New Mural Celebrates Black Joy in Asheville’s Artistic Landscape
Overlooking the vibrant streets filled with coffee shops and galleries in Asheville’s River Arts District is a striking new mural that captures the essence of joy. This artwork, titled “Black Boy Joy,” is the newest addition to the Asheville Black Cultural Trail, a unique initiative that honors the significant contributions of Black individuals and communities to the city’s history.
Conceived by lead artist Tommy Lee McGee, the mural aims to spotlight the often-overlooked theme of Black and brown joy in public art. “The central figure is ‘a beautiful, excited, happy, joyful black boy,’” McGee explained. “He’s in the middle of his own garden that he’s watering.”
Known artistically as Sir Tom Foolery, McGee teamed up with local artists Gus Cutty and Kathryn Crawford to bring this vision to life. The artwork was meticulously pieced together and installed at a height of 60 feet on the brick walls of the Glen Rock Apartments at 372 Depot Street. The mural features painted plexiglass sheets with elements like flowers, glowing orbs, a tropical bird, and a radiant sun forming a crown around the boy’s head.
This project, months in the making, addresses the limited portrayals of Black boys in art and media. McGee shared with BPR, “Black boys don’t always have to be hard and thugs and aggressive. You can be in the midst of beauty and exhibit beauty and exhibit joy.”
The mural complements another piece titled “Black Girl Magic,” installed the previous year. These installations are part of a broader project funded by a $500,000 grant from the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority’s Tourism Product Development Fund.
The Asheville Black Cultural and Heritage Trail, launched in 2023, features 14 stops and 20 interpretive panels scattered across neighborhoods including downtown, Southside, and the river area. A third and final installation is anticipated on South Market Street this winter.
