March 25) —The Knight Creative Communities Institute (KCCI), in partnership with the City of Tallahassee Frenchtown/Southside Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and SoMo Walls, today announced the professional artists selected to create eight large scale murals along the South Monroe Street corridor as part of the Southside Public Arts Initiative. When completed, the installation will become Leon County’s largest outdoor public mural system, transforming the space into a vibrant, cultural destination.
“Public art has the power to strengthen neighborhoods, spark pride, and elevate Tallahassee’s identity,” said Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey. “This initiative brings new energy to the Southside and showcases the incredible creativity in Tallahassee.”
The mural project builds on Tallahassee’s growing reputation for public art and reflects the community’s enthusiasm and support for creative placemaking projects.
“We are proud to lead this effort that uplifts local professional muralists and enriches our community,” said Betsy Couch, KCCI’s Executive Director. “Beyond making the area more interesting and appealing, murals are an effective placemaking tool that increase economic development through tourism and consumer spending while also creating a more welcoming environment.”
Seven artists were selected through a competitive process to create eight murals reflecting a variety of artistic styles and themes. The selected artists and their named artwork are:
- Michael Crowne – Wings of Continuum
- Myah Freeman – Tallahassee Legend
- Matthew Forrest – King of the Jungle
- Sam McCoy & Meghan Mick – Wingbeats Daybreak & Wingbeats Twilight
- Taylor Shaw – Statua Libertatis
- Amanda VanStratum – Swipe Right on Wild & Game on Gator: Marsh Maze
Each mural has its own unique story and together they create a cohesive visual narrative. Artwork at the site closer to the Capitol reflects themes of statehood and civic identity, while murals further south celebrate Florida and Tallahassee’s wildlife and natural landscapes before culminating in pieces that reflect the people and culture of Leon County.
“Being part of this initiative means contributing to a visual legacy for Tallahassee. These murals will speak to our community, our environment, and our people, and I’m honored to help shape that story,” said Matthew Forest, a multidisciplinary artist from Tallahassee, Fla. “Working under the pseudonym briteso, I examine the unspoken language of American life and culture through drawing, painting, and creating.”
Five of the selected artists are based in Tallahassee, while the others have strong ties to the community. Their collective work reflects the region’s creative talent and deep connection to place.
“As an urban planner, my work is grounded in people and how they experience spaces and what makes them feel connected,” said Alex Delgado, a 2026 KCCI Community Catalyst with the WALL+A team. “Public art is deeply rooted in placemaking, bringing identity, energy, and a little bit of that magic that makes people want to stop, stay, and come back. It also plays an important role in helping tell the story of a community and bring its vision to life. It’s an honor to volunteer on a project that brings a lasting sense of place to Tallahassee’s Southside and throughout the community.
Officially called the Southside Public Arts Initiative, this art project is led by KCCI’s 2026 Community Catalyst team as part of its broader team project to bring more art into the community this year, emphasizing art at eight elementary and middle schools. The team is calling their collective projects “Wall+A,” a placemaking effort to expand public art and community-centered designs, by working with students in several elementary and middle schools.
KCCI has previously led successful public placemaking mural art projects, such as the recent Good Things Grow Here mural, the TLH mural, and the Welcome to Midtown mural. These installations have become community landmarks and catalysts for neighborhood pride as well as economic development. For information about KCCI’s placemaking projects, visit https://kccitallahassee.com.
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About the Knight Creative Communities Institute (KCCI): Established in 2007, KCCI annually selects and organizes volunteers known as Community Catalysts to implement placemaking projects. These projects have helped enhance Tallahassee’s sense of place and generated nearly $1 billion in economic development. A new group of volunteer Community Catalysts is selected to plan and implement each annual project. The 2026 KCCI Community Catalysts include: Laura Barrett, Tetra Tech; Karen Brooks, Capital City Bank; Chris Carlberg, Florida State University; Alex Delgado, Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency; Shannon Devine, Academy Travel (Independent Contractor); Lori Elliott, Capital City Bank; Carla Juarez Farley, KPMG; Ryan Kline, Tallahassee Web Design; Tangela Lofton, Florida SBDC at FAMU; Holly McPhail, Windwood Communications; Mary McVicar, McV Tax; Pamela Monroe, Leon County Public Library; Tena Pate of Tena Pate and Associates; Chris Petley, Leon County Schools; Nicole Spina, Architects Lewis + Whitlock; Sam Varn, Retired (Awards4U). KCCI is made possible by partners including: VyStar Credit Union, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Taproot, FAMU School of Business and Industry, Florida State University, NAI TALCOR, Nolia & Bill Brandt, David Powell & Vicki Weber, Marjorie Turnbull, Serena and Jon Moyle, Tharpe Construction, Dentist Dr. Cory Couch, Windwood Communications, Target Print & Mail, and Hartsfield Construction.