Hilltop Campus Village to Unveil New Mural at Celebrity’s Beauty Supply
DAVENPORT, Iowa (September 3, 2026) — The Hilltop Campus Village will celebrate the completion of its newest public art project with a mural unveiling on Friday, September 4 at 10:00 a.m. at Celebrity’s Beauty Supply, 1600 Harrison Street in Davenport.
Created by local artist Zay Williams, the mural transforms a highly visible building in the Hilltop Campus Village into a colorful new piece of public art and represents another step in HCV’s effort to put recommendations from its recently completed Master Plan into action.
“This mural is about more than adding color to a building,” said Brian Kramer, Executive Director of the Hilltop Campus Village. “Public art can help create a sense of place and identity for a neighborhood. We want people driving through the Hilltop to notice these spaces, and we want residents and businesses to feel a sense of pride in the neighborhood.”
The project was made possible through grant support from the City of Davenport and Quad City Arts, along with the partnership of Celebrity’s Beauty Supply and the work of Williams. Funding from the City of Davenport was provided through the City’s CISP program, with support from former Alderwoman Marion Meginnis and current Aldermen Kyle Gripp and Ben Jobgen, and Alderwoman Jade Burkholder.
Public art and placemaking were identified through the Hilltop Campus Village Master Plan as opportunities to strengthen neighborhood identity, improve the pedestrian experience, support local businesses, and encourage additional investment throughout the district.
HCV sees the Celebrity’s Beauty Supply mural as part of a broader public art movement taking shape throughout the Hilltop. In 2026 alone, several new murals have been installed within the district, adding new color, creativity, and storytelling to the neighborhood.
Along 5th Street, local entrepreneur Robbie Wolfe commissioned artist Atlanta Dawn to create a mural highlighting Davenport’s history and its role in manufacturing and industry. The Friends of MLK also installed a mural celebrating Black history in Davenport by renowned artist BAYOC. Additionally, Williams created a portrait mural of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. behind the stage at MLK Park earlier this summer.
“We have some wonderful murals and public art throughout the Hilltop, but there are also opportunities to restore older pieces and create new ones,” Kramer said. “Our goal is to build on this project and continue finding ways to incorporate art into the neighborhood. These are investments that can change how people experience a place and help create momentum for other improvements.”
The mural is one of several visible projects undertaken by the Hilltop Campus Village as the organization moves from planning into implementation. In August, HCV partnered with more than 20 first-year students from St. Ambrose University to complete a high-visibility painted crosswalk at 14th and Main Streets. Like the mural, the crosswalk project grew from priorities identified during the Master Plan process.
“We spent a lot of time over the last couple of years asking people what they wanted to see happen in the Hilltop,” Kramer said. “Now we're at the point where we can begin turning some of those conversations into tangible projects. Funding and creating public art is a vibrant first step in showing the community that we mean business”
The public is invited to attend the mural unveiling at 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 4 at Celebrity’s Beauty Supply, 1600 Harrison Street in Davenport. HCV will recognize the partners who made the project possible and celebrate Williams’ completed work.
About Hilltop Campus Village
The Hilltop Campus Village works to preserve, restore, redevelop, and revitalize Davenport’s historic Hilltop neighborhood through economic development, historic preservation, placemaking, community engagement, and partnerships. Since its establishment in 2009, HCV has worked with residents, businesses, property owners, educational institutions, nonprofits, and public partners to encourage investment and strengthen the neighborhood.
Media Contact
Brian Kramer Executive Director Hilltop Campus Village Brian@HilltopCampusVillage.org
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