Gavin Bird Paints Mural Highlighting Hattiesburg's Nocturnal Wildlife

The Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art commissioned the artist to create a nature-themed mural along the Longleaf Trace

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:53pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring repeated images of a raccoon, opossum, and owl in a grid pattern, capturing the whimsical and educational nature of the mural celebrating Hattiesburg's nocturnal animals.A vibrant mural celebrating the nocturnal wildlife of Hattiesburg brings a playful, educational element to the city's growing public art scene.Hattiesburg Today

Muralist Gavin Bird spent weeks painting a detailed mural showcasing the nocturnal wildlife of Hattiesburg, Mississippi along the Longleaf Trace. The Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art (HAPA) commissioned the 29-year-old artist to create the piece, which is the 69th mural in the city's goal to become 'The City of 100 Murals'. Bird's mural, titled 'We Only Come Out at Night', features a variety of native Mississippi animals like owls, raccoons, opossums, and foxes.

Why it matters

The mural is part of Hattiesburg's broader public art initiative to beautify the city and connect residents with nature. By highlighting the area's nocturnal wildlife, the mural aims to educate visitors about the local ecosystem and inspire them to explore the Longleaf Trace. The project also showcases the growth of Gavin Bird as an artist, as HAPA has worked with him on previous murals in the city.

The details

Gavin Bird spent over a month creating the mural, which depicts various nocturnal animals like owls, raccoons, opossums, and foxes in a nighttime setting along the Longleaf Trace. HAPA commissioned Bird for the project after seeing his previous work on a similar nature-themed mural in Belzona, Mississippi. The organization provided Bird with the theme of showcasing native Mississippi wildlife, and he was able to execute his original design concept without any revisions, which he described as a rare occurrence in the public art world.

  • Gavin Bird began work on the mural in January 2026 amid harsh winter weather.
  • The mural was unveiled by HAPA on January 28, 2026.
  • This was the first mural completed in Hattiesburg's 'City of 100 Murals' initiative for 2026.

The players

Gavin Bird

A 29-year-old muralist who has lived in Mississippi for 20 years after moving from Florida. He is known for his nature-themed public art pieces and has worked with HAPA on previous murals in Hattiesburg.

Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art (HAPA)

The organization that commissioned Gavin Bird to create the mural along the Longleaf Trace as part of Hattiesburg's goal to become 'The City of 100 Murals'.

Marlo Dorsey

The CEO of Visit Hattiesburg, who requested the mural after seeing Bird's previous work on an ecotourism-themed piece in Belzona, Mississippi.

Kristen Brock

The Program Director of HAPA, who explained the organization's vision for the mural to blend Hattiesburg's nature and public art.

Brent McQuillan

The photographer who documented the mural's creation process for a video.

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What they’re saying

“It's definitely a mural that is a little bit educational to ecotourism of the state of Mississippi, and I'm just excited that Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art commissioned me to paint this mural, and that I got to showcase my individual skills and style.”

— Gavin Bird, Muralist

“The Longleaf Trace is all about nature; it's a converted biking and walking trail, and we have tens of thousands of visitors come in every year and locals to enjoy the Longleaf Trace. We knew that we wanted it to be nature-themed, so Gavin was the obvious choice. We knew he had the skill, the talent and the interest to create a wildlife-themed mural.”

— Kristen Brock, HAPA Program Director

What’s next

With funding from a Mississippi Arts Commission fellowship grant, Gavin Bird plans to find a location to create a mural that is completely his own original vision, without having to make revisions to fit a client's requirements.

The takeaway

Gavin Bird's mural highlighting Hattiesburg's nocturnal wildlife is a vibrant addition to the city's growing public art scene, showcasing the artist's talent while also educating the community about the local ecosystem and inspiring visitors to explore the Longleaf Trace.