Arts & Culture

“Reaching up”, was created by emerging artist GiselleOviedo , a college student in Fine Arts at the University ofHouston-Downtown (UHD). It features hands holding an arm that is presenting asprouting seedling. The multiple hands are a reference to unity and diversity,while the seedling refers to education and earth protection. The artist wasselected amongst her peers through a contest created in partnership with UHD,and a committee of Houston Art Experts decided on the artwork. The piece ispart of the second series of the BigArt. Bigger Change. murals produced in May 2023 in DowntownHouston. It was made possible thanks to the drive and generous support of the HoustonDowntown Management District , the City of Houston and HarrisCounty Precinct One. Special thanks to Zydeco Diner for donatingtheir wall.

“Digital Citizen” is a mural that raises awareness of Cyberbullying. This mural, created by artist Vinie Graffiti and curated by Street Art for Mankind (SAM), features the artist’s signature character, a teenager overwhelmed by unpleasant messages she saw on her phone. She is standing here, showing her disapprobation, and questioning us: what are we doing as a society to protect her? The words in her hair invite the viewer to meditate on the cause and to act. The piece is part of the second series of the Big Art. Bigger Change. murals produced in May 2023 in Downtown Houston. It was made possible thanks to the drive and generous support of the Houston Downtown Management District and Harris County Precinct One. Special thanks to Bill and Caroline for donating their wall.

“Inexorable” is a mural that supports the LGBTQ community. This mural, created by artist duo Nomad Clan and curated by Street Art for Mankind (SAM), is a powerful representation of the unity and strength within the LGBTQ community, as well as a tribute to those who have fought for LGBTQ rights in the past. It features past and present symbols of cultural solidarity such as the tattoo of the name "The Tumblebugs" as a reference to a group of individuals who fought against the arrest of crossdressers in Houston in 1967. The piece is part of the second series of the Big Art. Bigger Change. murals produced in May 2023 in Downtown Houston. It was made possible thanks to the drive and generous support of the Houston Downtown Management District and Harris County Precinct One. Special thanks to Harris County for donating their wall.

“Keep your eye on the road” is a mural about making our roads safer. This mural, created by artist MrD 1987 and curated by Street Art for Mankind (SAM), presents a mystical goddess warning us to be vigilant on the road or there may be consequences. It reflects on the good and bad decisions we make on the road, with two different prospects depending on which side of the road we choose. The piece is part of the second series of the Big Art. Bigger Change. murals produced in May 2023 in Downtown Houston. It was made possible thanks to the drive and generous support of the Houston Downtown Management District, TotalEnergies and Harris County Precinct One. Special thanks to Verde Communities LLC for donating their wall.

“Illumination” is a mural highlighting the importance of breaking the taboo around mental health. This mural, created by artist Emmanuel Jarus and curated by Street Art for Mankind (SAM), focuses on youth. By presenting a serene figure (a local teenager) in a moment of quiet introspection, the artwork invites viewers to delve deeper into the complexities and challenges of mental well-being. The piece is part of the second series of the Big Art. Bigger Change. murals produced in May 2023 in Downtown Houston. It was made possible thanks to the drive and generous support of the Houston Downtown Management District and Harris County Precinct One. Special thanks to New Hope Housing for donating their wall.

“Unity” is a mural celebrating the importance of unity and inclusivity. It is inspired by the March 1960 demonstrations and staged sit-ins led by Texas Southern University (TSU) black students that successfully and peacefully ended segregation at Houston stores and lunch counters. This mural, created by artist Alex Arzu and curated by Street Art for Mankind (SAM), depicts a scene of unity and collaboration, featuring an arrangement of eyes from different nationalities and age groups, pieced together like a puzzle. It symbolizes the diversity of people from various backgrounds, working and coming together in harmony to form a beautiful whole. The piece is part of the second series of the Big Art. Bigger Change. murals produced in May 2023 in Downtown Houston. It was made possible thanks to the drive and generous support of the Houston Downtown Management District and Harris County Precinct One. Special thanks to New Hope Housing for donating their wall.

“Pas de deux” is a mural about sports as a powerful tool to unite people and trigger change. Sport is a fundamental right, and a powerful tool to strengthen social ties, develop solidarity and respect. This mural, created by artist Aches and curated by Street Art for Mankind (SAM), features two ballet dancers from Houston ballet united through the power of dance. The movements are represented through a superposition of colors and frames, like a fast shutter speed, capturing movements the human eye may miss. The piece is part of the second series of the Big Art. Bigger Change. murals produced in May 2023 in Downtown Houston. It was made possible thanks to the drive and generous support of the Houston Downtown Management District and Harris County Precinct One. Special thanks to Houston Ballet for donating their wall.

