Photograph of the 2021 installation at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama.

Untitled (2021)

Chris Hardy and Nystasha Kelly

First responders. Medical professionals. Public safety officers. Teachers. Grocery store employees. Delivery people. This mural celebrates the selfless contributions of the legions of essential workers who’ve cared for our communities and us throughout the pandemic.

Designed by local creatives Nystasha Kelly and Chris Hardy, Untitled is one of our Community Togetherness Project (CTP) winning submissions. The CTP was a competition intended to engage and uplift artists and the community during this period of prolonged isolation and uncertainty.

There are two other elements of the Community Togetherness Project:

Measured Space, a sculpture tucked into the northeast corner of the Garden, and
An exhibition of student artwork on view indoors in the ArtWorks Gallery.

Sponsor

Support for this project was provided by the Wells Fargo Foundation.

On View in the outdoor Education Courtyard

Beginning Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Meet the Artists

Chris Hardy is a designer and illustrator who resides in Montgomery. He seeks to make art that is both beautiful and functional. Hardy often draws from his passion for history as he crafts modern narratives—including images from Black vernacular, pop culture, and sports—to invite viewers into conversation.

Montgomery-based artist Nystasha Kelly is a graphic designer and photographer whose initial artistic visions keep her attuned to both the design as a whole and the message to be conveyed. She appreciates the artful simplicity of design that belies its underlying complexity. Her art emphasizes the value of feeling comfortable in one’s own skin and questions the idea that society dictates confidence.