A native of Colombia, South America, Jairo Prado has been a visual artist and educator in Nashville, TN since 1984. Recurrent themes examine community, environment, native traditions, cultural identities, and spiritual illumination. His incorporation of many methods, materials and influences is foundational to his creative process.

His work since 2005 includes community-based collaborations with partner/artist, Susan Prado. Together they provide artistic leadership and hands-on engagement opportunities through a shared vision with universities, community agencies, organizations and public institutions. Multiple large-scale, award-winning public art mosaic installations encourage cultural unity and neighborhood transformation through creative placemaking.

Let Mercy Light the Way symbolizes the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy, six nuns who traveled from Ireland to Nashville in 1866, opening St. Bernard Academy to provide educational opportunities for Nashville girls. The central panel features historical and present-day SBA students, teachers, architectural sites and beloved school activities. The Sisters helped provide life-saving healthcare during Nashville’s Cholera Epidemic of 1873 and beyond, as well as fulfilling founder Catherine McAuley’s mandate to provide hospitality to widows and orphans.

Commissioned as a legacy gift by a multi-generational SBA family, this project collaboratively engaged 200+ SBA students, families, teachers, and alumni in the classroom and studio, and employed 28 teens during Prado Studio’s POWER Youth Mosaic Apprenticeships (Summer 2022 +2023). Participants learned public art insights, receiving mentorship about the history and craft of mosaic through hands-on construction. Apprenticeship program sponsors include Metro Arts Nashville and Metro Action Commission.

Prado Studio researched, designed, fabricated, and installed the mosaic, while also leading educational activities throughout the 3+ year creation process. Participants helped trace, cut apart and transfer color-coded template pieces onto 100+ tile colorways, which were cut, arranged, and mounted on panels before being transported, installed and grouted onsite. Intricately-cut tiles were crafted with love and a ring saw.