About Us

Our Story

The vision for 29 Pieces was born of tragedy. In August 2000, a young man was murdered in front of artist and 29 Pieces co-founder Karen Blessen’s home.

Blessen processed the profound psychic toll of this event by writing and creating art. The result was “One Bullet,” a deeply personal story published in The Dallas Morning News in 2003.

Following “One Bullet,” Blessen felt compelled to do something to uplift children and adults—something to give them the courage to stand against the violence that permeates our culture. In what she called her creative “big bang,” a vision emerged: monumental change through monumental art.

We know art has the power to effect tangible, positive change. Studies show that children who are exposed to the arts are more likely to excel in math and reading comprehension(Opens in a New Window),  experience lower amounts of anxiety, depression and stress(Opens in a New Window), and demonstrate increased empathy for others(Opens in a New Window).

In 2005, Karen Blessen and Dr. Barbara Miller, at the time an associate professor at Texas A&M with training in diversity and nonviolent communication, founded Today Marks the Beginning as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to develop and deliver arts programs to the Dallas-area community. It was later renamed to 29 Pieces, a nod to a series of 29 sculptures Blessen designed.

Two years later, 29 Pieces launched Artists Making a Kinder World(Opens in a New Window), a free education curriculum designed to teach social-emotional learning (SEL) through evidence-based, hands-on art lessons.

Developed with input from educators and counselors, the curriculum focuses on developing students' self awareness and relationship skills, fostering core SEL competencies and attitudes like self management, compassion and kindness, conflict resolution, problem solving and respect for others.

Since its inception, 29 Pieces has grown in numbers and impact. Our Artists Making a Kinder World curriculum has reached over 250,000 students and 1600 educators across the U.S. We encourage everyone—teachers, students, artists and non-artists—to explore our art lessons(Opens in a New Window), available in both English and Spanish at no cost.

29 Pieces also works with students, professional artists and community members to produce public sculptures and mural projects. Explore past 29 Pieces projects that galvanized cities and individuals across the nation to spread love and compassion through art.