Public Art News
We’ve been working to add more art for your enjoyment. This includes acquiring permanent public art sculptures, like Scott Shubin’s light-up, revolving artwork at the downtown fire station (name forthcoming, as selected by Round Rock Fire Department staff) and Sun McColgin’s “Portal,” which can be found in front of the Griffith Building.
We’ve also worked with local and area artists on temporary murals, to spotlight a variety of artwork techniques and themes, including works by Jose Blanco, Natalya Crier, Graham Francoise, Janet Fulk, and Janet Oh.
There is still more art in the works for 2026, so please stay tuned to our Round Rock Arts and Culture Facebook and Instagram pages, and here, for announcements!
Each year we install a new lightbox mural in the Round Rock Public Library with artwork by a local artist. This year’s artist is Janet Fulk!
Bearing the title “Imagination,” this abstract artwork is piece with contours and shapes to ruminate upon as you go into your own imagination. This artwork is part of a neurrographic artwork series by the artist. Neurographic art is a meditative drawing process. This piece was done with ink and watercolor.
This temporary public artwork will remain on view throughout 2026 and can be enjoyed in the lobby of the library.
After you check out the art in the library, proceed through the downtown paseo to visit our City Arts Center!
We commissioned a mural to be painted during the 2025 Round Rock Arts Fest, as a “live painting” event. Avery O Design/Avery Orendorf worked tirelessly throughout the festival weekend to create a colorful and inspiring artwork. What was once an empty concrete block wall in Centennial Plaza near the Baca Center’s West Bagdad St area is now a joyous spot, perfectly appointed within viewing distance from a picnic table under the canopy of a large tree.
What with the preponderance of historic buildings in Downtown Round Rock, we have instead placed many non-invasive murals in a variety of locations at City of Round Rock properties, including Prete Plaza, City Hall Parking Garage, and the Transit Center. With this mural, we have created a permanent painted artwork in downtown.
The artist Avery Orendorf shares, “Avery started painting after an early career as a non profit professional and a quick break as a stay-at-home mom. Finger painting was fun and all, but Avery quickly realized that she needed a greater artistic challenge, so she opened the door to a new venture. A full creative life gives her all the necessary energy for epic Nerf battles at home.” Connect with the artist: https://www.averyodesign.com/.
Recent Public Art Additions
Enjoy Your Self-Guided Tour
Enjoy a self-guided tour in the palm of your hand using your phone! Simply use the QR code at an artwork to be taken to our interactive public art map (or click the icon at the top of this page). Learn more about each artwork, the artists, and what other art is nearby during your walk.
Spotlight on Chisholm Trail Crossing
The Chisholm Trail Crossing is located at 500 Chisholm Trail Road in Round Rock. Two Texas artists’ works are featured at this location, Jim Thomas and Antonio Muñoz.
Jim Thomas is a nationally published artist with numerous professional art association memberships, including TSOS, AArC, and DFAC. Among the many awards won, Thomas is a three-time “Gold Medalist” of the Texas Cowboy Artist Association. College training in earth sciences, chemistry, and metallurgy, combined with more than 41 years professional team experience with architects, engineers, government and private public art administrators are a foundation for his years of professional sculpting, art foundry, and metal fabrications experience. The following pieces were designed and crafted by Jim Thomas and are located at the Chisholm Trail Crossing:
“The Bell Steer”: First in the series and commissioned through a grant from Dell in 2003. During cattle drives, the lead steer often wore a bell around its neck to assist the cattlemen in finding the beginning of the herd.
“The Pioneer Woman”: Dedicated to the memory of Harriett “Hattie” Cluck, one of the first known women to travel up the trail. Commissioned by
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Peckham, The Pioneer Woman bears a resemblance to Mrs. Bill “Sissy” Peckham, who sat for hours with the sculptor.
“The Pioneer Boy”: Commissioned in honor of Emmett Cluck, a five year old boy who went up the Chisholm Trail with his family. Ruth Koughan made the donation for this statue and her grandson, Riley Koughan, served as the model for the sculpture.
“The Resting Steer”: Dedicated in honor of Oscar Edward Quick and Eugene Olof Quick. The Steer has the “OQ” brand, which was registered by Quick in 1891. Marjorie and Don Quick made their gift in honor of their father and grandfather, who were both citizens of Round Rock.
“Goin’ to Water”: As a symbolic link to their parents’ agricultural background in Texas and to their ancestors’ frontier life of the “old country,” Edward Reyes Torres, Mary Zordan Torres and Gloria Torres Zamarripa commissioned this longhorn sculpture with its Torres Reyes registered brand.
Another sculpture set featured at Chisholm Trail Crossing was created by sculptor Antonio Muñoz. His depictions of “Trail Boss” and “Foreman” commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail drives, with the figures based on two local people, Will Peckham and Eugene Beck.
The “Gathering Brands” depicts the Trail boss (Eugene Beck) and the drive had started just south of San Antonio and as he moves north many ranchers are joining the growing heard. Passing through the town of Round Rock, Mr. Beck, while on horseback and keeping an eye on the moving heard, is meeting with a local rancher, Will Peckham, to collect his ranch brand and incorporate his cattle to the drive. Mr. Peckham gently approaches Mr. Beck’s horse and greets him by petting the animal’s head, and immediately, turns, his attention to the man on the horse to engage in conversation. In the meantime, Mr. Beck holds his own branding iron and the Trail Brand to prepare a branding session, and while aware of the surrounding movement, can’t help to notice and observe the particular round stone landmark that gave the town its name.
Follow the artist: http://munozsculpting.com
About Public Art in Round Rock
Our public art program is a vision of our Arts Master Plan in Round Rock.
The goals are to: Provide visual interest on the Round Rock downtown area; Increase the number and variety of outdoor public art installations by local and regional artists; Stimulate creative thought and reflective conversation among residents and visitors.
Each annual sculpture exhibit has a wonderful array of artwork that addresses these goals and helps create a more vibrant area in the center of our city. This exhibit is made possible in part by the City of Round Rock, Texas Society of Sculptors, Round Rock Arts, and the City of Round Rock Parks and City of Round Rock General Facilities departments for expert installation of the work. An array of art sculptures are on loan from regional artists and installed on the Downtown, Prete and Centennial Plazas and at Chisholm Trail Park. These diverse pieces are on loan from the artists for at least one year, while other pieces, gifted by artists, call Round Rock their permanent home.
In addition to public art sculptures, our public art program also includes banner murals and signal box mini murals, as well as our City Council Chamber gallery exhibits.
