Pathway to Hope Public Art Trail's 'Joining Hands' Mural Earns International Award

An Oklahoma Public Art Collection artwork is getting international attention as a winner of a 2026 CODAaward. "Joining Hands" is one of six artworks commissioned through the Oklahoma Arts Council's Art in Public Places program for the Pathway to Hope Public Art Trail in Tulsa. The work is being recognized in CODAaward's mural category.

Created by RE:site Studio, with Shane Allbritton and Norman Lee as lead artists, the mosaic-style series of murals focus on the theme of restorative justice for Tulsa's Greenwood district.

For the artwork, the artists configured vignettes taken from historical photographs of the Historic Greenwood District to present a composition of hands joined together, evoking the restoration of the community. Michelle Burdex of the Greenwood Cultural Center assisted on the project.

CODAawards celebrate projects that most successfully integrate commissioned art into interior, architectural, or public spaces.

"Beautiful, meaningful storytelling with expert execution," wrote Art + Artisans Founder and CEO Jennifer Brener Seay about the artwork.

Learn more about the CODAawards here.

RELATED: "You Are Here" Featured in New York Times

In September, a feature story in the New York Times about the centennial of Route 66 prominently included the Oklahoma Public Art Collection's "You Are Here." Dedicated in April 2026, the push pin sculpture represents the midpoint of the famous highway in Oklahoma. 

Click here to access the article and see video of the artwork on the New York Times website.