culture
Austin Artists Paint 12 New Murals Across Neighborhoods This July
Fresh street art installations in multiple neighborhoods have residents mapping walking routes and planning evening visits.
How we reported this
Three new murals went up along East Cesar Chavez Street between July 8 and July 10, each covering at least 40 feet of building facade near the intersection with Chicon Street.
The timing aligns with peak summer heat and a citywide push to activate underused commercial corridors after the annual budget for public art passed the Austin City Council on June 12. Residents have posted route maps on neighborhood apps and organized group walks that start at the Central Library plaza and end at the new pieces, turning an ordinary commute into a shared outing.
East Austin and South Congress sites draw repeat visitors
The Austin Art in Public Places program, run by the city’s Economic Development Department, approved the Cesar Chavez works after artists submitted proposals that referenced local history rather than national headlines. One piece near the former site of the Liberty Bar features layered images of pecan trees and 1970s neighborhood gatherings. A second installation on South Congress Avenue, just south of Annie Street, shows abstract patterns drawn from the limestone blocks used in the nearby Continental Club. Both locations sit within two blocks of established bus stops, making them accessible without a car.
City records show the Art in Public Places program has funded 47 mural projects since January 2024, with an average contract value of $8,200 per wall. The current round of approvals includes an additional six sites scheduled for completion before September 15. Attendance at the program’s quarterly open-studio events at the Dougherty Arts Center rose from 180 visitors in spring 2025 to 310 in spring 2026.
Where to see the work and what comes next
Visitors can start at the Central Library at 710 West Cesar Chavez Street, walk east to the new walls, then continue to the South Congress piece by crossing the Lady Bird Lake boardwalk. The next public review meeting for proposed murals is set for August 4 at the Austin City Hall atrium. Maps and permit status updates are posted on the Economic Development Department website.