Tucson-based ceramicist and educator Paloma Jacqueline (Arts Foundation 2021 CARES Artist grantee) transforms public spaces by bringing forward the hidden and overlooked stories of Tucson’s communities through ceramic art. Her three major public art projects—one completed, one premiering, and one underway—visualize the oral histories of Barrio Nopal and John F. Kennedy Park, and lead the restoration of the iconic mosaic on 1-10 off of Miracle Mile. Jacqueline’s work honors Tucson’s neighborhoods by making their histories visible and celebrated in the public realm. Central to her practice are relationships: her ceramics are shaped by deep listening, historical research, and a dedication to authentic community representation. Each public artwork is a collaborative act, enshrining local stories and guaranteeing that public art remains rooted in, and reflective of, the people it serves.
A homegrown and formally trained ceramicist (Pima Community College alum; University of Arizona alum, 2011), Jacqueline is also a grassroots organizer, writer, and oral historian, roles that inform her site-specific, community-based ceramics, always centering local voices and histories. Her first commemorative mural, Agua Corriendo (2007) at El Rio Neighborhood Center, exemplifies this ethos. Leading sixty youth and residents in creating and installing hand-built clay tiles, she celebrated West Side pride and commemorated the center’s legacy. The mural’s tree motifs symbolize Barrio Hollywood’s strength and resilience. This project catalyzed Jacqueline’s ongoing dedication to community-driven public art.
Paloma has continued to shape Tucson’s aesthetics in the Southside, where she partnered not only with Sunnyside’s community members but also with fellow artist Alex! Alexandra Jimenez (Arts Foundation 2025 stART grantee). Their shared vision led to In Memory Of (2023), a memorial at Mission Manor Park that honors all Ward 1 residents lost to COVID-19. Supported by an American Rescue Plan (ARPA) grant administered by the Arts Foundation, the project features over 300 names etched into the monument, a lasting altar unveiled with a gathering of families who came together to remember their loved ones.
Jacqueline’s breadth goes beyond the commemorative and memorial; her recent commission for the Arts Foundation’s Art in Your Park: Ward 1 public art project initiative brought her together with ceramicist Carlos Valenzuela. They applied as an artist team in 2022 to the Call to Artists RFQ and were selected by the project’s public art panel to create site-specific pieces for both Barrio Nopal Park and John F. Kennedy Park, adding to the growing collection of 13 Proposition 407 public art projects supported by the Arts Foundation. The Barrio Nopal installation opened alongside the park’s opening in 2025, and Kennedy Park is set to celebrate its ribbon-cutting on March 27, 2026.
Season of the Nopal Harvest in South Tucson (2025) and Floating in a Wind Gust Through Time (2025) – Barrio Nopal Park
Inspired by summer’s blooming nopales, Paloma captures Tucson’s dog days, slow, heat-soaked evenings when neighbors gather, and life moves leisurely and lethargically. A homage to this tradition fittingly stands in a barrio and park named for the nopal. For this project, Paloma and Carlos Valenzuela invited residents from neighborhoods surrounding Barrio Nopal Park and John F. Kennedy Park to participate in handmade tile-making and glazing workshops. Nearly 200 people of all ages contributed to the final artwork. Reflecting on their partnership, Paloma noted, “I do well with the handmade. And Carlos is a master at glazing tile.”
“I really wanted to encapsulate that time of year when the nopales ripen, and so much happens in summer, even during the hottest days. At night, when it cools down, people gather and use [public] space to beat the heat. It’s a beautiful time from my Tucson memories, and I wanted to feature that.” – Paloma Jacqueline
The mural features a young girl blowing a dandelion, alongside the phrase: “Floating on a Wind Gust Through Time.” This imagery inspired the designs at both Barrio Nopal Park and Kennedy Park, with the drifting dandelion wisps echoing Jacqueline’s journeys across Tucson’s southwest side, including down to the San Xavier Indian Reservation. The image also honors the young participants who shaped the project, including a high school student from Barrio Nopal, for whom the mural was a meaningful professional milestone and a way to connect with her neighborhood’s legacy of public art.
Paloma Jacqueline and Carlos Valenzuela were selected from the Arts Foundation pre-approved Artist Roster to lead this project. The roster is a pool of qualified artists for City of Tucson public art projects funded through the Percent for Art program.
Community engagement was at the heart of the process, as the artwork was supported by artist Jesus Robles and community members through Parks and Recreation classes and pop-up workshops. On October 29, 2025, a workshop at the YWCA welcomed residents to share stories, ideas, and creative input, while also learning about the artists’ methods. Designed to encourage conversation and hands-on participation, the workshop made sure that the community played an active role in shaping the direction of the mosaics.
Community Strength Passed on through Generational Solidarity – John F. Kennedy Park (2026)
On November 6, 2018, City of Tucson voters approved Proposition 407, a $225 million bond package for capital improvements funded by General Obligation bonds. The bond supported enhancements to city park amenities—including playgrounds, sports fields, pools, splash pads, and recreation centers—as well as improved connections such as pedestrian and bicycle pathways and safety measures.
The original call to artists invited proposals for artwork to be integrated into Phase 1 of the Prop 407 park improvements at both John F. Kennedy Park and Barrio Nopal Park.
