Graffiti in Houston
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Graffiti is a cause of disagreement among residents of Houston, in the U.S. state of Texas.[1] The city has as large graffiti community, according to the Houston Chronicle.[2]
One of Houston's first graffiti and street art show "Bombs, Burners, Scribbles and Tags" was held at REF Studios in Montrose in 1993.[3] Johnathan Estes' graffiti art showcase was the largest in Greater Houston and among the largest in the nation.[4]
The outdoor gallery Graffiti Park and its Houston Graffiti Building are popular sites for photography.[5] One mural at the park by artist GONZO247(Mario Figueroa) has the text "I Heart Houston" and images of French fries and other fast food.[6] The park is features many murals created by the city's graffiti scene.[7]
The Houston Museum of Natural Science's annual "Trains Over Texas" display has paid tribute to the city's graffiti artists.[8]
A replica of a NASA space shuttle at Space Center Houston was vandalized with graffiti in 2013.[9] Students added pro-Trump graffiti on the campus of Rice University in 2017.[10] The city has seen "yarn graffiti" and works inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic.[11][12] Houston has also seen a series of "Rowdy" tags.[13]
GONZO247 painted the "Houston Is Inspired" mural, among many others,[14][15][16] and started the HUE Mural Festival in 2015.[17] He also announced the creation of the Graffiti and Street Art Museum of Texas.[18]
Removal efforts
Not all of the graffiti has been artistic. In July of 2009, following a report of vandalism in the women's quarters of the Intercontinental Airport Fire Station 54, racist graffiti was left on their door. [19]
The Houston Police Department is responsible for graffiti removal within city limits.[20] Metro removes graffiti when cleaning bus stops.[21] The Greater East End Management District started an abatement program in 2001.[22]
