Large Austin mural wins award for creative collaboration by 250+ locals

A work of public art in Austin has earned international acclaim. Absolute Equality: Unity Tunnel, a large-scale work that spans 160 feet in the Pleasant Valley Road underpass, won the 2026 IAP2 USA Core Values Award: Project of the Year for Creativity and Innovation.

IAP2 is the International Association for Public Participation. It works on best practices for encouraging public participation in democracy — making decisions together. The award is reserved for projects that help engage communities in creative ways.

Unity Tunnel is a 2026 project by Texas artist Reginald Adams, using the help of more than 250 Austin residents over a year and a half, a newsletter from the City of Austin says. Most of the participants (approximately 68 percent) lived in the immediate neighborhood at Lady Bird Lake, and their ages spanned 5 to more than 65. They helped design and create the work.