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]
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]