Arkansas may be best known for its lush natural features, but those who know Little Rock know it to be a rare tapestry of art, philanthropy and community — and yes, lush natural features.
In honor of that tapestry, we set out to explore the various displays of art in our city. What we found goes beyond long, gleaming halls and high ceilings and dives into the intimate showrooms tucked into sleepy streets and the larger-than-life murals that become the familiar backdrop of our daily lives.
Sketches and sculptures, pastels and portraits, international and neighborhood artists, you’ll find it all in our comprehensive guide to Little Rock art galleries and public art.
GALLERIES
When starting your artistic voyage, begin with the various styles and media in these local spaces.
Acansa Gallery
413A Main St., North Little Rock
501.663.2287 | Facebook: Acansa Gallery & Store
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock
501.372.4000 | arkmfa.org
The Art Group Gallery
11525 Cantrell Road, Little Rock
3 Statehouse Plaza, Little Rock
501.690.2193 | artgrouparkansas.com
Barry Thomas Fine Art & Studio
711 Main St., North Little Rock
720.772.1146 | Facebook: Barry Thomas Fine Art & Studio
Boswell Mourot Fine Art
1501 S. Main St., Ste. H, Little Rock
501.454.6969 | boswellmourot.com
Cantrell Gallery
8208 Cantrell Road, Little Rock
501.224.1335 | cantrellgallery.com
The Underground Gallery at Library Square
401 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock
501.320.5752 | cals.org/galleries
Gallery 26
2601 Kavanaugh Blvd., Ste. 1, Little Rock
501.664.8996 | gallery26.com
Good Weather
(By appointment only)
4400 Edgemere Road, North Little Rock
662.734.0380 | goodweather.llc
Hearne Fine Art
1001 Wright Ave., Little Rock
501.372.6822 | hearnefineart.com
The House of Art
108 E. Fourth St., North Little Rock
501.366.3793 | Facebook: The House of Art
Laman Library Argenta Gallery
420 Main St., North Little Rock
501.687.1061 | lamanlibrary.org
Louie’s Unique Framing & Gallery
1509 Mart Drive, Ste. A, Little Rock
501.907.6240 | louiesframinggallery.com
M2 Gallery on South Main Street in Little Rock.
M2 Gallery
1300 S. Main St., Ste. B, Little Rock
501.225.6257 | m2lr.com
Red Door Gallery
3715 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock
501.753.5227 | reddoorgalleryonline.com
Sergio Valdivia Art
108 W. Sixth St., Little Rock
501.612.8813 | sergio.gallery
The Showroom
2313 Cantrell Road, Little Rock
501.372.7373 | Facebook: The Showroom
Thea Foundation
401 Main St., Ste. 100, North Little Rock
501.379.9512 | theafoundation.org
UA Little Rock Galleries
• Brad Cushman Gallery
• The Small Gallery
• Ann Maners & Alex Pappas Gallery
5617 West 28th St., Little Rock
501.916.3182 | ualr.edu/art/galleries
Windgate Gallery - UA Pulaski Technical College
3000 W. Scenic Drive, North Little Rock
501.812.2200 | uaptc.edu/windgate-gallery
CULTURAL MUSEUMS
International traveling exhibits and local legends alike don the walls of our cultural centers, so don't count them out when looking for great art.
Clinton Presidential Center
1200 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock
501.370.8000 | clintonpresidentialcenter.org
Esse Purse Museum & Store
1510 S. Main St., Little Rock
501.916.9022 | essepursemuseum.com
Historic Arkansas Museum
200 E. Third St., Little Rock
501.324.9351 | historicarkansas.org
Mosaic Templars Cultural Center
501 W. Ninth St., Little Rock
501.683.3593 | mosaictemplarscenter.com
Old State House Museum
300 W. Markham St., Little Rock
501.324.9685 | oldstatehouse.com
GARDENS
Surrounded by nature, these works take on a life of their own.
Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden
400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock
931.376.4781 | littlerock.com
Wildwood Park for the Arts
20919 Denny Road, Little Rock
501.821.7275 | wildwoodpark.org
MURALS
While we can't cover all the public art popping up around town, here are some of the metro's must-see murals.
