Drawn Together

Completion: 2025

Location: TIAA Headquarters, Frisco, TX

Description: Joining Hands features a series of four colorful mosaic-style murals that project a future based in restorative justice. The work tells the story of how the Greenwood community has rebuilt after physical violence and systemic racism. Imagery evokes the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and a century of discriminatory policies since then, including the 1971 construction of the Inner Dispersal Loop, which intentionally carved the community up as part of “Urban Renewal.” The murals are inspired by the form of a mosaic created from broken pieces, honoring the resilience and creativity of Black Tulsans who continually rebuilt their community in the face of discrimination and violence. 

Seen up close, each of the rubble fragments features vignettes taken from historical photographs of Greenwood both before the massacre and after the rebuilding. The vignettes feature imagery of thriving Greenwood residents and business owners, historic Vernon Chapel African Methodist (AME) Church, present-day social justice activism, distinct Greenwood architectural details and textures, business marquee signage, and street grid map illustrations. 

As viewers drive by the murals, they discover that the composition of is strategically configured to form an overall image of hands joined together. Each feature a different composition showing solidarity between people of all races and backgrounds. Not only does the artwork title literally refer to the joining of hands, but also it evokes the mosaic metaphor of restoring or rejoining of the Greenwood community through many hands.

The use of golden yellow also gestures towards the Japanese art of Kintsugi (meaning “golden joinery”), repairing broken pottery by mending it with lacquer mixed with powered gold, so that repair enhances the object’s value, evoking a future of wholeness, joy, and resilience.

Photography: Stephanie Alicia Rose

Graphic Production: Tracie Fleming