Let’s begin our art tour outside the library. Many of our branches feature vibrant murals that welcome visitors and reflect the spirit of the community.

At Aldine Branch Library, local artist Reginald C. Adams partnered with students from Stovall Middle School to create an energetic mural as part of the library's renovation in the early 2000s. Children and adults are depicted cycling, walking, wheeling, and rolling across the building’s side, celebrating movement, inclusion, and the Aldine community.

In 2023, a second mural was added to the side of the Aldine Branch Library. Titled Spreading Knowledge, it was created by the artist known as DUAL through the North Houston District’s public art program in collaboration with UP Art Studio. The mural’s theme of knowledge is especially fitting for a library surrounded by schools and perfectly reflects HCPL’s slogan: Your Pathway to Knowledge.

Local artist Jesse DeLeon painted this mural at the neighboring High Meadows Branch Library during the East Aldine District’s 2021 Mural Fest. Completed in May of that year, the design weaves together elements that reflect the library’s mission—books, technology, creativity, and community. The mural also commemorates a significant milestone: Harris County Public Library’s centennial. It celebrates 100 years of learning, innovation, and connection with bold colors and meaningful symbols.

View a completed picture of the mural here. 

Our next stop is at the Maud Smith Marks Branch Library on the other side of the county.   During the branch's construction in the early 1990s, the Friends of the Library ran an innovative fundraising project in which citizens purchased and decorated 314 tiles.  The finished community mural includes a longhorn steer (a symbol of the Marks Family Ranch), bluebonnets, cowboy books, and handprints from community members. 

A second mural, unveiled in 2001, features the quote, "Where the best of books travel hand to hand, freedom and goodness flourish."

Outside the entrance to the Atascocita Branch Library, two murals greet visitors. One, created by artist Joan Webb and donated by the Atascocita Country Gardeners, features the shape of Texas blooming with bluebonnets and other native flowers.

The second mural is a mosaic of handprints from Atascocita community members, mirroring the mural at the Maud Marks branch. The Atascocita branch exists thanks to residents' nearly nine years of dedication and advocacy, led by Odell Dreyer. The mural stands as a lasting symbol of what a community can achieve when it comes together with a shared vision.

Art at HCPL goes beyond murals—sculptures also bring beauty and meaning to our libraries. A particularly touching statue is at the Katy Branch Library. It features a young girl reading a book to a Great Dane. The piece honors Teresa Molne, a beloved former staff member who passed away in July 2011. The piece is placed in the courtyard and reflects Molne's love of libraries and dogs. 

At the West University Branch Library stands a statue dedicated to the loving memory of all deceased members of the Garden Club of West University Place. This tribute honors the club’s lasting contributions to the community and reflects the deep connection between the library and local organizations.

The Jack and Jill Bench sculpture at the Kingwood Branch Library celebrates books, reading, and friendship. Sculpted by Max Turner and donated by the Kingwood Garden Club, it features a boy and a girl sharing a book on a bench.  

Library staff photographed the bench covered in snow during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021.

This sculpture at the Spring Branch-Memorial Branch Library is much more abstract! It is on the side of the building, on the path toward the beautiful Edith Spang Reading Garden. 

Down in Seabrook, visitors to the Evelyn Meador Branch Library are greeted by Pearl the Pelican - a whimsical sculpture designed by artist Rosanne Frazier and installed in 2005.  Commissioned by the Friends of the Evelyn Meador Library, Pearl is part of a city-wide public art initiative organized by Seabrook residents and the Merchant and Tourism Association.  Custom-painted pelicans like Pearl can be found at local businesses and organizations all over Seabrook. 

To explore the full flock and plan your own pelican tour, visit http://www.seabrookpelicans.com. It's a great summer outing! 

Let's continue our tour inside the Evelyn Meador Branch Library, which features not one, not two, but three beautiful murals!  Pat Rawlings and Faisal Ali painted this pirate mural in the children's area. The mural highlights many important people in the history of the branch: the pirates are all members of the Friends of the Evelyn Meador Library, the fairies are past or present library patrons, and staff members are hidden throughout the piece.  

