FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2026
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Contact: Deputy Chief of Communications Danyelle McNeill
501-690-6758 | [email protected]
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Arkansas250 Commission announces commissioned artwork
Little Rock – In September 2025, the Arkansas250 Commission issued a call for a commissioned artwork to commemorate our nation’s semiquincentennial. The Commission received 33 entries. Submissions were evaluated on technical merit, originality, composition, and subject matter. In December, they selected local artist Barry Thomas as the winner. Today, Mr. Thomas's artwork was unveiled at the Old State House Museum (OSH) in Little Rock.
"The Arkansas250 Commission has been intentional about creating lasting initiatives that showcase Arkansas' role in America's story. This artwork is truly a tribute to Arkansas. It captures the spirit of our state with remarkable attention to detail and highlights many of the landscapes, traditions and defining qualities that make The Natural State so unique," said Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary and Arkansas250 Commission Chair Shea Lewis.
The selected artwork will be purchased by the Commission and will be displayed in the current exhibit, "Before Us, Beyond Us, at OSH.
Barry Thomas is an impressionist painter from North Little Rock and a graduate of the ArtCenter College of Design in California and the University of Arkansas. Thomas began his career as an illustrator and received recognition from the Society of Illustrators Hallmark Award. He draws inspiration from Arkansas’ rich landscapes and his work has been exhibited in galleries across the country.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders established the Arkansas250 Commission in July 2024 to coordinate Arkansas’ participation in the national commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. In addition to this commissioned artwork, Arkansas250 initiatives include historic markers, flags presented to county courthouses, and a statewide multi-museum exhibit. The commission is also working with local community leaders to encourage celebrations across Arkansas that reflect the state’s diverse history and people.
The exhibit will run through December 2026.
Images from today's unveiling can be viewed at this link: https://tourismarkansas.mediavalet.com/portals/BarryThomasArtworkDebut
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Arkansas Heritage
Arkansas Heritage was created in 1975 and is a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. There are eight agencies with unique heritage focuses under the umbrella of this division: Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, the Old State House Museum, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, the Historic Arkansas Museum and the Arkansas State Archives.
Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism
The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism protects and promotes our state’s natural, cultural and historic assets, contributing to a thriving economy and high quality of life. It is made up of three divisions: Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Heritage and Arkansas Tourism.
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