Listen, if there’s one thing a pandemic isn’t stopping, it’s my love for Houston artists! So many great murals, so little time. Let’s talk about one specific neighborhood — First Ward.
I’m talking the little nook south of I10, north of Washington Ave. and sandwiched between Sawyer Street and downtown. The area is also known as Houston’s Arts District, though I believe that to be a little larger than First Ward, dipping into the Sixth Ward too. I want to save that area for another day!
Here are my five fave murals in First Ward!
Special shoutout to HoustonMuralMap and FreshArts, which I used for reference working on this!
I Believe in the Good Things Coming – 1718 Houston Ave
This mural is BRAND NEW and is by Anat Ronen. I love how it made me feel — with COVID, with the elections, with 2020 in general. Things are looking up, my friends!
Rail to the Sea – 1501 Sawyer St.
Love this HUGE mural by Janavi M Folmsbee is named for its proximity to the train, which goes to Houston’s port. More deets on the artist’s inspo!
Art Alley at Sawyer Yards – 1502 Sawyer Street
Gotta love a one-stop shop! This area in Sawyer Yards features a whole bunch of murals by a whole bunch of artists, like: Anat Ronen, Ani Varadaraju, Daniel Anguilu, el Edu, Eyesore, Jessica Rice, Jose Cordova, Luisa Duarte, Michael C. Rodriguez, Nicky Davis, Pilot FX, Scott Tarbox, Royal McGee and Vincent Fink.
Stronger Together – 1420 Edwards St.
I’ve driven past this mural a few times lately, and I absolutely love how great it is! Vivienne Dang created a true work of art alongside one of Houston’s oldest (and best!) burger spots!
The Creative Flow – 1516 Spring St.
Another ICONIC piece from Gonzo! This one was a part of Houston’s HUE Mural Fest. I love how big it is and how you can really take a good pic from sections or the whole thing. Gonzo said the Arts District itself inspired this vibrant piece.
That Lizard mural was painted over several years ago.