Tyler’s Art Alley Set For Refresh: Artist Call

The deadline for artists to apply has been extended to Feb. 1, 2026 and winners will now be announced Feb. 13, 2026.

Art Alley, a concrete wall in downtown Tyler featuring colorful murals by 40 local artists, will soon be revitalized after two years.

The city first transformed a plain concrete wall into an outdoor canvas in 2020 to give local artists exposure and create a community art destination. Every two years, new artists are selected to repaint the space, ensuring a rotating collection.

Applications for the 2026 cycle were originally set to close Jan. 16, but organizers announced the deadline has been extended through Feb. 1, and new artists will be announced on Feb. 13.

Haleigh Franck, art and culture coordinator for the City of Tyler’s Main Street Department, said the alley has become a vibrant part of downtown life.

“Since the start, it has become really a platform for artists to collectively showcase their art,” Franck said. “Downtown is a great place for local arts; it is the hub for Tyler’s art scene and our alley is really just an extension of that. We have this beautiful living piece of art in a part of downtown that you may not have normally walked through.”

Visitors can follow painted roses along the sidewalk past Moocho Burrito to find the alley to the right, located behind the 200 Block of West Erwin Street, connecting College Avenue and Bois d’Arc Avenue.

Artists who live or work in Smith County or neighboring counties may apply by submitting examples of previous work through the city’s online form. Selected artists will submit a draft design for approval and will have until May 8 to complete their work on a designated eight-by-six-foot panel. Each artist receives $200 upon completion.

“Keeping it up for two years really gives the artists who have pieces up a chance for their art and their work to be seen,” Franck said. “Then, kind of passing the torch along to new artists who are coming in or maybe even returning artists that want to do it again and have a new idea keeps it fresh and interesting.”

The Main Street Department partners with the Downtown Tyler Art Coalition to maintain the rotating art, encouraging residents and visitors to keep returning to downtown.

“People really enjoy, not just coming to see Art Alley, but there are a lot of people where this is their daily commute or walk from a business or to their car or going to lunch, and it makes that piece of downtown even brighter,” Franck said. “It’s become a really great place for people to come and see all the artists in their area and just how talented Tylerites are.”

Artists are encouraged to submit work representing Tyler, East Texas or the state, or pieces that inspire creativity, happiness or hope.

Franck said her favorite murals feature florals, while her 5-year-old daughter loves murals with dogs or dinosaurs.

“The great thing about Art Alley is that all the art is so diverse that there really is something for everybody,” Franck said. “That’s what makes it so cool, is that it’s not just one piece of art, but it’s many pieces of art so everybody can find their favorite or talk about it.”

The Main Street Department provides paint and supplies. Many artists also now include quick response (QR) codes or social media links on their murals so viewers can connect with them outside of the painting.

“It’s a stagnant piece of art that is beautiful to look at, but really does help promote the artist and encourages people to look at more of the work that they have done,” Franck said. Franck encourages artists in the area to apply and to submit work that means something to them and noted that each mural will be sealed after painting to avoid graffiti.

For more information on the Art Alley and how to apply visit, https://www.downtowntyler.org/art-alley. For more information on the Tyler Art Festival visit, https://www.downtowntyler.org/tyler-art-festival.

Article courtesy of Tyler Paper.