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Topic: Harris County Precinct 1 Public Art ProgramSource: Harris County Commissioner Rodney EllisFocus: Murals honoring social justice heroes and local historyLocation: Texas Southern University and Houston neighborhoodsReading time: Under 1 minute
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Good first step: Share A neighbor or friend who loves art or Houston history
Hey, did you know Harris County is putting up big murals in our area to honor civil rights heroes? Look up the Harris County Precinct 1 Public Art Program to find out more!
Harris County Precinct 1's Public Art program brings large-scale murals and social justice tributes to neighborhoods across the Houston area. The program honors artists, activists, and everyday community members — and it's free for anyone to enjoy.
The program has produced several standout works. At Texas Southern University (TSU), two large murals recreate paintings by John T. Biggers (1924–2001), one of the most influential African American artists of the twentieth century and the founding chair of TSU's art department. 'Quilting Party' portrays family, memory, and African heritage. 'Jubilee' depicts a harvest celebration Biggers witnessed in Ghana in 1957. Both murals were unveiled on October 7, 2025, and honor TSU students who led a peaceful sit-in at a Houston grocery store in 1960 — a spark for the city's civil rights movement. In Cypress Station, a mural called 'Our Shared Home' at Westfield High School shows a boy tending native Texas plants and wildlife. It's part of an eight-mural outdoor museum created with Spring Independent School District (ISD) to encourage youth leadership and environmental care. The series also uses an approach called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) — a strategy that uses art, lighting, and thoughtful design to help neighborhoods feel safer and more connected.
You can explore these murals in person at no cost. The program's public art map helps you locate works across Harris County. If you're an educator, artist, or community organizer, learning how these projects came together — through partnerships with universities, school districts, and arts nonprofits like Street Art for Mankind (SAM) — can give you ideas for similar efforts in your own neighborhood.
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Harris County neighborhoods, including Texas Southern University and Cypress Station
These murals connect to Houston's broader civil rights story, TSU's long legacy in arts education, and city and county efforts to improve public safety and community well-being through thoughtful design. The CPTED approach used in Cypress Station ties into Harris County's wider work on harm prevention. The John Biggers works also link to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Wortham Theater Center, both of which hold original Biggers paintings.
Public art does more than decorate walls. It reflects who a community is, celebrates shared values, and tells stories that might otherwise go untold. Commissioner Rodney Ellis's program focuses especially on neighborhoods that don't always have easy access to galleries or museums. It also honors the people — local and national — who fought and continue to fight for equality. When you see these murals, you're looking at history, culture, and community pride all in one place.
