Keep Arkansas Beautiful Selects Joel Boyd as Mural Artist
The Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission (KAB) announced its selection of muralist Joel Boyd to oversee production and complete installation of the approved mural artwork on the first and second stories of the north-facing brick wall of the eStem Public Charter School building at 112 West 3rd Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201.
Boyd is no stranger to the art scene in central Arkansas; he previously designed and installed “City of Dreamers” on the Simmons Bank building in downtown Little Rock in 2019. He has designed and installed notable and eye-catching art throughout the region in various cities in Arkansas and Missouri.
Boyd’s most recognizable mural projects include the “Historic Downtown Rector” mural commissioned by Rector Downtown Drug in Rector, Arkansas; the “Butterfly Effect” mural for the Bootheel Cultural and Performing Arts Center in Gideon, Missouri; the “Journey of Hope Mural Project” murals located on the Hope Chamber of Commerce Building in Historic Downtown Hope, Arkansas; and the “Campbell Peaches Selfie Spot” mural located in Historic Downtown Campbell, Missouri.
"I am looking forward to working on another great mural project for our downtown,” said Boyd. “As a previous K-12 art teacher, I am especially excited to be bringing this large, colorful mural to the eStem Public Charter School. I know the importance the arts play in the lives of young people and it is really an honor to work on this project.”
The mural project is expected to be completed by October 31, 2021. The previously designed and approved mural demonstrates the mission of KAB and will be located on the exterior, first and second stories, north-facing brick façade wall of the school.
Among his many accolades, Boyd was a featured Delta Artist for the Arkansas Museum of Fine Art’s 62nd Annual Delta Exhibition and has been featured in various publications including the Clay County Times-Democrat, Northeast Arkansas News, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, KTHV, Arkansas Business Publishing Group’s Guest Guide and the City of Little Rock’s mural tour.
Boyd is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design where he earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting. He has been creating as a professional freelance artist since 2010. Boyd has been teaching fine arts for nearly a decade and currently serves as an art instructor at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. See more of his work by visiting his Facebook or Instagram accounts at @joelboydfineart. View a digital rendering of the proposed mural and other media assets here.