7th Street Mural Project by various artists
Seventh Street between Coates & Dennison streets, Little Rock
Argenta Mural Project by various artists
415 Main St. (behind Four Quarter Bar), North Little Rock
Arkansas history mural by various artists
100 Riverfront Drive, North Little Rock
"Arkansas Musicians" by Niz
West Seventh & South Louisiana streets, Little Rock
"Baker's Alley" by various artists
E. Sixth & Main streets, Little Rock
"Beneath the Surface" by Matt McLeod
Sixth & Main streets, Little Rock
"The Big Race" by Kevin Kresse
Seventh & Main streets, North Little Rock
"Birds of the American Flyway" by Robin Tucker
314 Maple St., North Little Rock
"Balstovitch" by Roland Burnham
3124 Pike Ave., North Little Rock
Butterfly mural by Youri Cansell
400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock
"City Dreamers" by Joel Boyd
W. Sixth & Spring streets, Little Rock
"Dogtown Proud" by Kevin Kresse
Fourth & Main streets, North Little Rock
"Eat Baja"
5921 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock
"Foxes" by Jessica Jones
313 E. Broadway St., North Little Rock
"The Gathering" by Angela Davis Johnson
108 E. Fourth St., North Little Rock
"The Gift" by Meikel Church
151 W. Fourth St., North Little Rock
"Hard Work" by Robin Tucker
250 E. Fourth St., North Little Rock
"Hot & Cold Jazz" by Perrion Hurd
Fourth & Maple streets, North Little Rock
Little Rock Garden Fence by Katherine Rutter
1401 Main St. (behind Bernice Garden), Little Rock
Main Street Pocket Park by various artists
711 Main St., Little Rock
"Market Scene" by Mark Blaney
East Fourth St. (behind The House of Art), North Little Rock
"Men of Iron" by Jose Hernandez
1300 E. Sixth St., Little Rock
"Migration" by Guy Bell
East Sixth & Scott streets, Little Rock
"Playtime" by Jason Jones
Capitol Ave. & Main St., Little Rock
"Shout Sister Shout" by Jessica Jones
108 W. Sixth St., Little Rock
"Smile, You're In Downtown" by Katy Raines
Sixth & Center streets, Little Rock
SoMa Chess Mural by Drew Merritt
1201 Main St., Little Rock
"Street Gallery" by Jason Jones
302 Main St., Little Rock
"The Beau Wall" by Beau Jones
5801 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock
"Welcome to Stifft's Station" by Matt McLeod
3015 W. Markham St., Little Rock
"Woman With Dog" by Steven Otis
1510 Main St., Little Rock
Women in suits mural by Lisa Krannichfeld
15th & Main streets, North Little Rock
"Yes We Can" by Steven Otis
1500 S. Main St., Little Rock
SIXTH & CHESTER:
by Lillian Goins
Little Rock native Lisa Krannichfeld took her first art classes at Parkview Arts Science Magnet. It was this experience that unlocked a passion that has had a hold on her throughout college and her career. With an affinity for watercolor, the artist’s move from indoor studios to streets and brick canvases may seem novel, but it’s more a matter of public service.
“This is our art,” Krannichfeld says, detailing why she chooses to paint on buildings in the metro area, a feat she also says is exhilarating due to its provocative undertone. Her first mural project in North Little Rock is similar to her new work on Chester Street, both centering women wearing colorful patterned suits. She believes this urban position grants exposure to her mission of depicting women as powerful.
“Women and girls will drive past and see this mural and see themselves in it,” Krannichfeld says, who not only portrays strength by depicting women in suits and dominant poses, but also by giving them ambiguity in only painting the lower half of their faces.
The subjects are familiar to Krannichfeld, who has illustrated them before in her signature techniques of mixed media, ink and watercolor, which is still her primary format. Here, she employs the “more difficult” process of painting all three women at once, rather than one at a time, in effort to make the colors “speak to each other, but contrast at the same time.”
Even on this surface, the artist displays impressive attention to detail to suscitate the wall and her mission. The texture of the brick makes the skin look lifelike, the dynamic patterns and color assigning power to femininity.
She asserts that her work will never depict women as docile, and there is no denying the fierce women in Krannichfeld’s murals will speak to passersby the way they speak to each other.
