A racoon in a hot air balloon. A manatee playing the guitar. An alligator kayaking as his turtle friends, both animals donning hats, try to hang on, while a deer and a blue heron bike by.

This is the whimsical work of Banks Compton, a Foley-based artist, who was commissioned by OWA Parks & Resort to create a series of three murals in the Downtown OWA district. Each designed to celebrate the spirit, culture and community of Foley and the Gulf Coast, the first mural in the series debuted at OWA's Christmas tree lighting event on Nov. 22.

The 8-foot-by-55-foot painted wall features local wildlife characters. On the left, the racoon, manatee and a pelican float in the sky above the park in hot air balloons, Compton's nod to OWA's annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival. The rip-tiding reptiles represent the area's coastal connection. On the right, the deer and heron are pedaling past the iconic Foley clock tower at Heritage Park, "grounding the mural in its local roots and celebrating OWA's connection to the community," Compton said.

The mural wraps around the corner of the wall, where Compton installed an interactive butterfly photo spot featuring monarch wings. He said he hopes the placement will "invite guests to step into the artwork and snap their own moment of joy."

Rendering provided

Compton, originally from rural west-central Alabama, studied painting at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). He was on a path to working in the fine art and large-scale event industry, with an internship leading to a job offer in New York City and was studying in Italy when COVID-19 upended his trajectory. He started practicing the art of muralism while living in Arizona after college, which brought him back to his home state after being offered his first mural commissions. He has now created over 100 murals in nine states, from small towns in rural Alabama to urban schools and museums.

"Each project is rooted in place, created through conversation and designed to uplift. Whether it's earning a grant, attracting tourists or sparking local pride, my goal is always the same: to create public art that makes people and communities feel seen," Compton says on his website. "Whether I'm sketching with teens at a youth center or researching town folklore with a local historian, I believe public art should reflect the people who live alongside it."

Compton was featured as the cover story of Gulf Coast Media' fall edition of Beachin' magazine. To read more of his story, find the free magazine in racks around town or read online at www.gulfcoastmedia.com/magazines.