The second mural, titled Seabrook Through Time, is a photo montage by Ruth Burke, Lacie Burke, Timothy Varisco, and Jason Salvaggio and depicts significant moments from Seabrook's history. The piece is quite large: view detailed photographs of it here, here, and here.

The last mural is at the Friends of the Evelyn Meador Library bookstore and features an inscription by Emily Dickinson: "There is no frigate like a  book to take us lands away." The piece was painted by Paige Moore in 2015.

Many of the murals in our branches brighten the children's areas, inviting our youngest readers to embark on adventures through books.  At the Crosby Edith Fae Cook Cole Branch Library, artist Cindy Lee painted this serene mural featuring a peaceful pastoral scene.  The artwork was added to the library in 2006 when the branch closed for minor renovations to the children's area.  

Our next art stop is at the Barbara Bush Branch Library, home to the impressive On the Banks of the Cypress Creek, by Pat Rawlings, Faisal Ali, and Ian Henry - whose work you may remember from the Evelyn Meador Branch Library. Measuring over 7 feet tall and 31 feet wide, it is one of the largest murals in the library system.

Commissioned by the Barbara Bush Library Friends, the mural honors Kathleen "Niki" Rogers, a beloved former staff member, volunteer, and Friend of the library who passed away in 2007. The mural blends the natural history of the Cypress Creek area with rich references to classic and contemporary children's literature. Niki Rogers can be seen in the piece reading Goodnight Moon.

The mural was unveiled in December 2007.  You can explore sketches, models, and other related media here. 

One of the newer murals in the system can be found at the Katherine Tyra Branch Library @ Bear Creek, where artist Reginald C. Adams created a vibrant piece for the children’s area in 2021. Adams is also the artist behind the large outdoor mural that wraps around the Aldine Branch Library.

For the Bear Creek project, Adams invited community members to participate by creating origami flowers, which were incorporated into the final piece, making it a true collaboration with local library patrons.

The mural sustained humidity damage during Hurricane Beryl, but has since been carefully restored to its original colorful brilliance.

Our last children's area mural can be found at the Aldine Branch Library.  The piece, by Houston artist Wiley Robinson, shows children learning and playing. The library hosted a grand celebration to mark the installation in 2019, with guests receiving custom t-shirts designed by local teen artist Michaela.

Unlike some of the other murals seen so far, this mural can be removed from the wall to allow for a rotating display. 

Our next stop is the Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library, home to the mural Flights. The library is named for astronaut Captain Theodore "Ted" Freeman and is located in a community shaped by both water and space, nestled between Clear Lake and the nearby NASA Johnson Space Center. 

Fittingly, Flights blends elements of science and science fiction, capturing the spirit of exploration. Pat Rawlings and Faisal Ali, the same artistic team behind the murals at the Evelyn Meador and Barbara Bush branches, designed this mural, which was installed in 2005 in the lobby.

A documentary about the piece is available to view on the branch's Facebook page.

Across from Flights at the Freeman branch stands a beautiful sculpture of a mother reading to her two children. Created by Janie Stine Lacroix and originally titled Mother and Children, the piece has since been renamed Once Upon a Time. It now welcomes visitors as they enter the library and was generously donated by Jim and Carolyn Foutch.

As we move deeper into the library, let's take a moment to appreciate some of the imaginative and fantastic decorations that bring our spaces to life.  These displays aren't just festive, they reflect the creativity and dedication of our talented staff, who work hard to make the library a welcoming and inspiring place for all. 

Seasonal displays add a touch of whimsy and personality to every HCPL branch. Take, for example, this ghostly reader spotted at the Fairbanks Branch Library. Designed by Michele McKian as part of a Halloween display, it delighted visitors with its spooky charm and nod to the joys of reading, even in the afterlife! 

Each year, the Summer Reading Program brings big, bold decorations to library spaces in celebration of that year’s theme. In 2007, the Lone Star College-CyFair Library transformed its children’s desk into a pirate ship as part of the theme “Sail Away With Books!” 

