At the corner of Almeda Road and Ruth Street in Third Ward, a vibrant mural honors the legacies of two of Houston’s impactful leaders: Judge Zinetta Burney and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.
This powerful piece of public art is part of Up Art Studio’s Big Walls, Big Dreams Festival, sponsored by Greater Southeast Management District (Houston Southeast). It transformed one side of The Den Cigar and Lounge into a canvas celebrating two extraordinary Black women who profoundly impacted the Third Ward community and beyond.
Elia Quiles, co-founder of Up Art Studio, explained that the mural was a collaborative community effort.
“We have a relationship with Houston Southeast, and they decided to sponsor a mural. They coordinated with The Den’s owner and had the idea of honoring Sheila Jackson Lee and Zinetta Burney,” Quiles said. “The goal was to ensure we honored women in this time. Judge Burney and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee were the icons selected.”
Nikki Knight, Project Manager of Houston Southeast detailed the process of choosing the artist and approving the design.
“Up Art Studio selects artists from the area or receives proposals. Once an artist is chosen, they create a rendering that’s sent to our board and committee for review and approval,” she said. “We collectively decide on the direction of the mural, including colors and design, working closely with the artist.”
Muralist Devona Stimpson was chosen for her exceptional portrait work and felt a deep connection to the project.
“I felt truly honored to paint such powerhouse women and was excited to create something that would leave a lasting impact on their families, friends and the community,” she said.
The intricate details of the mural show Stimpson’s dedication to capturing the essence of these women. She meticulously hand-painted the piece over 60.5 hours and 10 days using latex paint and brushes, a technique she prefers over spray paint.
The mural is rich in symbolism.
“The doves represent hope, renewal, compassion, and unity, while the scales of justice reflect their roles as lawyers and their commitment to fairness,” Stimpson explained. “The flowing fabric symbolizes both the fabric of the community and the idea of diversity and change. And then there are the roses, representing all the seeds they’ve planted throughout their lifetimes.”
The location in Third Ward, a historically significant area, shaped Stimpson’s approach.
Both Zinetta and Sheila moved mountains for the people of Third Ward, so I really wanted this mural to celebrate their impact—especially their contributions to the justice system, activism, and the communities they served.
Devona Stimpson, Muralist
Stimpson hopes the mural will contribute to the ongoing conversation about representation in public art.
“I’ve always noticed that when it comes to public art, white males tend to be the default—what’s considered ‘neutral’ or what people are used to seeing in more commercial/public spaces. If a piece only features women, it’s seen as too feminine,” she said. If it only features people of color, sometimes there’s pressure to add a white person to ‘balance it out.’ I’ve always hated that mindset—it’s strange to me. Especially since, in my personal work, I mostly paint women.”
Diahron Myers, co-owner of The Den Cigar Lounge, witnessed the community’s reaction firsthand.
“It’s great for the neighborhood. We get people come by every day taking pictures of the mural,” he said. It shows our youth that these same people come from the same area. It doesn’t matter where you come from. It just matters how hard you strive to get outta here and do better.”
The mural unveiling was a significant event attended by family members and community leaders on Feb. 28 right in time to celebrate Women’s History Month.
“The dedication went great,” Myers said. We had a lot of distinguished people here from the community who played a big part in the community.”
Burney, a long-time activist and justice advocate, passed away at 83 in 2024. She founded the first African American woman-owned law firm in the U.S., Acres Home. She was a justice of the peace and a stalwart advocate for her community, often representing clients for free when they couldn’t pay.
Sheila Jackson Lee, 74, died of pancreatic cancer in 2024. Lee began her political career on Houston’s City Council and was a municipal judge before being elected as a Representative to the 18th Congressional District in 1995. She was the lead sponsor of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act and introduced legislation for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
