project overview

Whitehaven Community Center | Sculpture

UrbanArt Commission and the City of Memphis launched the Public Art Fellowship Program to provide professional development, mentorship, and hands-on experience to Memphis-based artists interested in creating their first permanent public sculpture. The fellowship supports seven artists, one representing each Memphis City Council district, as they develop and execute site-specific public artworks throughout the city.

Through workshops, mentorship, community engagement, and project management support, fellows receive training in public art processes, proposal development, budgeting, fabrication methods, design visualization, and installation planning. Each artist is paired with a city-owned site and works alongside community stakeholders, site representatives, and UrbanArt Commission staff to develop a sculpture that reflects the character, history, and identity of its surrounding neighborhood.

Each fellowship project is supported by a $30,000 project budget for fabrication and installation, allowing artists to work with professional fabricators, engineers, and project partners to realize durable, high-quality public artworks. In addition to the project budget, fellows receive mentorship and technical support throughout the design, fabrication, and installation process.

The 2026–2027 fellowship sites include Raleigh Springs Civic Center, Bert Ferguson Park, Whitehaven Community Center, McFarland Community Center, Randolph Library, Gaston Park & Community Center, and Douglass Community Center.

About the artist

Jessica Sathongnhoth is a second generation Lao-American born and raised in Memphis, TN. A BFA recipient of The University of Memphis, Jessica works in-between painting and sculpture, often incorporating various materials that are layered and woven together.