By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
Reginald C. Adams, a Houston-based public artist, has dedicated the past three decades to transforming public spaces into powerful celebrations of culture, community, and history. With more than 500 murals, sculptures, and installations worldwide, Adams has established himself as a leading voice in community-based public art, using creativity to amplify the stories of unsung heroes—particularly those rooted in African American heritage.
Adams’ artistic skills gained national visibility in 2021 with the unveiling of the “Absolute Equality” mural in Galveston, Texas, the birthplace of Juneteenth. Towering 44 feet high and stretching 125 feet wide, the 5,000-square-foot mural honors the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and free the last remaining enslaved African Americans in the United States.
Adams’ journey with Juneteenth-themed art began when he was commissioned to create a mosaic monument in September 2018 at Emancipation Park in Houston—the site of the city’s annual Juneteenth celebration.
“I was commissioned to create a series of mosaic monuments honoring the four founders of the park, and I had learned that the four founders pooled $1,000 together in 1872 to buy 10 acres of land so that their families could celebrate Juneteenth safely,” said Adams. “I began to learn more about the history of Juneteenth through doing my research and listening to historians and activists. But the mosaic murals that are now at the corners of Emancipation Park began my Juneteenth journey.”
From a young age, Adams had a deep passion for art. As he grew older, that passion only intensified, eventually evolving into something much larger—vibrant murals now displayed along Main Street.
“I enjoyed drawing on the walls of my bedroom, and that was a transferable skill because now I get to draw on the walls of my community,” said Adams. “Much of my work is centered around highlighting those historical personalities and moments in time that oftentimes people have left out of public discourse. By using public art, I get to put those stories on Main Street.”
Adams describes himself as an extreme extrovert who thrives on the energy of those around him. Over time, involving the public in his art projects has become second nature. What sets his approach apart is a deep commitment to community engagement, as he truly puts the “public” in public art. By partnering local artists with residents throughout the creative process, Adams ensures each piece authentically reflects the spirit and voice of the community it represents.
In fall 2020, Adams was approached by Sheridan Lorenz, donor and co-chair of the Juneteenth Legacy Project in Galveston, to create a mural commemorating the holiday’s birthplace. After meeting with local leaders and viewing the massive blank wall that would become his canvas, Adams accepted the challenge enthusiastically.
“With Galveston being the birthplace of Juneteenth and having just come off the cusp of dedicating the Emancipation Park with mosaic monuments, it was a natural yes for me. How fortuitous to be able to segue from [the Houston project] to this mural,” said Adams. “And so, I went and visited with Sheridan and some community folks in Galveston and was shown this huge wall—44 feet in height and 125 feet in width, 5,000 square feet in total—and was asked and challenged to bring the story of Juneteenth to life through a visual narrative.”
Adams said that from March until the end of April 2021, he and his team transformed what was a blank wall into a beautiful outdoor classroom.
“We were able to highlight over 500 years of history, specifically denoting the moment in 1865 when thousands of Black Union soldiers came to Galveston to emancipate over 250,000 enslaved Blacks, which marked what we now know as Juneteenth on this large wall,” Adams said.
When discussing the Galveston mural, Adams explained that he involved local youth in the project as a way to engage the community and create a meaningful connection with future generations.
“In the far bottom right corner of the mural, you will see a collage of sacred geometrical patterns that were painted by local youth in the Galveston area. We wanted their work to be a part of the mural as an indicator to the future, because they will be the future of this community,” Adams said. “Whenever they come to see the mural, they see a reflection of their own contribution and also symbolically a symbol of the future that they hold.”
Building on the momentum of the Galveston project, Adams has since led the creation of multiple Juneteenth murals in cities across the U.S., using the same methodology to include a local component to the project.
“From 2021 until last year, we have now produced 15 Juneteenth murals in 15 different cities across the U.S., each highlighting the local freedom fighters and bringing attention to the local artists in those cities that are doing this kind of work,” said Adams. “But also, we are amplifying the story of Juneteenth and pursuing absolute equality through public art.”
Although much of Adams’ work centers on African American history and culture, his ultimate goal is to create art that speaks to the broader human experience.
“What I bring out in those African American stories are the common themes that run through all humanity—the values of social justice, the values of the pursuit of absolute equality, the values of inclusion, and the values of the importance of diversity,” said Adams. “So, while certain features may be seen in my work, my work really speaks to any community that is addressing or dealing with their own challenges or their own desire to highlight people that are within the community that oftentimes is overlooked or underrepresented.”
While he tries not to make his art a political statement, at the end of the day, Adams acknowledged that it is a political statement because his source of inspiration stems from what is happening right now in our country.
“We have values like diversity, equity, and inclusion under attack, and my work essentially embodies all of that. And so, what motivates me while these values are under attack is that I feel it’s incumbent upon me as a public artist to put the issues back out into the public realms so that the conversation can continue,” said Adams. “I know that everything isn’t for all people, but I know that by putting it out in the public realm, it instigates any folks’ conversations, or else it may not happen.”
“The art marks who we are, where we are as a culture, and helps us look back upon ourselves to understand what was important, who was important, and how we are raising those issues through art,” added Adams.
Out of all of his work, particularly the Juneteenth murals, Adams feels a great sense of pride and joy because he gets to bring attention to stories that are being banned and buried right now politically.
“These murals become a megaphone of sorts to bring attention to issues that right now I feel are under attack, and we get to do it in a very beautiful and peaceful way. I hope to evoke conversations around the importance of DEI and hopefully inspire other artists and individuals to not be afraid to speak truth to power and use art as a tool to highlight those who have been overlooked and underserved,” Adams concluded.
