The National Mural Awards has invited three nationally recognized muralists to the First Coast to paint alongside local artists for the first ever Jacksonville Mural Festival. The event, which will be held January 22-25th, 2025 promises to add color to the growing Rail Yard District, and help highlight the economic growth happening in the area with events throughout the festival.
Sponsored by Dennis + Ives, MFG Merch, and Bono’s BBQ, the festival will help install eye-catching murals on a number of buildings in the neighborhood.
Executive Director of the National Mural Awards Jason Tetlak, himself a local Jacksonville artist, said the festival is long overdue. “Most mural festivals around the country happen in the summer or early fall because a muralist’s work depends on the blessing of the weather. We realized that Jacksonville was a perfect place to attract great artists from other areas of the country whose work typically slows down in the winter. It allows the amazing artists and creatives in our city to work with and learn from their counterparts from all over the US while showcasing the Rail Yard District as well as Jacksonville itself to a wider audience.”
The invited artists include Emma Gilbert from Birmingham, AL (@ emmagilbertart), Kristen Sandlin from Memphis, TN (@rogue.murals), Phil Seth from Pittsburgh, PA (@philsethcreative), and Zulu Painter from St.Petersburgh, FL (@zulupainter1), along with several local artists including Scotie Cousin (@scotiecousin), and Ally Brody (@ ally_brody).
During the festival Fogle Art Consulting will be hosting an artist panel where the public can meet the artists and learn about the process of creating murals, and Art Bikes Jax will be running a mural tour.