The Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission on Wednesday selected a mural proposal from Tokeya Waci U Richardson to adorn a wall of the Vermont Street parking garage. 

Richardson, Oglala Lakota and Haliwa-Saponi, has previously completed murals for Haskell Indian Nations University, and he has two pieces on bus shelters in the city. He also had his piece, “The Lance and Shield Buffalo Robe,” selected as part of the Spencer Museum of Art’s 2024-2025 Native Fashion exhibition.

The garage is at 725 Vermont St., next to the Lawrence Public Library.

The mural will be on the ground-level, west-facing wall opposite the stairs on the Vermont Street side of the structure, so it will greet people heading toward the library as they pass through the space. The wall is approximately 18 feet wide and 10 feet high.

Richardson said his design for this mural is meant to emphasize inclusivity, community, healing and warmth, which he said are consistent themes throughout his work. 

“I believe that art should have a story and a meaning,” Richardson said. “I believe that when I paint murals, I actually put that type of good medicine into it. The hopes that I have, that when somebody looks upon this mural, they feel something, and they feel the things that I want to infuse into it. So, I like to give back in that type of way, where somebody actually feels something.”

He said the mural will also include a plaque to explain the meaning of the various symbols it will use. 

Richardson is a Haskell alum who received a liberal arts degree with a focus in fine art. Richardson first moved to Lawrence in 2010 and now makes a living as a multidisciplinary artist who is the owner of his own art business, Coup Count Designz. He also works as the youth and family programs coordinator for the Kansas City Indian Center.

Richardson also presented a second concept that incorporated a bright red in the bison. Board members said there is still room for creativity and changes in the work as it develops.

The commission heard 15-minute presentations from three finalists before making their selection. Finalists Chris Kiefer and the duo of Ky and Josh Novak also presented their concepts for the mural and spoke about their artistic processes. 

Board members all said they had a difficult time choosing between the three, but many said they liked artwork in which they noticed something new every time they saw it, which was a draw for them to Richardson’s proposal. 

Their recommendation will go to the Lawrence City Commission for final approval.

Logan Pierson (he/him), reporting intern with The Lawrence Times since December 2025, is a senior journalism and photography student at the University of Kansas. He previously contributed to the University Daily Kansan as a senior reporter and beat reporter.

Read his work for the Times here.

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