New mural brings Native history to life at UTA
The University of Texas at Arlington’s Land Acknowledgement Courtyard features a vibrant new mural designed to draw more students and community members to the space dedicated to the Native lands upon which the University sits.
The first exterior mural installed on campus was designed by Native American artist and muralist Haley Greenfeather English and painted by 16 students in art Associate Professor Carlos Donjuan’s mural class.
Greenfeather English said creating this mural for UTA was as a special journey and hoped her design showed the overall importance of reciprocity and sparked viewers’ curiosity about the history of the Native lands they reside on.
“I have never created a mural that I wasn’t also in some way executing, but I have worked on many community murals that require the same understanding—this isn’t mine; it’s a seed that everyone gets to take part in growing,” Greenfeather English said. “For the piece, I relied on all the work already done to thoughtfully and intentionally curate this land acknowledgement space.”
Darryl Lauster, professor of art and chair of UTA’s Native American Serving Non Tribal Institution employee resource group said Greenfeather English was the perfect fit for the project. He described her work and style as exuberant, colorful and buoyant—all elements the group wanted the mural to evoke.
As for having Donjuan’s class paint the mural, Lauster said it was the most natural way to incorporate students into the project. It gave the project an educational component, much like the mural itself, which will help educate visitors on Native American history and culture.
“This project was special for us because it was the first time many of these students were able to work on a project of this large scale,” Donjuan said “It was also very encouraging to have the support of the University and especially our Art and Art History Department. We hope that projects like this continue to happen as UTA grows.”
The UTA Land Acknowledgment Courtyard opened on Indigenous Peoples’ Day in October 2022. The space features a commemorative boulder inscribed with the University’s land acknowledgement statement, a fountain, a garden of plants native to the region and now the mural.
Lauster said the courtyard is designed to be a tranquil gathering place where the community can relax and learn.
“Now with the mural in the courtyard, it activates so many of the senses—smell, sight and sound,” Lauster said. “We wanted to transform this into a place for our community to enjoy themselves and be with one another.”
UT Arlington respectfully acknowledges the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes upon whose historical homelands this University is located. We recognize the historical presence of the Caddo Nation and other Tribal Nations in the region.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 300,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.