“Our community is fortunate to have an abundance of spectacular natural wilderness. Our strong appreciation for artistic and cultural heritage is evident in the many beautiful murals, sculptures, and other public works of art throughout our community. The Art in Your Park Call to Artists is a wonderful opportunity for local artists to celebrate and beautify two parks, giving Tucsonans yet another chance to see nature and art in tandem.” – Adelita S. Grijalva, former District 5 Supervisor and U.S. Representative for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District.
Kennedy Park, located on the northwest side, now features three new mosaic murals. These vibrant artworks were created by Jacqueline and Valenzuela, with support from artist Jesus Robles and numerous community members. A central theme in these murals is the overlooked stories of Indigenous and African American baseball and softball players who played at that park. At a time when baseball was a major force in Tucson’s cultural life, Kennedy Park served as the practice grounds for so many talented athletes from nearby neighborhoods. Paloma conducted extensive research over a year, combing through historical newspapers and archives and collecting oral histories from residents to unearth stories that might have otherwise been lost. Stories like that of Renee Espinoza Boulware, Tucson High School Power Pitcher, Winning 2 State Championships in 1991 and 1992, a softball player now honored in one mosaic panel. Throughout the process, Paloma had been in touch with Renee and met her after the panel was fabricated.
Norma Natividad Pearsall, Tucson High School 2021 Inductee, Athletic Hall of Fame, Softball, Class of 1984, is commemorated through the mural project. Her sister, Gloria Moreno, actively participated in the handmade tile-making workshops at the Quincy Douglas Public Library, working closely with Paloma and Carlos’s community art team. Gloria contributed throughout the fabrication process, including making and glazing tiles for the larger hand-built mosaic. Together, Paloma and Gloria designed Norma’s panel using archival photos to highlight Norma’s achievements as an all-star athlete and capture the beauty of Kennedy Park and its lake. As the mural designs took shape, the team honored Norma’s legacy by creating a deeply meaningful tribute for her family, who will attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony. This collaboration not only celebrates Norma’s legacy but also illustrates the power of public art to honor family histories, strengthen community connections, and bring personal stories into the community spotlight.
As previously mentioned, baseball has long been part of the neighborhood and Tucson’s broader history, especially among Indigenous communities. While the sport’s popularity has changed over time, Paloma intentionally included athletes with notable achievements like Joseph C. Valenzuela, born in Tucson, AZ, who lived in Sells, AZ, Pitcher for Tucson High School in 1941-1942 Championship teams, Pitcher for the New York Yankees from 1944-1949, winning two World Series. This attention to history and representation makes the murals a testament to the Indigenous community’s enduring pride and resilience, while preserving their legacy’s visibility for future generations.
Symbols like hummingbirds (Colibri) and monarch butterflies evoke resilience, migration, and interconnectedness, reflecting both animal and human experiences. Paloma notes, “…the strength of the monarch, because it takes three different generations for a monarch to actually get back to its roosting area. And the Colibri represents the strength of the ancestors.” Incorporating the desert landscape and Kennedy Lake, the murals are rooted in the area’s beauty and serve as lasting tributes to community heritage.
Miracle Mile Restoration- I-10 and Miracle Mile (2026)
On Tucson’s northwest side, the I-10 and Miracle Mile mosaic currently could use a little love, as it is in disrepair. Originally designed by Gary Mackender and installed in 1995, the 30-foot tile mural with over 2,000 tiles recently underwent a major restoration led by Paloma Jacqueline. Drawing on her experience with large-scale projects like Kennedy Park, Paloma approached the challenge methodically: one tile at a time. Years of working with tile and glaze, and lessons from prior community projects, gave her the endurance and technical expertise required. Honoring old-school tile glazing techniques, Paloma deconstructed and reimagined the Mackender’s original approach, likening the process to creating a “time capsule” that blends past and present.
Paloma recognizes the importance of community in both the original mural and its restoration. The color palettes, textures, and imagery reflect the neighborhood’s collective memory. For Paloma, these murals are living stories, shaped by those who remember and care for them. Her approach, rooted in relationships, community storytelling, and local history, ensures the murals resonates with Tucson’s residents, who will look after it for years to come.
In January 2026, the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona hosted a behind-the-scenes preview of the prefabricated tilework, bringing together key partners and the fabrication team to celebrate this milestone.
Reflecting on the experience, Paloma shared:
“It was almost like giving back to my city, like creating a way to beautify that space again, but also to bring that mural back to life. Give it as much of the original vibe, feeling, essence that it had with our own take on it, 30 years later. It was really fun. Throughout the project, I worked with some amazing artists who came in and learned glazing with me. As lead artists, it was great to have people say, ‘This is so cool.’ They are a part of this now. And it’s their little piece of this time capsule. Because these tiles will last another 20 to 30 years, if not more. It’s a really beautiful thing. Glazing and fusing that glass into tile is pretty magical and special. I don’t think many people who work on it realize it. But when they drive by it, it’s going to make all these people who worked on it feel like they’re a part of something bigger than themselves. I really appreciate working on the project, being a part of the restoration, meeting everybody I’ve met along the way, and learning so much throughout the process.”
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Photo credit: Julius Schlosburg
