Best of Houston® 2019: Best Mural

Best Mural: the Houston Texas Wall at Harrisburg Arts Museum

Sometimes things are just meant to be. Daniel Anguilu, head curator over at the Harrisburg Arts Museum, doesn’t mind the ever-changing landscape of this art-covered warehouse east of downtown. H.A.M.’s whole mission is to showcase the work of local and guest graffiti and street artists, as well as regional muralists.

The 13 bay doors at H.A.M. that spell out Houston Texas — with a lone star as the divider — are stunning in their perfection. Not to throw shade on the iconic Be Someone on the railway bridge over I-45 South, but the Houston Texas wall is clearly an elevated piece of art that took many, many hours to design and execute.

A better look at Houston by (left to right) Moes, Eles, Vurse; Black Cassidy; Amoe; W3r3on3; Dense83; Deck and Nacho. Credit: Photo by Duncan Fisher (detail)

It was curated by local artist Empire13 who, in turn, selected a different artist to transform each bay door. To spell out Houston he called on the talents of Moes, Eles, Vurse (letter H); Black Cassidy; Amoe; W3r3on3; Dense83; Deck and Nacho.

A better look at the star and Texas by (left to right) A.O.S., Jerk, Hew, Magik, Empire13 and Dizkust. Credit: Photo by Duncan Fisher (detail)

For the remainder of the mural, a five-pointed star and the word Texas, he turned to A.O.S., Jerk, Hew, Magik and Dizkust. Empire13 did double duty, assigning the letter “A” to himself.

So if you ever hear anybody complain that graffiti, street art or murals are a “messy” form of artwork and not a suitable cohort for the league of fine artists, you just point them toward the Houston Texas wall at H.A.M. Sounds like it’s time for a schooling.

Harrisburg Arts Museum
4200 Harrisburg, Houston
713-961-3877
facebook.com/thehamhouston