The University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, Downtown Little Rock Partnership, and local artist, Joel Boyd, recently partnered to complete a mural painting at the law school.
The mural, commissioned by the law school through Downtown Little Rock Partnership’s Public Art Program, also contributes to the organization’s broader goal of transforming the city’s downtown area through public art.
“Public art is an integral part of growing and sustaining the urban core of our city,” said Gabe Holmstrom, executive director of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership. “We always say if we can dream it, find a way to pay for it, and have a willing partner, then we can make it happen.”
Through its public art program, Downtown Little Rock Partnership connects businesses and organizations with public spaces with artists to complete art projects, such as murals, in the space. Downtown Little Rock Partnership covers up to half of the project costs through funds provided by proceeds of beer sales at the Downtown Food Truck Festival (formerly known as the Main Street Food Truck Festival).
“Lady Justice,” the latest addition of large-scale visual art in Little Rock’s downtown area, designed and painted by Boyd, underscores one of the law school’s core values — access to justice — while also highlighting the state’s capital city.
A native of Rector, a small community in Northeast Arkansas, Boyd began his journey as an artist in high school where he was involved in the school’s theater troupe.
“My journey began in high school,” Boyd said. “I was really involved in my theater troupe, and because we were such a small school, we were involved in everything, especially set production. So, that’s where I really began to work on large-scale visual arts.”
Boyd went on to pursue a degree in painting from Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. After graduating, Boyd set out to be a fine art painter commissioned for smaller scale works, but as fate would have it, he returned to the classroom — this time, as a K-12 art instructor. It was during this period that Boyd was commissioned for his first mural.
“My first mural came about when I was teaching,” Boyd said. “One of my students’ parents owned a business that was receiving grant funding for historic preservation. As part of that, the parent wanted to commission a mural on the side of the building. She approached me, and though I had never done a mural before, I agreed.
Since then, Boyd has painted nearly 25 murals across the state, including more than 10 in the City of Little Rock — Lady Justice being his latest masterpiece.
“I hope that this piece is inspiring for everyone who sees it,” Boyd said. “I want this to be representative of all of the things that the students and law professionals of the Bowen Community do, and I also hope it inspires the broader community to become curious about Bowen and take interest in all of the things happening at the law school.”
