Community Conversation on upcoming public mural.

The School of Art & Design invites university and community members to an in-person meet & greet with muralist Nichole Westfall, who will lead the creation of a new mural on the west face of the Evelyn Holbrook Smith Music Hall.

The event will take place Tuesday, February 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. on the first floor of the Visual Arts Center at 927 3^rd Avenue, Huntington, WV.

This informal gathering offers an opportunity to meet the artist, learn more about the mural project, and share feedback, stories, and ideas that will help shape the final design. Community engagement is an anchor in the project, and attendees are encouraged to reflect on Marshall’s identity and impact, of both past and future.

Funding for the mural has been secured in part through the National Endowment for the Arts. The project is a collaboration among the School of Art & Design, the College of Arts and Media, Marshall University’s Public Art Committee, and Marshall Communications, which is overseeing public input.

Nichole Westfall, muralist and 2024 Governor’s Artist of the Year, is known for her bold, whimsical Appalachian-inspired style and her belief in creating art that invites “joy to thrive”.

The mural will highlight the impact of the arts and public art, celebrate Marshall’s evolution from a Normal School to a modern university, and reflect the Marshall for All initiative and the university’s 2037 Bicentennial. Installation is anticipated for Spring 2026.

Online public comment on the project is open through February 6, 2026, and focuses on design elements, Marshall’s ethos, and personal stories to the university.

This event is free and open to all.