New city flag designed for KC’s now (and tomorrow): Here’s where you’ll see it flying first

Kansas City is ushering in an era of growth and development, Jared Horman said, and the unveiling of a new municipal flag is just the way to recognize this new chapter. 

“The timing feels particularly exciting with the Chiefs headed to the Super Bowl, the opening of the new terminal at the airport and the NFL Draft in April. All of these things have come together to make it a really great time to celebrate what’s happening now, as well as Kansas City’s future,” said Horman, who serves as the creative director for the City of Kansas City.

The Kansas City Council voted 10-1 on Thursday to approve the new flag design. 

Kansas City Missouri flag

Along with celebrating the city’s future, the design pays tribute to Kansas City’s past, Horman said, noting it pulls elements from the 1992 and 1972 versions of the flag. 

“The symbol [of the fountain] was designed in 1992 by Patrice Jobe, and it has really stood the test of time,” Horman said. “It is an iconic symbol that celebrates both Kansas City’s positions as the City of Fountains — a city that is based around water and continues to grow because of water — and the Heart of the Nation.”

From tweaking colors to making samples of the flag to see how it looked flying in the air, every element of the flag was thoroughly vetted and tested, Horman said. 

“We knew that the flag needed to be really simple and easily recognizable from a far distance,” he said. “… I showed it to multiple designers, inside and outside of Kansas City, who I’ve worked with throughout my career. We also worked with All Nations Flags in the River Market, who have been a really great partner in helping us figure out how the colors would print.”

Check out the meaning behind the colors and symbols on Kansas City’s new flag, then scroll down to keep reading!

The flag design process has been championed by Mayor Quinton Lucas and Melissa Kozakiewicz, director of city communications, as well as members of the KCMO communications team, Horman said.

“My biggest support in this process has been the mayor,” Horman shared. “He has hung several [samples of] flags in front of his house — just to test and see which one feels like he’s coming home to the flag that represents our city. We’ve gone back and forth and discussed different iterations. He has really valued the importance of this particular design element as a new symbol for the city.”

The official Kansas City flag encapsulates Kansas City as the Heart of the Nation — while also recognizing the city’s heritage as the City of Fountains — and represents the kind hearts and welcoming nature of Kansas Citians, Lucas said.

“As our city sees tremendous growth and success in recent years, I look forward to our flag being a widely recognized symbol of our community for all,” Lucas continued. 

Kansas City artist Jared Horman poses with his Parade of Hearts piece in April 2022

Horman has been a prominent artist, designer and muralist within the Kansas City community for nearly eight years. Throughout his time, he has become known for his eye-catching murals and bringing a queer sports league to Kansas City.

“Being a part of Kansas City’s new flag design is the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me,” Horman shared. “I’ve worked with incredible nonprofit and for-profit partners within the city that play a part in the local food, music, entertainment and business. Now to take all of those cultural elements and celebrate them with my work with the city — it’s a really big honor.”

The City of Kansas City is currently working on getting the new flags fabricated and distributed so that they can be found all around the community, Horman said, teasing that Kansas Citians can also anticipate a major roll out of the flag at Kansas City International Airport’s new terminal.