“The Meeting” is a mural about the war in Ukraine and the promotion of peace. This mural, created by Ukrainian artist Aec Interesni Kazki and curated by Street Art for Mankind (SAM), is dedicated to the thousands of Ukrainians who lost their limbs in the war. It features, in a unique surrealistic style, a son with missing body parts, returning home to his welcoming mother. At first sight, the modern scene looks like a celebration, yet a deeper look opens new interpretations with the bullet or the missing futuristic body parts. For this young man, the healing is made more difficult with the continued fighting. The piece is part of the second series of the Big Art. Bigger Change. murals produced in May 2023 in Downtown Houston. It was made possible thanks to the drive and generous support of the Houston Downtown Management District and Harris County Precinct One. Special thanks to the Icon Hotel and Verde Communities LLC for donating their wall.

“Accra Floods” is a mural about flooding and climate change. This mural was created by artist Moh Awudu, based on the original “Accra Floods” painting from Ablade Glover and curated by Street Art for Mankind (SAM). It connects two cities, Accra (in Ghana) and Houston, on different parts of the planet yet struck by similar natural disasters. The original and the mural both paint the crowd movement and its spirit. The piece is part of the second series of the Big Art. Bigger Change. murals produced in May 2023 in Downtown Houston. It was made possible thanks to the drive and generous support of the Houston Downtown Management District and Harris County Precinct One. Special thanks to the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) for donating their wall.

“The Fifth Element” is a mural about making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. This mural, created by artist Vesod and curated by Street Art for Mankind (SAM), focuses on the relationship between humans, city, energy and nature. It suggests that through renewable energy, created from the four elements like air, water, fire and earth, people can live in cities perfectly connected to nature. The woman depicted is from the Houston community. The piece is part of the second series of the Big Art. Bigger Change. murals produced in May 2023 in Downtown Houston. It was made possible thanks to the drive and generous support of the Houston Downtown Management District and Harris County Precinct One. Special thanks to the Regency Garage for donating their wall.

“Child Labour” highlights the connection between child labor and our consumption. This mural, created by artist Hopare and curated by Street Art for Mankind (SAM), represents the two sides of the same coin: our consumption and the thing that powers it, child labor. Through the allegory of a girl putting on makeup next to her friend collecting mica, the mineral used to create makeup, we dig into a deeper topic and in the contradictions of our modern society. There is also a vision of hope here with a new generation, represented by the two girls, side by side questioning how we can fix this. The piece is part of the second series of the Big Art. Bigger Change. murals produced in May 2023 in Downtown Houston. It was made possible thanks to the drive and generous support of the Houston Downtown Management District and Harris County Precinct One.  Special thanks to Houston House for donating their wall. 

“We all wear the mask, but how long will it last” is a mural about access to clean water for all. This mural, created by artist Louis Masai and curated by Street Art for Mankind (SAM), features a Texas black bear sitting in despair, disguised as a unicorn with a mask strapped to his head. Empty-handed, he is questioning us on our future! Like all wildlife, this endangered species' life depends on access to clean water, which he doesn't seem to find around him anymore. The message is that his future, like ours, could become a mythological fantasy if we don't manage our resources better. The piece is part of the second series of the Big Art. Bigger Change. murals produced in May 2023 in Downtown Houston. It was made possible thanks to the drive and generous support of the Houston Downtown Management District and Harris County Precinct One. Special thanks to Houston Public Works for donating their wall.

Justice for All faces Buffalo Bayou and is a mural inspired by a photo of trailblazing Texas legislator and longest serving lawmaker in the House, Senfronia Thompson. A hypnotic set of multicolored eyes can be seen through the scales of justice.

Mural by Street Art for Mankind.

The Stream Crosses the Path mural is a replica of a John Biggers painting that is on display at the Julia C. Hester House. The mural features a group of black women in conversation against the background of water.

Mural by Street Art for Mankind.

Sharing the World is an ode to Houston’s international influence and diversity. The artist uses various characters to depict a world where people of different ethnicities look toward the future together.

Mural by Ana Maria.

Human Rights is a portrait of Amy, a Latino girl from Houston, riding a wild horse as she whips her lasso above her head, calling for freedom, peace and social justice for all.

Mural by Victor Ash.

Quality Education for All is a colorful mural that plays with Picasso-style cubism and realism and uses one continuous black line. The goal of the mural is to bring awareness to the importance of education forpeople of all different backgrounds, both regionally and nationally.

Mural by Belin.

Located on the Downtown Hyatt building, The Ocean / Our Teacher / Our Healer honors the ocean and all the wildlife inside the sea. The artwork features whales and humans in a delicate depiction of life belowthe surface.

