Artists chosen for new murals on Archibald Yell Boulevard in Fayetteville

Two new murals will soon be painted on the retaining wall along Archibald Yell Boulevard near downtown Fayetteville.

Photo: Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer

FAYETTEVILLE — The city’s arts council has selected two artists to paint murals on the retaining wall along Archibald Yell Boulevard.

The wall runs along the west side of Archibald Yell from Rock Street to South Block Avenue. One mural will be painted on each end of the wall.

Austin Floyd of Fayetteville was chosen to paint a 108-square-foot mural on the north end of the wall at the intersection of Rock next to an existing painting of the Fayetteville High School bulldog. Jeremy Navarrette of Springdale will paint the larger mural on the south end of the wall, which covers 408 square feet across the first three sections of the concrete wall.

The council in February narrowed its list of applicants from about 20 down to four finalists, which also included Colleen D’Antoni and Hannah Lloyd-Jones.

Artist Austin Floyd’s design will be painted next to the Fayetteville High School bulldog on the north end of the retaining wall.

Courtesy image

Payment to Floyd for the smaller mural is set at $3,800, while Navarrette is set to receive $14,200 for work on the larger mural.

The theme for the murals is “Experience the Adventure of Fayetteville!”

The murals are part of a larger set of planned improvements to Archibald Yell that were included in the bond issue approved by Fayetteville voters in 2019.

Work on the murals is expected to begin later this month.

Floyd’s design shows a group of animals that are native to the region riding along the sidewalk on roller skates, a bicycle, a wagon, a scooter and a skateboard.

A second mural is planned at the south end of the retaining wall.

Photo: Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer

“I think it’s hilarious, funky and fun, which are Fayetteville’s key words,” said council chair Jessica DeBari. “Plus, I think it ties in well with the bulldog.”

DeBari said Floyd’s application stated that he chose animals as his subject instead of using specific types of people in order to depict an inclusive scene that represents Fayetteville.

Navarrette’s mural shows several images, including flowers, a sunset, fireflies, a couple walking a dog, a biplane, a mountain biker and a cardinal.

Council members Joëlle Storet praised the work for its overall design and color choice.

Artist Jeremy Navarrette’s mural will be painted on the south end of the wall.

Courtesy image

“It has the best relationship with the white space, and the colors are measured well with the eye,” Storet said.

Barb Putman agreed, and said it’s a sophisticated piece that can be enjoyed both when driving by, but also when walking next to it on the sidewalk.

DeBari said selecting a design for the southern mural was difficult with such a talented group of finalists.

“But ultimately, (Navarrette’s piece) felt more like a ‘Welcome to Fayetteville’ mural,” she said.

Council member Bob Stafford encouraged all of the finalists to continue applying for similar opportunities.

“I’d love to see all of these works somewhere,” Stafford said.


Concepts by finalist Colleen D’Antoni


Concepts by finalist Hannah Lloyd-Jones