The Missouri Arts Council (MAC) has named Ray Harvey as the Individual Artist of the Year for 2026.

Many in Gerald will remember Harvey for his time spent painting the mural at Main Street and U.S. Highway 50. Harvey always patiently stopped his work to answer questions and explain his process to the many who stopped to admire his work.

The MAC says of Harvey: Ray Harvey has brought grand-scale art to small-town Main Streets since 1990. He has painted over 600 indoor and outdoor murals, turning blank walls into vivid stories of local history, work, and heritage. Working with city leaders, non-profits, and businesses, he creates images that communities recognize as their own. Where galleries are scarce, his murals serve as free open-air museums, energizing downtowns, drawing visitors, and strengthening civic pride. His impact is especially strong in Hannibal, where he has painted 26 murals, earning him the Key to the City, and in Concordia, where eight major outdoor works helped the city receive Missouri’s official “Patriotic Mural City” designation from the State legislature in 2025. His legacy is not only the paintings but the pride and momentum they spark—one wall at a time.

This is certainly true of his work in Gerald. He designed the mural to reflect the past in the old Rock Island Railroad and the movement to the future with the Rock Island Trail.

His eye-catching mural has not only brightened the downtown area, it has also bolstered civic pride. The impact of the mural, which was completed last May, keeps rippling throughout the community.

Harvey lives near New Haven and has painted hundreds of murals throughout the state. Yet, the Gerald mural was the first he painted in Franklin County.

Harvey writes that formally receiving the award Feb. 6 was a great day for him. It included a congressional proclamation, brunch with the governor and a beautiful award to take home and cherish.

Those who worked with Harvey on the local mural project agree that he will deserves the honor.