This story originally appeared in Magnolia & Moonshine.

An 1870 mansion in Selma, Alabama, has found new life as a place where art, community, and joy intersect. Known as Byrdland, the historic home belongs to artist Trés Taylor and his wife, Helene, who have transformed the space into a living gallery and gathering place rooted in creativity and connection.

What began as a single mural project evolved into something far deeper: a sense of belonging in a city rich with history and resilience. Like the birds that return each spring to nest and then take flight, Byrdland has become a place where artists gather, create, and carry inspiration outward.

Where the Journey Began

Before moving to Selma in 2020, Trés and Helene Taylor first visited the city in June 2019. Trés, a self-taught artist whose work is widely collected, was commissioned to paint a mural honoring Selma’s Eastern Swallowtail butterfly and Mallieve Breeding, an often-overlooked local figure. The project marked the beginning of a relationship with the city that would soon deepen.

That visit laid the groundwork for the couple’s broader vision: the “Revolution of Joy.” In partnership with the national nonprofit Can’d Aid, the Taylors launched a mural initiative across Alabama’s Black Belt, creating a trail of public art intended to foster pride, connection, and economic activity in communities long shaped by systemic challenges.

The couple returned to Selma in 2020 to paint Coming Together, a mural depicting Queen Selma holding a magnolia flower. During that stay, they noticed an old mansion that immediately captured their imagination. The house would soon become Byrdland, named for Trés’ recurring monk figure and his companion bird—and, fittingly, for Judge William Byrd, the property’s original owner.

Opening the Doors

“Just as I came to Selma with an open heart, I open the doors to Byrdland to artists, visitors, neighbors, and lovers of peace and community,” Helene says. A longtime artist-in-residence at UAB, she has witnessed firsthand the restorative power of art. “Art can change the world,” she says.

Built in 1870, Byrdland is a Victorian home located in Selma’s Old Town neighborhood. Architectural details abound: 14-foot ceilings, inlaid wood floors, original Waterford crystal gasoliers, a rotunda, 11 fireplaces, hand-painted friezes, and a porte cochère. The house sits on an acre framed by its original iron fence and surrounded by magnolias, gardenias, camellias, and azaleas.

Inside, the home hums with color and movement. Birds appear throughout the house—painted, sculpted, perched, or in flight—echoing the themes that run through Trés’ work. A stained glass window in the stairwell is believed to be by Selma native Clara Weaver Parrish, whose designs were produced by Tiffany Studios for churches and historic sites across Alabama.

Art That Lives and Breathes

“The house was created by artisans,” Helene says. “Now I’ve filled it with art.” Visitors are often asked whether they want an art tour or an architecture tour. Most, she says, want both.

The Taylors’ collection spans Southern folk art, African tribal art, Oaxacan pieces, East Indian works, and Trés’ own paintings. The contrast is intentional. Traditional architecture provides a backdrop for art that is colorful, global, and joyful. “I love the juxtaposition,” Helene says. “Somehow it all comes together.”

Recent travels to India and Bhutan expanded the collection further, introducing sculptural and painted works influenced by Buddhism and spirituality. These pieces complement Trés’ fictional monk figure, William Guadalupe—a wandering patron saint of birdsong, sunflowers, and the broken-hearted, whose journey through the world mirrors the couple’s own belief in art as a connector.

When Artists Find Each Other

Trés and Helene first connected over a shared love of folk art. An Alabama native, Trés was inspired by a journey through the South meeting self-taught artists, including the late R.A. Miller, who encouraged him to pursue painting. That encouragement sparked a dramatic shift from a career in biochemistry to life as a full-time artist.

“Being around that powerful art and those joyful people had a profound impact on me,” Trés says. “I couldn’t stop thinking about the beauty and simplicity of their lives.”

When the couple met, Trés arrived with a car full of wet paintings—a promising sign to Helene, whose own home was already filled with Southern folk art. Their shared philosophy centers on passion over polish and storytelling over perfection. Art, for them, is both emotional and spiritual, capable of being enjoyed purely for its beauty or engaged for its deeper meaning.

The Taylors’ journey to Selma has not been without challenges. A tornado struck the area last year, damaging trees and windows and disrupting the surrounding landscape. Still, the home’s stained glass and friezes remained intact, and the gardens are slowly returning to life.

“Just moving an hour and a half south is a totally different ecosystem,” Helene says, noting Selma’s palmettos, Spanish moss, and abundant azaleas. The couple has embraced both the beauty and the realities of their adopted community.

“We came to Selma to join a community,” Helene says. “One with serious poverty, pollution, violence, and separation. We came to bring people together through the arts.”

A Home for the Creative Spirit

Byrdland has become a gathering place for artists of all disciplines. Musicians, dancers, filmmakers, photographers, activists, and arts leaders have all passed through its doors. Conversations flow easily between art, community, and change, often around a shared table.

“If you come to Selma to share your artistic gifts, you can stay with us,” Helene says. “We welcome creatives to come, see Selma, and share with Selma.”

Trés’ artwork is displayed throughout the home and available for purchase, allowing visitors to experience it in an intimate, lived-in setting. “I believe it’s exciting to buy art directly from the artist,” Helene says. “Especially in his home and studio.”

Visits to Byrdland are by appointment only and can be arranged by contacting helene@trestaylor.com. More information is available at trestaylor.com.

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