The Mobile Arts Council and the Downtown Mobile Alliance are launching the city’s first-ever MobTown Mural Festival, kicking off a two-day celebration of public art that turns the urban core into an active studio.
Calling the event an “exciting milestone for Mobile’s arts community,” Mobile Arts Council Executive Director Angela Montgomery notes that public art has the power to “bring people together, create a sense of place, and inspire civic pride.” She adds that the festival will not only “beautify our city but also create the opportunity for visitors and residents to experience live art in action.”
The festival opens Saturday, September 12, and runs through Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., bringing artists and the public together across key downtown landmarks. Attendees can watch live installations unfold at the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf, the Cedar Street Social Club, and Innovation Portal, alongside five marine-grade art cubes being painted live at Cooper Riverside Park. Once finished, those cubes will find permanent homes as public art pieces throughout Mobile’s parks.
Selected from more than 65 applicants, the featured artists include Hannah Legg, Gary Brady, JD Swiger, Apollo YaKongo Art, Jenyes, Rachel Schwemin, Brian Tan, David Rojas Pacheco, Greg Crimmins, and students from Christy LeGros’ Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies Art Class.
The festival timing overlaps with another major waterfront milestone: the opening weekend of Son of a Son of a Sailor: The Jimmy Buffett Experience at the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf. This includes the unveiling of a new larger-than-life Buffett sculpture.
Alongside the live painting, the free public event features food trucks, live music, and activities across the riverfront. Festival maps and schedules are available through the Mobile Arts Council.