FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Laken Gudzak
laken@dtjax.org
Downtown Jacksonville’s Arts Scene Comes Full Circle at Union Terminal Warehouse
A century-old access tunnel beneath a Jacksonville landmark has been transformed into “Duuuval Walls,” a six-figure public art collection now open to visitors at 700 E. Union St.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — July 23, 2026 — More than 800 people gathered over the weekend of July 11–12 to witness a first for Downtown Jacksonville’s arts scene. Duuuval Walls, a first-of-its-kind mural jam at the historic Union Terminal Warehouse, transformed 600 feet of wall into a vibrant outdoor gallery as 25 artists created original works in real time. The weekend left behind a permanent, free public art collection valued at more than six figures, creating a new cultural destination for Downtown Jacksonville.
The result was more than just a weekend event. It is a lasting public art experience. Stretching the full length of the future Emerald Trail tunnel along the east side of the restored, century-old Union Terminal Warehouse, the murals have transformed the corridor into a colorful, walkable destination that is free and open to the public. Whether serving as the backdrop for graduation and engagement photos, a date-night stop, a social media video, or a must-see destination for visitors exploring Jacksonville, Duuuval Walls invites people to experience Downtown in a new way.
“Duuuval Walls was never just about paint on a wall. It was about placemaking. We wanted to show what’s possible when a city invests in its own artists by giving them the hospitality, resources and creative freedom to do their best work. What’s happening in Downtown Jacksonville right now is something special, and these 600 feet of wall stand as proof,” said Kady Yellow, curator of Duuuval Walls and Vice President of Downtown Vision, Inc.
The two days of free, public programming were made possible through Downtown Vision’s PlacemakingJax Presented by VyStar Credit Union placemaking program, in partnership with a team of local producers and curators who collectively invested more than 750 hours into planning and production. The curatorial team included Elevated Media, comprised of DJ Larry Love, visual artist Vic “Metamorphvic” Brooks and documentarian Samantha Alexander, alongside Elena Ohlander of Jax Wall Project and Kandice Clark of Black Mural Map. Festival branding and creative assets were designed by Jacksonville artist, Chelbi Robinson. Additional support was provided by Union Terminal Warehouse, developed by Columbia Ventures, as well as Social Room Jax, the Emerald Trail and Out East partners.
While mural jams take place around the world, Duuuval Walls set itself apart through two defining commitments: creating an exceptional experience for artists and celebrating Jacksonville’s creative community. Over eight months of planning, organizers intentionally designed an event that put artists first, providing complete creative freedom with no prescribed theme or design restrictions.
The festival received 89 applications for 25 mural spaces. Nearly every selected artist was born, raised or educated in Duval County, reflecting the event’s mission to showcase local creative talent while welcoming a small number of artists from across Florida who each shared meaningful ties to the city. Organizers also invited a legendary New York City graffiti pioneer, Al Díaz, to share decades of street art history with festival participants and selected two local high school artists, including one who had never painted a mural before, creating a rare opportunity for emerging talent to paint alongside established professionals
“I made art in this building back when it was raw studio space, long before the restoration,” said Elena Ohlander of Jax Wall Project. “One of my murals inside the building is on a wall that is not part of a living room following the redevelopment of the building. To come back and paint these walls and see my 2026 work become part of the building itself is a full-circle moment I never imagined. This place helped shape so many Jacksonville artists, and now it gets to continue telling that story.”
“I spent so many hours in this space before it was developed, so helping transform it into a permanent public art collection means everything to me,” said Kandice Clark of Black Mural Map and The Petite Jax. “Duuuval Walls proved that Jacksonville’s artists can stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone.”
Beyond the murals, visitors enjoyed Larry Love’s organic market, local food trucks and Small Walls, a curated gallery exhibition by Kandice Clark of The Petite Jax featuring original artworks available for purchase. The weekend also included six hours of artist talks and educational programming led by Downtown Vision Vice President of Placemaking, Kady Yellow, with featured lectures by Shaun Thurston.