This cheerful robot was created by the talented staff at the Galena Park Branch Library and proudly displayed in early 2020. Just look at all those painted details: the dials, buttons, and bright colors bring this friendly figure to life! 

At the neighboring South Houston Branch Library, this beautiful papier-mâché longhorn sculpture was a favorite among visitors for several months in 2024.  Created by Librarian Lillyana Suquet using cardboard and newspaper, the longhorn stood in a field of painted bluebonnets.

This oversized chess set at the Northwest Branch Library isn’t just for show - patrons are encouraged to jump in and play! This is a fun and interactive way to enjoy the library.

Libraries serve as vital “third spaces” in communities, places beyond home and work where people can gather, connect, and engage with one another. One meaningful way libraries foster that connection is through art. Often, local museums partner with library branches to share pieces from their collections, bringing culture directly into neighborhoods and making access to art as easy as visiting your local library. 

In 1999, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston partnered with the Parker Williams Branch Library to present a traveling exhibition titled From Playful Pups to Feathered Serpents: Animals in Ancient Mesoamerican Art. On display for nearly two months, the exhibit invited the community to explore ancient artistic traditions and sparked conversations among visitors, encouraging reflection, dialogue, and deeper community ties.

In January 2020, the Lone Star College–Tomball Community Library featured a display of four quinceañera dresses. The exhibit highlighted the cultural significance of the quinceañera tradition and offered visitors an up-close look at a variety of gown designs.

Libraries sometimes collaborate with local artists to create exhibitions that celebrate specific art forms, cultures, or communities. The Katy Branch Library, for example, showcased the work of local painters in exhibitions held in 2004 and 2010.

An even earlier example of library-based art exhibitions can be found in the Digital Archive. In 1939, several works of art were displayed at the Goose Creek Library (modern-day Baytown). While details about the images are limited, the timing suggests the exhibit may have been connected to the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which supported public art and cultural programs during the Great Depression. This small exhibition reflects the longstanding role of HCPL locations as community spaces for both learning and the arts.

HCPL is proud to partner with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, to offer a weeklong Art Camp program for children. Over four days at the library, participants explore art and literature through hands-on activities, learning about different styles and techniques as they create their own works. The week concludes with a special field trip to the MFAH on Friday, where a dedicated guide helps campers connect what they’ve learned to the artwork on display.

Pictured here are children from the Highlands Stratford Branch Library during their visit to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in the summer of 2013.

Arts and crafts programs for all ages will be available all summer long, so stop by your local branch to take part in a free class and get creative! Whether you're trying something new or refining your skills, there’s something for everyone. You can browse the full calendar of events at www.hcpl.net to find a program that inspires you.

Pictured here is a patron participating in a still life drawing class at the Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library in 2015. He is carefully studying the shadows and shapes as he completes his sketch.

Art and community came together last September at the North Channel Branch Library during its Hispanic Heritage Fiesta. The event was filled with music, dancing, food, and fun, celebrating culture, community, and creativity. One of the highlights was the "Pixel Perfect" community mural project, sponsored by CRATE Houston. Visitors were invited to paint one of over 150 individual panels. After the celebration, the panels were assembled to form the collaborative mural seen here, a lasting piece of community art.  

Harris County is home to many incredible museums and sculpture gardens, but as this exhibit has shown, art isn’t confined to traditional institutions. Public art lives all around us, in unexpected places and everyday spaces. Across Harris County, you'll find vibrant murals, sculptures, and installations that invite reflection, conversation, and joy.

One example is Protest, a powerful mural by Bimbo Adenugba, curated by Street Art for Mankind. It’s part of the Public Art program led by the Office of Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis. You can explore a full map of over 60 public art locations and learn more about the project at: https://www.hcp1.net/Arts-Culture.

We hope you've enjoyed your art tour of HCPL. Don’t forget to visit your local library branch for more ways to engage with creativity in your community—and help us continue to Color Our World!