Color Fields

Aerosol Artists Use Houston Walls as Their Canvases

By Faith Nguyen // Oct 22, 2015

Photography Faith Nguyen

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Zosen and Mina Hamada fill their murals with geometric patterns and symbols. (See them at 800 Chartres)

Zosen is from Argentina, while Mina Hamada hails from Japan. Both work together in Barcelona. (800 Chartres)

FPLO with his enormous, colorful mural. (1513 St. Emanuel)

FPLO is Brazilian artist who has worked with graffiti for almost 15 years. (1513 St. Emanuel)

Maxxmoses strives to instill peace and serenity through his murals. (1513 St. Emanuel)

COPE2 is a self-taught graffiti legend. (1513 St. Emanuel)

Neuzz draws inspiration for his work from ancient Mexican indigenous art. (1513 St. Emanuel)

Real Tres, from Monterrey, Mexico, has more than 20 years of experience painting murals. (1503 Chartres St.)

Real Tres with his mural. (1503 Chartres St.)

The London Police began in 1998 to rejuvenate Amsterdam's streets. (1503 Chartres St.)

Kween897, a native Houstonian, depicts significant women in history. (1513 St. Emanuel)

At left is Kween897's mural. To the right is New York's Indie184's colorful mural. (1513 St. Emanuel)

Deck WGF works on creatures in his mural. (300 N. York St.)

Deck WGF poses with his mural. (300 N. York St.)

Jessica Rice at work. (300 N. York St.)

Donkeeboy working on his portrait of Frida Kahlo. (300 N. York St.)

Donkeeboy with his mother, Sylvia Roman, the artist from whom he draws inspiration. (300 N. York St.)

A full look at the murals on 300 N York St, where artists Jessica Rice, Gens Oner, Donkeeboy,Marjon F. Aucoin, Shreddi, Deks, Dandee Warhol, Daniel Anguilu and DECKWGF are painting their murals.

Nina Marinick and JahJah, Houston-based artists, are working on the Frenetic Theater. (5102 Navigation Blvd.)

Los Otros – David Shek Vega, Nik Soupe and Christopher Montoya – stand near their mural. (4739 Canal)

Nick Soupe working on the details of the mural. (4739 Canal)

Tarboxx2, a street artist based in Houston, stands with his mural at Capitol Street Fabrication and Gallery. (6697 Capitol)

Tarboxx2 at work. (6697 Capitol)

MEENR's mural features fluid, colorful feathers. (6697 Capitol)

CRISP is an Australian-born artist who now resides in Colombia. (6697 Capitol)

CRISP uses self-made stencils to make sure each detail is correct. (6697 Capitol)

Leche at work on his mural. (6697 Capitol)

Leche, who resides in Houston, poses in front of his mural. (6697 Capitol)

Nicky Davis' work focuses on the dark side of humanity. (6697 Capitol)

The first annual Houston Urban Experience (HUE) Mural Festival kicked off this past weekend. The week-long experience is produced and founded by street artist GONZO247, whose murals have become a significant part of Houston’s cityscape canvas.

The festival assembles 90 local, national and international aerosol kings and queens (Cope 2, Be Someone and Indie184, to name a few). Over the course of the seven-day event, artists will cover 25 walls with their designs in Houston’s East Downtown, East End and Washington Avenue Arts District. Festival attendees will see the murals being created and can engage with artists.

The festival spans 17 miles throughout the city; visitors can take a self-guided tour (with the aid of an interactive map) or book a scheduled street art tour. The festival includes live performances, community bike rides and a market, and closes on October 24.

Take a look at the slider above to see some artists in action.