The legacy of legendary artist and educator Dr. John Biggers came to life once again on Tuesday, October 7, as Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Texas Southern University (TSU), and members of Houston’s art community unveiled two new murals replicating Biggers’ powerful paintings. The ceremony also paid tribute to the courageous TSU students who led Houston’s first civil rights sit-in in 1960, marking a historic moment of art, activism, and community pride.

John Biggers Mural Unveiling

 

The two new murals — “Jubilee” and “Quilting Party” — stand as vibrant tributes to Biggers’ influence as the founder of TSU’s art department and a pioneer in African American art. Both murals were created as part of a Community Benefits Agreement between Commissioner Ellis’ office and TSU, an initiative aimed at investing in beautification, public art, and the preservation of cultural history.

Commissioner Ellis reflected on the dual legacy celebrated by the event — the artistic vision of Biggers and the activism of TSU’s student trailblazers. Those students — including Deanna Lott, Guy Boudouis, John Hutchins, Jessis Parvis, Curtis Graves, Holly and Pete Hogrobrooks, Clarence Coleman, Eddie Rigsby, Pat Patterson, Doris Brown, and Eldrewey Stearns — staged a peaceful sit-in at a Houston grocery store in 1960, sparking the city’s first civil rights movement.

Born in 1924, Dr. John Biggers came to Houston in 1949 to establish TSU’s art program. Over more than three decades of teaching, he became one of the most influential visual storytellers of the 20th century, drawing inspiration from African heritage, Mexican muralism, and the African American experience. His work elevated themes of unity, resilience, and cultural pride.

“John Biggers’ art is the heartbeat of Texas Southern University and the city of Houston,” said Dr. Alvia Wardlaw, Director of the University Museum at TSU and a longtime colleague of Biggers. “These murals are living testaments to his legacy, inspiring all of us to see ourselves as part of a larger story of unity, resilience, and creativity.”

The two new murals were curated by Street Art for Mankind (SAM) and made possible through the collaboration of Commissioner Ellis, Dr. Wardlaw, and David T. Hales, trustee for Hazel Biggers. With these additions, SAM has now curated 64 murals in Houston, including eight Biggers replicas.

“Jubilee,” now adorning the Rollins-Stewart Music Center, was painted by Houston artists Ade Odunfa and Linda Hinojos, a TSU alumna. “Quilting Party,” on the Health and Physical Education Building, was created by artists Alex Arzu, Bimbo Adenugba, Mathieu Jean Baptiste, and Mack Leon Bishop, also a TSU alumnus.

Other Biggers replicas throughout Houston include:

• “Christia Adair” – 15107 Cullen Blvd.
• “Starry Crown” – 2787 El Camino St.
• Ghana Dancers” – 1010 Lamar St.
• “Untitled” – 2787 El Camino St.
• “The Return” – 1200 Congress St.
• “The Stream Crosses the Path” – 2020 Solo St.

“These murals are more than paint on a wall,” Commissioner Ellis said. “They remind us of our history, our creativity, and our resilience. I hope they inspire pride in where we come from—and hope for where we’re going.”