McKinney resident and artist Celeste Seitz speaks about Hunter’s Mural, a painting by local artist Andrea Holmes, while leading a session of the Murals of McKinney walking tour Aug. 12. The tour showcases a variety of downtown’s public art, including some projects that received grants from the McKinney Arts Commission. (Shelbie Hamilton/Community Impact)
As visitors to downtown McKinney take in the scenery and visit local merchants, they are met with murals spanning alley walls, sculptures on street corners and tiny doors adorning the entrances to various businesses.
Adding public art installations in McKinney has served as a way to support professional artists while also engaging residents and visitors through art and art-focused events, McKinney Cultural District Director Andrew Jones said.
In a nutshell
The community’s public art collection continues to grow with support from the McKinney Arts Commission, a city-funded commission created in 2013 that awards grants, Jones said.
“When we talk with potential artists, we push them to do something innovative, to do something neat and different that hasn’t been done before,” Jones said, highlighting the Tiny Doors initiative and McKinney Silos mural as examples of creative projects.
The mural on the silos near the Flour Mill was completed by artist Guido van Helten in 2022. (Shelbie Hamilton/Community Impact)
The commission works with property owners and artists to add public art throughout the city, with many pieces joining the downtown area.
“This is a good place for an artist to get themselves established, or to get their foot in the door,” McKinney Arts Commission Chair Kimberlie Page said of McKinney.
The application process to receive grant funding for a public art piece varies based on whether an artist is already associated with the project or if the commission will need to undergo a call for artists process, Jones said. The process also includes a presentation to the commission.
“It gives the organization the opportunity to present themselves throughout the application, put together a presentation, and then share what they're trying to execute,” Page said of the application process.
The projects, which often embellish the walls of businesses, can drive traffic and create a landmark, McKinney-based artist Andrea Holmes said. Holmes painted her first outdoor mural in downtown McKinney in 2020 and has since completed more than 20 murals and art installations in the area.
“It can just totally transform a wall and make it something special and then it's easy to find ... A lot of businesses have seen the value of it as a marketing tool for them,” Holmes said of public art installations. “It becomes part of McKinney as well. It's not just the individuals, but it's the shops, ... the city and the community that benefit from the artwork.”
The mural "Wings of McKinney" by Andrea Holmes was completed in 2024 and can be found at 500 S. Tennessee St., McKinney. (Courtesy Andrea Holmes)
Paint the town
Check out these details on some public art projects that were supported by the McKinney Arts Commission.
1. Benji Love Tribute sculpture: The sculpture by Susan Norris of the canine star of the 1974 film “Benji” received $10,000 in matching grant funds from the arts commission.
116 N. Tennessee St., Ste. 101, McKinney
2. Hugs Cafe mural: A mural by Andrea Holmes can be found at the new Hugs Cafe headquarters. The project received $9,000 in matching grant funds from the arts commission.
221 Andrews St., McKinney
3. McKinney National Airport murals: The arts commission selected artists Alec DeJesus and Mila Sketch, and provided $20,000 in grant funds, for two murals that will debut with the new commercial terminal at the airport.
1508 Industrial Blvd., McKinney
4. Hall Library perforated metal art installation: The arts commission is contributing $20,000 in funding to an art installation that will join Hall Library, which is currently being renovated.
101 E. Hunt St., McKinney
The framework
The McKinney Arts Commission offers three types of grant funding, Jones said: funding for season-long performing arts programs, one-time arts projects and public art installations.
The commission’s matching grants for public art projects provide half of the project funding up to $20,000 and the remaining funds must come from another source. Holmes said these funds ensure artists are paid while also making art more accessible.
“Basically, a small business ... can get a mural for half off,” she said. “That makes it a lot more approachable for everyday people.”
While the commission offers support for arts initiatives, Jones said the local artist community has grown organically and created a “rich cultural experience” in McKinney that can’t be replicated.
Art also drives economic impact through attracting visitors who contribute sales tax revenue while also serving as a source of civic pride, said Chris Kiley, executive director of nonprofit arts advocacy organization Texans for the Arts.
“To have a public investment in public art is important because it provides the community a space to have ... skin in the game,” Kiley said. “It provides something where it is for everyone, and the only way to ensure that it is for everyone is obviously if there's public resources invested in it.”
More than $400,000 has been spent from McKinney’s Public Arts Fund in the past five years, city budget documents state.
Arts commission board member Jackie Brewer said the public art in McKinney diversifies the city’s cultural offerings while supporting professional artists that are creating destinations with their art.
