ART, HISTORY, AND COMMUNITY CELEBRATED AT 2024 “PRESERVATION IS THE ART OF THE CITY” SHOW
Fort Worth’s annual art show honors creativity, cultural heritage, and the city’s historic identity.

FORT WORTH, TX — The 2024 Preservation is the Art of the City exhibition opened to enthusiastic crowds and vibrant acclaim, celebrating its role as one of Fort Worth’s most anticipated cultural traditions. Hosted by Historic Fort Worth, Inc. at the historic McFarland House campus, this year’s show blended bold artistic expression with the ongoing mission of preservation, connecting the past and present through paint, collage, photography, and mixed media.

This year’s Featured Artist was Elena Nosyreva, a Fort Worth-based artist and native of St. Petersburg, Russia. Nosyreva’s work captivated visitors with layered textures, antique maps, vintage postcards, and dreamlike patterns, all seamlessly integrated into her evocative mixed-media collages. Her unique style—equal parts personal memory and collective history—made her an ideal fit for a show rooted in place and legacy. “My art reflects a conversation with the past,” said Nosyreva. “Historic Fort Worth’s mission resonates deeply with how I see and make art.”

The event also honored Sarah and Philip Murrin as the 2024 Preservation Honorees, recognizing their leadership in historic preservation, the arts, and community engagement. The Murrins have championed numerous cultural initiatives throughout Fort Worth and beyond, and their thoughtful stewardship of architectural landmarks has served as a model of civic responsibility and pride.

A juried component of the show awarded standout artists with prestigious named recognitions, including the Judith Singer Cohen Artist Award, the Elton M. Hyder, Jr. Charitable & Educational Fund Artist Award, and the Lisa & Bruce Lowry Artist Award, among others. While the name of the 2024 juror was not publicly announced, the selections reflected an eye for excellence, originality, and a connection to the region’s sense of place.

The show opened with a lively “Party with the Artists” event, where patrons and artists mingled beneath the oak trees, previewed works, and celebrated Fort Worth’s creative spirit. Over the duration of the exhibition, hundreds of visitors browsed the galleries, met the artists, and purchased original pieces—many of which directly benefit the ongoing preservation efforts of Historic Fort Worth.

“Preservation is more than saving buildings,” said Jerre Tracy, Executive Director of Historic Fort Worth. “It’s about safeguarding the soul of a city—and this show lets artists reflect that soul in their work.”

As the show came to a close, it reaffirmed what Historic Fort Worth has long championed: that art and history are not separate silos, but threads of the same cultural fabric. In 2024, that fabric was stronger, bolder, and more vibrant than ever.