LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After a year without fans, business owners around Louisville are preparing to welcome tourists back to the city next week. A local artist is helping some put the city’s best foot forward.


What You Need To Know

  • Artist Kacy Jackson has made other murals around town

  • The NuLu Marketplace owner wanted Jackson to make a Derby-themed mural

  • This marks his largest mural to date

  • It will be done before Derby tourists start arriving

If you have been walking down Main Street in NuLu lately, you’ve probably seen Kacy Jackson. He’s been working sun up to sun down on a Kentucky Derby-inspired mural on a giant wall at the NuLu Marketplace.

Kacy Jackson painting a Derby inspired mural.

“I want people to get the big city, little city vibes when they see this. The city is more than just KFC and bourbon. We have art. We have fashion,” said Jackson.

While he is up on a lift painting away, people often stop to admire his work in progress. Kyle Fick is one of them. He’s at the NuLu Marketplace almost every day because he works on some of the Airbnb properties in the building. 

“Throughout the city, stuff like this really helps bring in tourism and gets things kicked back off after coronavirus,” said Fick.

The mural is located on a wall in the parking lot off Main Street. It’s right above the store Mamili, which sells Kentucky Derby hats and fascinators. Jackson said business owners in the area have been telling him they are excited to have this new artwork to draw people in.

“This is going to bring in some business. I think it’s going to be crazy,” said Jackson. “If you’re already here looking at the mural, why wouldn’t you want to come through and shop?”

Jackson’s mural is just about complete. It will be done just in time for everyone coming in for the Kentucky Derby to check out.