TUCSON, AZ — The City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility and the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona have partnered to restore the Miracle Mile mosaic mural on Interstate 10, marking a significant milestone for public art in the city.
Local artist Paloma Jacqueline led the fabrication of approximately 2,000 new ceramic tiles, meticulously recreating the 30-foot mural originally designed by Tucson artist Gary Mackender in 1994. This mural is part of a six-piece mosaic mural series on I-10 and Miracle Mile. After decades of sun and weather damage, the collaboration between the city and the Arts Foundation brought new life to this community landmark.
The project originated in 1990, when Wheat-Galleher and Associates was chosen to design the interchange’s look and feel. Mackender was commissioned under Arizona’s new 1% for the Arts program to create six murals, collaborating with Wheat-Galleher and Johnson-Brittain Associates to ensure the artwork would be both visually compelling and durable.
Mackender’s creative process drew inspiration from Southwest imagery, indigenous iconography, and the Pueblo Deco style found along the I-10 corridor. His drawings were transferred to tile in partnership with Artistic Tile of Tucson, resulting in more than 18,000 hand-painted tiles installed by 1995. The mural portrays regional landscapes and history, including a gila monster, downtown Tucson, and the Mission San Xavier del Bac, reflecting the area’s unique cultural blend and natural beauty.
The restoration also marks the passing of Tucson’s creative torch to a new generation. Mackender’s original vision transformed a public thoroughfare into a dynamic work of art, and Jacqueline’s efforts ensure that the mural’s legacy continues. The project underscores the city’s commitment to supporting local artists and celebrating community identity.
“It was almost like giving back to my city, like creating a way to beautify that space again, but also bring that mural to life,” Jacqueline said. “Throughout the project, I worked with amazing artists who learned glazing with me. They are now part of this time capsule. When they drive by, it’s going to make them feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves.”
“I like the fact that we can move design and art out into the public realm and it’s not confined to buildings such as museums and galleries,” Mackender said in an article published by the Arizona Daily Star (2010).
The Miracle Mile mosaic stands as a testament to Tucson’s dedication to accessible art and the lasting impact of collaboration among artists, city partners, civic leaders, and the community.
###
The Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and funding agency with a mission to advance the artistic expression, civic participation, and equitable economic growth of our diverse communities. Through forward-thinking, accountable leadership, the Arts Foundation works to affect systemic change that fosters an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and equitable local arts community.
As the designated local arts agency, the Arts Foundation provides arts and cultural development across Southern Arizona for individual working artists, artist collectives, ensembles, and nonprofit organizations through grant programs, professional development opportunities and public art program management for the City of Tucson.
The work of the Arts Foundation is made possible through generous support from the City of Tucson, Pima County, Arizona Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, the Mellon Foundation, the Arizona Community Foundation, and individual donors. Our service area includes all counties and native sovereign nations South of the Gila River, including 372 miles along the US-Mexico international border in the South and along the 590-mile stretch of the Gila River, which flows west from the New Mexico border to the Colorado River.