“All of the funding for everything that happens in a city not only comes from your tax dollars but also comes from your sales tax dollars,” she said. “By making things aesthetically pleasing via public art or even the music venues that we have ... [it’s] great for the citizens of McKinney, but almost equally as important, it's great for the city in general because it brings people outside the city here and that is so important for your tax base, especially sales tax dollars, to bring those people here.”
“Typically, working with cities gets a bad rap; they are slow, and having many cooks in the kitchen brings a lot of opinions. McKinney is the complete opposite,” Koch said in an emailed statement. “The right people are involved; they always consider the shops nearby and the community while also giving artists creative freedom.”
The 25-foot-tall “Ever Blooming” sculpture by Alli K Design can be found in the East Louisiana Street roundabout near Tupps Brewery. The sculpture floral plants native to Texas including poppies, Indian paintbrushes and primrose. (Courtesy city of McKinney)
In addition to the sculpture, Koch also completed a complimentary mural along the side of the McKinney Flour Mill. The mural makes the building more attractive and entertaining while also extending the public art collection found in downtown, McKinney Flour Mill Property Manager James Bresnahan said.
“There are more murals in the traditional downtown square,” he said. “This is a chance for us to be a part of that on the east side of downtown.”
Quotes of note
“The art in downtown McKinney brings a certain personality to the community,” Page said.
“I think about art as a reflection of, honestly, your community, and when you go into a place like a cultural district, a historic district, you want to feel part of a community that's richer than just your run-of-the-mill development that you might see anywhere else in North Texas,” Jones said.
“Supporting public art supports artists by creating opportunities for artists to be seen, paid, commissioned, and connected with the community. Public art turns community investment into real economic and professional support for local artists,” said Trina Harlow, artist and Art Club of McKinney board president.
The takeaway
City staff have worked to make the grant application process easy for prospective artists and property owners in an effort to attract more applications, Jones said.
“There’s a lot of value in the placemaking efforts that art has for our district,” he said. “It’s awesome to see how art has played a role in driving traffic, and that leads to supporting small businesses.”
Holmes said she would like to see more public art in McKinney, specifically with a variety of both artists and art types. As the public art collection in McKinney continues to grow, Kiley said it can serve as “the gift that keeps on giving.”
“We should be thinking about [art] as a long-term investment in our community versus just something that’s nice to have,” he said.
Get involved
Guided public art tours are offered in downtown on a recurring basis. The free tours are held in partnership with Visit McKinney and Jump Into Art Studios, and leave from the McKinney Visitors Center.
The tours began in 2022 following a suggestion from Jump Into Art Studios founder Magda Dia in 2022, and have continued to evolve as more public art is added to the area, Dia said.
“The guided and self-guided Mural Walks, offered in partnership with Jump Into Art Studios, connect visitors with the history, culture, and creativity found throughout Historic Downtown,” Visit McKinney Executive Director Aaron Werner said in an emailed statement. “Beyond enhancing the visitor experience, these installations help drive foot traffic, support local businesses, and contribute to the overall economic impact of tourism.”
Celeste Seitz, a local artist who serves as a guide for the public art tour, said her favorite part of leading the tour is seeing people’s reactions to the art.
“I know a lot of the artists who produced them so it's really cool to see someone look at something for the first time with fresh eyes,” Seitz said of artwork showcased on the tour.
Birds of Downtown: a life-size bird painting series by Andrea Holmes
McKinney Monarchs: a guide to eight oversized monarch butterfly sculptures
Murals of McKinney: a walking tour of murals by various artists located in downtown
Tiny Doors: a list of over 80 downtown businesses that feature a tiny door art piece
Visitors can also see pieces from local artists in McKinney City Hall as part of the Art in the Hall initiative, a joint project between the city and the McKinney Arts Commission that includes display art from local artists and art students in the facility, according to the city’s website.
“Every time you look around, there's an art show or a vendor opportunity that's happening in McKinney,” Page said.
Art-focused events are also regularly held at art galleries across McKinney as well as at the McKinney Cotton Mill, which is home to MillHouse McKinney, a creative coworking space for women. The organization regularly hosts both free and ticketed events ranging from gallery exhibitions and makers markets to indoor art festivals and art classes. Art is also showcased throughout the Cotton Mill, including within individual artist galleries and studios as well as through outdoor murals.
“We want to make McKinney the arts capital of North Texas,” MillHouse McKinney Executive Director Beth Beck said.