Mural by Ricky Lee Gordon.

This mural recognizes Houston as an innovation hub concerning COVID-19 vaccines. The artwork features Dr. Elena Bottazi, who was part of a dynamic duo that developed a free patent that led her to be nominated for a Noble Peace Prize in 2022.

Mural by Lula Coce.

King of the Road is a portrait of Houston resident, Houston Atlee on his new bike poised for adventure. This mural highlights the freedom and opportunities that come with having a bicycle and inspires others to go out and explore.

Mural by Case Maclaim. 

No Gun Violence, located at Worthing High School in Houston, Texas, is a powerful and eloquent statement on the importance of gun control. The image depicts a school setting against the Houston landscape in the background, with students and teachers in unity, holding protest signs and giving voice to their ideas and thoughts on the student's future and the educators' hopes.

Mural by Houston-based artist Samson Bimbo Adenugba.

Located on the Harris County Attorney’s Office in Downtown Houston, Lady Justice is displayed with her eyes covered holding the scales of justice and a sword, poised for serving impartial justice to all. Mural by Victor Ash. 

This piece is part of the Big Art. Bigger Change. project.

The Big Art. Bigger Change. project seeks to unite communities through multiple large-scale murals across the heart of Houston, from the Hilton Americas Houston Hotel to the Historic District. 

The Gate of Hope, the mosaic artwork placed on four columns at the Julia C. Hester House entrance, was dedicated at the historic Fifth Ward community center. Chief Jimoh Buraimoh, a Nigerian painter and artist, installed the artwork, as part of Commissioner Ellis’ efforts to place public art throughout Harris County.

Conversation with George at Precinct One’s Tom Bass Park, 15108 Cullen Blvd, was donated by Dannette K. Davis and the Kay Davis in the Community Foundation. The artwork by renowned sculptress Adrienne Rison-Isom invites a moment of quiet reflection or honest conversation with a seated statue of George Floyd. It’s a powerful piece of public art that unites us around a shared purpose and pushes us forward to action.

To celebrate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's historic confirmation as the first Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court, we unveiled the Persevere mural, painted by Houston artist Anat Ronen, at Precinct One’s Youth Education Town (YET) building, 4900 Providence Street. With this mural, we hope to inspire the next generation to learn how far we have come and motivate them to keep shattering the very real barriers that still exist today.

Precinct One's Together We Grow mural located at the Hardy Community Center, 11901 W. Hardy Road, celebrates the area's agricultural history while recognizing the transportation and economic investments in the community. Mural by Reginald Adams.

A mural by Houston's internationally known artist, the late John Biggers, is located at the Tom Bass Community Center, 15108 Cullen Blvd. Created in 1987, Song of the Drinking Gourds greets residents as they enter the center. 

Moving Monuments is a public art project meant to reflect the shared ideals and values of Precinct One, and to elevate social justice heroes who broke down barriers, fought for equality, and led movements toward justice. Currently, the social justice heroes honored are: Cesar Chavez, Frederick Douglass, Dolores Huerta, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, Reverend William Lawson, Congressman Mickey Leland, President Abraham Lincoln, Governor Ann Richards, Major Taylor and Harriet Tubman.

Learn more about Moving Monuments.

Visitors to Alexander Deussen Park are greeted by a functional piece of public art that was designed and created by Texas artist, David Adickes, who is known for his massive concrete artwork. Many of Mr. Adickes pieces, including the "We Love Houston" sign and several busts of U.S. Presidents, can be seen throughout Harris County. His most famous is the 687 foot-tall statue of Sam Houston that stands beside Texas Interstate 45.

A Black Lives Matter mural by Houston native and Third Ward artist, Jonah Elijah was installed in front of Jack Yates High School as a 2021 Black History Month tribute to Houston native, George Floyd. Mr. Floyd's murder by Minneapolis police in June 2020 sparked the racial reckoning that is spurring changes in our racially discriminatory and oppressive criminal legal system.

Christia Adair Park, located at 15107 Cullen Blvd, is home to another mural by Houston's Internationally known artist, the late John Biggers. Unfortunately, the mural was heavily damaged in August 2017 during Hurricane Harvey. Precinct One is currently investigating the restoration of this important and irreplaceable work of art.

Precinct One is home to Houston's largest mural, which covers 13,000 sq. ft. of the west side of the Hampton Inn downtown at 710 Crawford St. Named Zero Hunger, the mural reminds us that the root cause of hunger is poverty. Through a collaborative effort between the United Nations World Hunger Program USA, the nonprofit, Street Art for Mankind, and the internationally known muralist, Dragon 76, the mural was completed in March 2021. Watch the unveiling.