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Topic: Public art program bringing cultural and social justice art to Houston communitiesSource: Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's OfficeLocation: Harris County, TX — including Texas Southern UniversityReading time: About 1 minuteWho it helps: Communities with little access to art and cultural spaces
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Good first step: Share A neighbor, teacher, or student who loves art or history
Hey, did you know Harris County has a free public art program that honors civil rights heroes? There are murals near Texas Southern University — worth checking out!
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis's Public Art program brings culturally relevant murals and tributes to Houston neighborhoods. It honors social justice heroes and celebrates community history — putting meaningful art where people live, work, and learn.
The program includes large-scale murals across Harris County. At Texas Southern University (TSU), two murals — 'Quilting Party' and 'Jubilee' — honor John T. Biggers (1924–2001), a nationally recognized African American artist and the founding chair of TSU's art department. Both murals were unveiled on October 7, 2025, and also pay tribute to TSU student activists whose 1960 sit-in at a Houston grocery store sparked the city's first civil rights movement. In the Cypress Station area, a mural series called 'I Choose to Rise' was created in partnership with Spring Independent School District (ISD). One mural, 'Our Shared Home,' features native Texas wildlife and highlights youth environmental leadership. Another, 'Free Spirits, Golden Hearts,' celebrates perseverance and a growth mindset. This series is part of a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) approach — using art, lighting, and thoughtful design to make public spaces feel safer and more connected.
You can visit the murals in person to experience them up close. Use the Public Art Map on the program's website to find locations near you. If you are an educator, parent, or community organizer, the murals and their stories make rich starting points for conversations about Houston history, social justice, environmental stewardship, and the arts.
No fixed date
Not location-specific
The John Biggers murals at TSU are connected to a Community Benefits Agreement between Commissioner Ellis's office and Texas Southern University. The 'I Choose to Rise' series was created in partnership with Spring ISD and Street Art for Mankind (SAM). Both efforts link to Harris County's broader goals around community safety, environmental education, and cultural investment.
Public art reflects a community's shared values. It beautifies neighborhoods, celebrates culture, and keeps the stories of social justice leaders alive. For many Houston communities, this program brings art directly to places that might not otherwise have it.
