Lady of the First Ward

Please note: this mural was first on temporary display at First Ward’s Brock Park and is now on permanent display at Sixth Ward’s MECA.

This mural establishes and supports intergenerational relationships by connecting artistry, social activism, and the remembrance of our community.  Artist Colby Deal was inspired by the mural’s subject, Cleola Williams, and her efforts to preserve the fleeting cultural characteristics and history of this historic community.  Cleola led the effort to rename the site of this mural — Brock Park.  The park was renamed for Richard Brock, a freed slave and First Ward resident who established the First Ward School for the Colored in the late 1880s. Colby sat down with Cleola on multiple occasions to learn more about her life and history in the First Ward and to photograph her at her home.  He has used the resulting images to create this work of art to honor the legacy of her efforts in this historic neighborhood.

About the Artist

Colby Deal is a photographic artist born and raised in Houston, Texas. Through his artwork, he shows the dynamic range of family, community, and the individual by combining street photography and portraiture to capture vibrant personalities in our communities.