Jackson, Mississippi is often called the “City with Soul.” Beyond its history and culture, this city pulses with creativity. Local artists, poets, and musicians are not just making beautiful things. They are helping heal, connect, uplift, and remind people what it means to belong. Through murals, spoken word, and live performance, art here is more than aesthetic; it becomes balm for everyday life.
Murals: Healing Walls and Inspiring Stories
Walls in Jackson do more than mark property lines. They tell stories. They honor heritage. They give hope.
One example is “Jackson Icons”, a bold mural by Reshonda Perryman on the rear wall of the Old Capitol Inn on North Street. It features portraits of Medgar Evers, Eudora Welty, Thalia Mara, and David Banner; figures from civil rights, literature, performance art, and music. Perryman said she designed the mural to increase awareness of some figures who are underrecognized, especially among younger generations. (“A Vibrant View: Mississippi on a Native Daughter’s Canvas,” Magnolia Literacy Project) Mysite
Another large public art piece is “A Journey Through Jackson,” painted by Gavin Bird. It is currently the largest mural in Mississippi. It occupies nearly 478 feet along the Museum Trail in Belhaven Heights Park. Bird says the scale allowed him to include many landmarks and key subjects which tell Jackson’s story. (Jackson Advocate News Service) Jackson Advocate
Then there is The Murals, a creative collective and workspace founded by Amanda Paige in Jackson. The Murals provides space for artists to showcase work, collaborate on projects, shoot videos, film commercials, host workshops, and more. Photographers-musicians like Alexander FRE$CO, Antonio Knott, and Kendrick Davis have worked through The Murals. Amanda Paige said she aims to “bounce ideas off one another, teach each other.” (“The Murals: A Place for Creatives,” Jackson Free Press) Mississippi Free Press+1
These painted walls and public spaces do more than decorate. They lift spirits, invoke pride, make people stop, reflect, and feel seen.
JXN.MS Jackson Icons Painted by Reshonda Perryman
Music & Spoken Word: Shared Voices, Shared Heart
Music and spoken word are interwoven with Jackson’s identity. The city has a deep tradition of gospel, blues, hip hop, and everything in between. Venues like Duling Hall, Hal & Mal’s, Iron Horse Grill, and others regularly host live music, giving platforms to both established and emerging local musicians. (Visit Jackson – Music Events in JXN) Visit Jackson
One recent event is Spoken Word Poetry at the Briarwood Arts Center, which took place on September 13, 2025. It was a free gathering where poets shared original work, and audience members listened, reacted, shared nods, snaps, tears, laughter. These are moments when silence holds as much power as sound. (StayHappening.com) stayhappening.com
Art nights at the Mississippi Museum of Art pair spoken word with visual art. One such event featured the Jackson State University Spoken Word Collective in the gallery New Symphony of Time, followed by open mic night. These combine the visual and the verbal, offering a space for people to create and heal together. (Mississippi Museum of Art) msmuseumart.org
Mississippi Museum of Art open mic
Why Art Heals in Jackson
1. Representation and Ownership of Story
Murals like Jackson Icons or the trail mural by Gavin Bird remind residents who they are and who has shaped the city. When people see their histories in public art, in music, in poetry, it affirms their identity and worth. For example, Perryman’s work specifically elevates figures who might otherwise be overlooked. Mysite
2. Public Spaces as Gathering Ground
Places like The Murals, Briarwood Arts Center, and galleries at Mississippi Museum of Art turn into gathering spots. They allow people to see others who share passions, vulnerabilities, concerns, creative drive. Even attending a live performance can be healing because of the shared energy. The open mic nights are especially powerful — when someone gets up and shares a poem or song, there is vulnerability, and the audience holds space. That shared space matters.
3. Accessibility
Many of these events are free or low cost. Public murals are free to see. Open mic poetry nights often ask for nothing more than showing up. This lowers barriers for many who might not otherwise engage with art. It means people of all backgrounds can participate or consume art as they need it.
Visit Jackson – Mural Painted by Gavin Bird
Challenges & Hope
Of course there are challenges. Artists often work without much financial support. Grants are limited. Spaces are inconsistent. Weather and upkeep for murals, for example, can take a toll. Sometimes neighborhoods are overlooked by city maintenance, which can make public art fade or deteriorate.
But there is hope. The fact that so many initiatives are community-led and so many projects are underway suggests momentum. Interest is growing. Local organizations, creatives, businesses are seeing value in art for community wellbeing, not just aesthetics or tourism.
Stories That Stay With Us
- A student from Wilkins Elementary School looks at the mural designed by Eli Childers and Ahza Sanders, depicting black heroes: Marcus Garvey, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Barack Obama, Medgar Evers, Mary McLeod Bethune. The student says “now I see heroes who look like me” when passing by. (Murals in public art map, Visit Jackson) MyCity – JxnMs
- In Art Night at the Mississippi Museum of Art, one poet from Jackson State University’s Spoken Word Collective shared a poem about loss and love. At open mic afterwards, someone in the audience whispered “thank you for saying what I could not.” It was that kind of evening. (Mississippi Museum of Art event listing) msmuseumart.org
Looking Forward
Art that heals is ongoing work. There is room for more spaces, for more support, for younger voices and voices from all corners of Jackson. More mural festivals, more live music nights in underserved neighborhoods, more cross-disciplinary events that mix poetry, mural art, music, movement, everything.
For residents, newcomers, and visitors, the invitation is simple. Look up when you walk past a mural. Listen when a musician plays live. Attend poetry night. Let those moments of art seep in. They may not erase pain, but they remind us of beauty. They remind us we are not alone.
