San Antonio Students Showcase Talents with Rodeo Murals

High schoolers transform fairgrounds with vibrant artworks reflecting Western heritage and local culture.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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For the first time, high school students from across San Antonio were invited to create large-scale murals that now line the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo fairgrounds. The student-painted works offer unique interpretations of Western heritage, Texas culture, and the students' own artistic voices, transforming once-blank concrete walls into a 'wall of murals' that celebrate the community spirit of the annual event.

Why it matters

The mural project gives young San Antonio artists a high-profile platform to showcase their talents, while also reflecting the rodeo's status as a community-driven event. The diverse array of student-created artworks adds a new creative element to the longstanding livestock competitions, rodeo events, and concerts that draw crowds to the annual show.

The details

Schools across San Antonio were invited to design and paint murals that reflect Western heritage, Texas culture, and the students' own artistic styles. The resulting works range from reimagined classic paintings like Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' to personal stories and messages of representation. Students expressed excitement and surprise at seeing their creations displayed so prominently, with one remarking that it felt 'almost shocking' to have their work presented at the major event.

  • The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo takes place annually in February.
  • The student mural project was introduced for the first time in 2026.

The players

Clay Carabajal

Chairman of the rodeo's Western Art Committee, who said the goal was to give students a visible and lasting presence at the event.

Thomas Jefferson High School

One of the participating schools, whose students said seeing their work displayed publicly felt surreal.

Sam Houston High School

Another participating school, whose students and teacher said the community response has been overwhelming.

Great Hearts Western Hills

A school that reimagined Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' with a Texas twist, replacing the night sky with glowing stadium lights over a rodeo arena.

Young Women's Leadership Academy

A school whose mural was about more than art, but also about representation and showing that young women are capable of creating such public artworks.

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What they’re saying

“Now we have our students owning the wall space here. Thanks to our county commissioner and our county judge, they gave us the approval to put student artwork up for the first time.”

— Clay Carabajal, Chairman of the rodeo's Western Art Committee (ksat.com)

“It's almost shocking. It's like, 'Is this real?' You never think you're going to be put in that position.”

— Thomas Jefferson High School student (ksat.com)

“It's just awesome seeing people react to it. I've been sent pictures, and people have reached out and said, 'Oh, I saw y'all's mural. It's so nice.'”

— Sam Houston High School student (ksat.com)

“Obviously 'Starry Night,' a famous painting. All the big stadium lights reminded me of stars, and that's what sparked this inspiration.”

— Great Hearts Western Hills student (ksat.com)

“Establishing that even as a student you're capable of putting art like that out there — it's really awesome. And even more so when people see a mural, and then you realize, 'Oh, that was done by a school, and that was done by a school of girls.'”

— Young Women's Leadership Academy student (ksat.com)

What’s next

The student-created murals will remain on display throughout the 2026 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, which runs from February 6-23.

The takeaway

The mural project at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo provides a high-profile platform for young local artists to showcase their talents and creativity, while also adding a new layer of community engagement and representation to the longstanding annual event.