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A stretch of Main Street in downtown Houston includes two murals that are part of the “Big Art. Bigger Change” project. (Photo Credit: Daisy Espinoza/Houston Public Media)
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Pictured is a mural at 426 Austin St. in downtown Houston on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Photo Credit: Daisy Espinoza/Houston Public Media)
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Pictured is a mural honoring Mahatma Gandhi at 901 Commerce St. in Houston. (Photo Credit: Daisy Espinoza/Houston Public Media)
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Pictured is a mural at 1111 Main St. in Houston on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Photo Credit: Daisy Espinoza/Houston Public Media)
As part of an ongoing beautifying project, a new series of murals is adorning downtown Houston’s streets.
The “Big Art. Bigger Change” initiative, which began in the fall of 2022, is now producing ten enormous pieces of art. According to Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, four of the new murals were unveiled Monday, increasing the total number of murals in the downtown area to 50.
Ellis collaborated with the group Street Art for Mankind and Downtown Houston+, a local economic development initiative, to assist create the mural series. Some of the pieces were made by local artists and feature people from the Houston region. The murals are all intended to support the sustainable development objectives—such as human rights, social justice, green energy, and universal access to education—adopted by the UN General Assembly.
“Beyond enriching our city’s landscape, these murals carry powerful messages that inspire and uplift our community,” Ellis stated.
The Main Street Garage at 1111 Main St., McIntyre’s at 901 Commerce St., the Channel Garage Building at 426 Austin St., and the Wyndham Hotel close to NRG Stadium at 8686 Kirby Dr. are the locations of the recently unveiled murals. Their topics include climate resilience, empowering women through water, peace, love, and inclusivity, and helping those with impairments.
More than a mile separates the Historic District from the Hilton Americas Houston Hotel, and another mile separates south downtown from the banks of Buffalo Bayou.
Kris Larson, president and CEO of the Downtown Houston+ organization, remarked, “These murals have brought new life to the downtown cityscape, transforming blank walls into vibrant, meaningful art that captures the essence of Houston.” “They create focal points to draw visitors, spark conversation and encourage exploration of hidden areas of the city.”
