Gavin Bird Brings History and Community to Life in New "Genesis" Mural at Genesis and Light

A new mural on North State Street puts some of Jackson's most defining stories on full display.

Credit: Brent McQuillan

Jackson's public art scene just got a significant new addition. Artist Gavin Bird recently unveiled "Genesis," a mural commissioned for Genesis and Light Center at 4914 North State Street, a project made possible through the Mississippi Arts Commission's America 250 Public Art Program.

What the Mural Says About Jackson

The mural's design weaves together several threads of Mississippi identity. Medgar Evers anchors the composition as a reference to the state's civil rights history. Magnolia flowers speak to Mississippi's broader cultural identity. A tiger pays tribute to Jackson State University and the HBCU tradition. Children occupy the visual center of the piece — a deliberate choice representing education and the idea of learning to lead the future. Additional figures are shown passing cases of water, reflecting Genesis and Light's community service mission. The U.S. Capitol appears in acknowledgment of America's 250th anniversary.

A Collaboration Rooted in Shared Vision

The project began when Genesis and Light founder Albert Wilson reached out to Bird after the America 250 grant was announced. The two worked together on the application, combining Wilson's vision for the center with Bird's track record as a muralist. Their proposal was selected from a competitive field of applicants across the state.

"Everything just aligned perfectly," Bird said of the partnership. "Albert had a vision and we really put our heads together."

Bird
Credit: Brent McQuillan

A Prolific Muralist Keeps Building

Bird has been painting murals throughout Mississippi and the South for about five years, completing somewhere between 60 and 70 works across the region. He is also in the design phase for additional America 250 murals planned elsewhere in the state.

"I'm doing what I absolutely love to do," Bird said. "It's public facing and I just hope that everybody gets to enjoy them as much as I enjoy painting them."

Bird thanked Albert Wilson, Mississippi Arts Commission, and MAC staff members Simone Cottrell and Lauren Rhodes for making the project possible.