The most meaningful community spaces are the ones that bring people together and give them a reason to connect,” said Kemal Gasper, Vice President of Community Engagement at VyStar Credit Union. “What was once a pass-through corridor is now a vibrant public gallery filled with the creativity and stories of local artists. We are proud to support Duuuval Walls because it showcases the incredible talent that exists in Jacksonville while creating a place where residents and visitors can experience our city in a new way.”
Participating artists included: Al Díaz, Barbara Hoinides, Camille Faustino, Elena Ohlander, ESH, FREAKY, Gaines, Gist, Grace Bio, Jarett Walker, Metamorphvic, Mike McIntire, Point, Rachael Sharpe, RESKEW, Scotty Briggs, SOMAR, Tierra Scott, Tracie Thompson, Trevor Locy, Tyler Murphy, UrbanMedium, Will Morgan, Werms, Worx of Oz, Zende T. Randolph and Zulu Painter.
“As someone who owns a creative studio and business within Union Terminal Warehouse, it was incredibly rewarding to invest back into a property and community that have invested so much in me,” said Samantha Alexander, co-founder of Elevated Media. “Receiving nearly 90 artist applications through the open call and helping bring this artist-led festival to life has been truly special.”
The Duuuval Walls collection is now open to the public along the future Emerald Trail tunnel at Union Terminal Warehouse, 700 E. Union St. Visitors are encouraged to explore the corridor, experience the artwork up close and discover one of Downtown Jacksonville’s newest public spaces.
“Union Terminal Warehouse exists at the intersection of history, creativity and community. Those pillars of the place existed long before we redeveloped the century-old building” said Ryan Akin, Partner at Columbia Ventures, developer of UTW. “The 600-foot-long wall of this tunnel was all but begging to be painted by muralists, so much so that several of us came to this same conclusion independently. Duuuval Walls is the culmination of that shared vision and has created a lasting cultural experience for residents, business owners and visitors alike. We hope Jaxsons will come to enjoy the art and stay to check out all of the other components that the building has to offer.”
More information about the Duuuval Walls project may be found at DTJax.com/placemaking.
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About Downtown Vision
Downtown Vision is a not-for-profit organization revitalizing Downtown Jacksonville through district services, stakeholder support, marketing, research, events and placemaking. Primarily funded by a self-assessment of Downtown property owners and governed by a board representing a diverse array Downtown stakeholders and community leaders, DVI administers a 1.3 square mile Business Improvement District. For more information, visit DTJax.com/DVI.
About PlacemakingJax
Introduced in 2022, PlacemakingJax Presented by VyStar Credit Union is a collaborative initiative that empowers Jacksonville residents to create pop-up activations or large-scale interventions in Downtown Jacksonville, transforming underused public spaces into celebrated community places. PlacemakingJax is facilitated by Downtown Vision and is funded in part by the DTJax Gala held each February, along with support from sponsors including the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida and the Downtown Investment Authority. For more information, visit DTJax.com/placemaking.
About VyStar Credit Union
VyStar Credit Union is the second-largest credit union headquartered in Florida, with 78 full-service branches across Florida and Georgia, more than 1 million members and assets of over $14 billion. VyStar is a major employer in the region with over 2,300 employees across the communities it serves. VyStar membership is open to everyone who lives or works in the 49 contiguous counties of Central to North Florida, 29 Georgia counties, as well as past and present military members and their families all over the world. Members benefit from convenient access to over 55,000 surcharge free ATMs worldwide. VyStar has earned national recognition from Time Magazine, Fortune, USA Today and Forbes for excellence in financial services, innovation and customer service, reflecting its commitment to delivering value and exceptional experiences to members. For more information, visit vystarcu.org, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn.
About Union Terminal Warehouse
Union Terminal Warehouse is a landmark century-old Jacksonville building, redeveloped by Columbia Ventures (www.columbiaven.com), that now offers residential apartments, small offices and flexible commercial spaces (Workhouse at Union Terminal), and amenities, alongside this growing collection of public art and historic memorabilia from the building’s past. Located at 700 East Union Street in the Eastside neighborhood along the Emerald Trail in Downtown Jacksonville, the property is home to the Duuuval Walls mural collection and a first-floor coffee shop. To schedule a tour of available spaces, contact the leasing office via utwjax.com.