Taylor Fourt — Kansas City Grows Up, where dirt meets design and every root tells a story.

An interactive food forest mural — “We’re all from the soil—aren’t we, after all?”

That’s the question that blooms at the root of Kansas City Grows Up, Taylor Fourt’s colorful, immersive mural transforming a KC streetcar shelter into a living story. The piece invites the public into a playful food forest where vegetables rise up to form a canopy and bugs, roots, and microorganisms nest beneath the soil. There is even room for you—peekaboo corners, photo ops, and reflections of yourself in glass panels wrapped in greens and little creatures. 

For Taylor, who’s spent the last decade gardening with Manheim Gardens and teaching regenerative agriculture, the mural blends two lifelong loves: art and growing food. “Gardening is such a reflective activity,” she says. “There is something about putting your hands in the dirt—it’s meditative. It makes you think about where we come from.” 

Before painting, Taylor invited the public to help co-create the piece by voting on their favorite crops and creatures. Some unexpected winners? Broccoli (“I don’t even like broccoli, but I’m rethinking now”) and cilantro (“Even with the soap-haters!). The result is a mural rooted in community, layered in meaning, and bursting with joy—literally. “You don’t usually get to see into the soil. But that’s what illustrations let me do—bend reality.”

Photo by @glendsnaps on IG

Glass panels challenged Taylor to rethink her usual gouache style: “You paint backwards, like starting with the details. Then cover it with the soil. It’s terrifying but magical too.” Hidden throughout are QR codes linking to plain-language farming guides, turning the space into both a visual and educational garden.

Taylor’s passion for food systems and art goes beyond aesthetics. “I used to be a garden teacher,” she says, “and kids are so opinionated about food in the best way. They name everything. If you turn it into a game, they’re invested. And that’s what I want—to make learning about food feel fun and familiar.” Her work with Manheim Gardens has shaped her artistic path. “I did a lot of free murals early on–like the greenhouse one in 2020. It was the pandemic, I had the time, and that project gave me a portfolio that led to this one. I always tell young artists: don’t be afraid to do work that feeds your passions. Even if it’s unpaid, it can open big doors.”

Ask Taylor what edible plant deserves more love and she’ll tell you: okra. “It’s ancient, resilient, and beautiful. The flowers look tropical, and the pods—even the overgrown ones—can be made into tea. People either love the sliminess or hate it. I love it.”

Through every detail—sparkles in the dirt, a hidden monarch butterfly, roots that feel like family trees—Taylor hopes people stop, smile, and maybe even feel inspired to try a new vegetable or two. “It’s not just about what we eat. It’s about seeing ourselves as part of something living, growing, and shared.”

Bio:
Taylor Fourt is a green-thumbed artist whose gouache works exude charm, whimsy, and spirit. Whether illustrating intricate regenerative agriculture systems or meditating on the beauty of colors and forms, Taylor’s art reflects her deep connection to nature. With almost a decade of experience sharing her expertise with Manheim Gardens, a collaborative urban community garden in Kansas City, Taylor now applies her skills as a content development specialist at ISED Solutions, creating visual guides on organic farming techniques.

Instagram: t.fourt

Website: https://taylorfourt.com/