BIG ART BIGGER CHANGE MURALS Amplify Awareness of Social and Environmental Issues through Street Art, Downtown Houston 2023

Big Art Bigger Change Murals is a series of 29 large murals curated by Street Art for Mankind (SAM), a global nonprofit organization founded by Audrey and Thibault Decker. International and local artists create Big Art Bigger Change Murals to amplify social and environmental justice in Houston and beyond and make Houston “The New Street Art Destination”.

The themes chosen for each mural are inspired by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) created by the United Nations, which are blueprints for establishing global peace and prosperity, all powerfully represented by the murals in Downtown Houston, Texas.

SEASON 1 (2022) invited artists include Ana Marietta, Carlos Alberto, Case Maclaim, Lula Goce, Sonny Sundancer, Emily Ding, Victor Ash, Bimbo, Belin and Ricky Lee Gordon. Read more here.

SEASON 2 (2023) invited artists include Aches, AEC, Alex Arzu, Adry del Rocio, Emmanuel Jarus, Ernest Zacharevic, Giselle Oviedo, Hera, Hopare, Icy and Sot, Louis Michel, Moh Awudu, Mr Cenz, MrD 1987, Nomad Clan, Smug, Vesod, Vinie, and W3r3on3.

Check out the new murals below…

ACHES

“My brief was based on sport and how it can bring people together and have a positive impact on communities. However, I had the option to paint the Houston Ballet building, so I decided to paint two dancers from the school. There are a lot of similar aspects between dance and sport, and the dancers are just as athletic if not more than sports people.”

ACHESDUB Instagram

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AEC

“The Meeting – my recently painted mural. Painted in a heart of Houston downtown – Main str. 220. Piece isn’t an illustration of the war events or consequences of it, but it’s dedicated to it and it’s my subconscious and metaphorical vision of it. The work is dedicated to Ukrainians who were wounded as result of the Russian war of aggression, have lost their limbs and have become crippled. This applies to both defenders and civilians, adults and children. So far, Russia has committed thousands of war crimes in Ukraine. The Russian army killed more than 10 thousand of civilian Ukrainians, including children, and dozens of thousands were wounded. Moreover, it is only recorded cases. In reality, these numbers are much higher. To take awareness of this is important because the amount of victims of Russian aggression is growing every day, as Russia continues its offensive. All these people need help – psychological and prostheses for their limbs. Ukraine needs the support of the World to defend own people. Mural composition is based on my painting on canvas ‘I ate Drink in a Courtvard’ painted back in 2021. It were tough 9 days of painting”

AEC Instagram

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Alex Arzu

“Inspired by the rich history of Houston, particularly the unity among students during times of integration, this mural is a true testament to togetherness. The design beautifully captures the essence of collaboration, with eyes from the New Hope community forming a mesmerizing puzzle-like arrangement @newhopehousinghouston These eyes symbolize the diversity and unique backgrounds of individuals coming together harmoniously. I incorporated monstera silhouettes, symbolizing the honouring of elders and the longevity of our communities. Just like wildflowers that can grow individually or in clusters, representing us and our families, we come together from different nationalities to create something extraordinary and rejuvenating for future generations. The puzzle pieces serve as a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness and the immense achievements we can accomplish when we work together. Sharing our generational experiences is a key to unlocking the potential for greatness. Let’s celebrate the beauty and power of unity showcased in this mural. It serves as a vibrant reminder that we can overcome any challenge when we stand together as one. Come and be part of this incredible outdoor art museum experience that celebrates our diversity and collective strength.”

Alex Arzu Instagram

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Adry del Rocio

Adry del Rocio mural is titles ‘Empowered’ .

“”Empowered” Big Art. Bigger Change. Gender Equality (SDG 5) Women empowerment through economic empowerment. I want to promote the ending of all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. I want to recognize as well the work of Houston’s Women’s Commission whose mission is to advance equality and equity for women in the City of Houston, in particular on economic parity: Women earn 80 cents for every dollar a man makes. The poverty rate in Harris County is 50 per cent worse for women than men, and women account for a disproportionate amount of unemployment numbers.”

Adry del Rocio Instagram

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Emmanuel Jarus

Jarus is still painting in his blue period in Houston.

Ernest Zacharevic

Ernest Zacharevic’s mural in Houston is titled “Birdwatchers”.

Giselle Oviedo

Student artist Giselle Oviedo is a student from the University of Houston-Downtown. Oviedo painted one arm with a green shoot sprouting from the palm, with many hands holding the arm along the way. Signifying the importance of a foundation.

Hera

Hera’s mural is titled ‘Even the strongest of us need to be picked up at times’.

“Even the strongest of us need to be picked up at times” is the title of my mural artwork I got to create for the bigartbiggerchnage murals project curated by street art for mankind in Downtown Houston – where not just a few people related the mother in my painting who is lovingly holding a crowned child in her arms to Mother Mary. I believe we should look at every child as a possible future king if we want to help then unlock their full potential. In this piece of streetart the kid does not just enjoy being lifted and held, but also lends its shoulder for another,,royalty” to rest on: a monarch butterfly. (this butterfly being a species native to region I thought I’d make sense to invite my Houston-based friend @pilot_graff to paint them.) uplifting each other is the best way to move about – maybe it’s the only way of moving forward. …

Hera

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Hopare

Hopare’s mural is titled ‘Child Labour’.

“For this last wall, my eyes focused on the artisan exploitation of mica. Particularly due to the controversy caused by the employment of more than 10,000 children in inhumane conditions in mica mines.

With dirt-stained face and sweat-stained veil, eight-year-old Lalita Kumari scrambles the ground in search of mica chips, a mineral that gives lipstick and nail polish a pop.

Taking a break on a dazzling sand valley, Lalita explains that she has known nothing but hard work since the age of four in the mines of Jharkhand state in eastern India.

“I want to go to school but we never have enough food at home.” “So I have to come here to work,” explains the young child in the flowery green dress, with her puffy hands hidden behind the pot, next to her pickle. Lalita, like hundreds of children, helps her family make ends meet by spending the day picking mica, often empty in a lead sun.

Inès and Lalita are two little girls with very different lives, but realizing that together they can “repaint” history and do everything to imagine a better world.”

Hopare Instagram

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ICY and SOT

ICY and SOT paint a woman’s face with her eyes closed amongst a flight of birds… Let her be free.

Louis Michel

Louis Michel paints a bear wearing a unicorn mask in his signature style.

Moh Awudu

Moh Awudu and Ablade Glover mural is titled ‘Accra Floods’.

“Accra Floods is a mural about flooding and climate change (United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13). According to the United Nations, climate change has made extreme weather events such as floods and droughts more likely and severe. Since 2000, flood-related disasters have risen by 134 per cent compared with the two previous decades. Flooding happens everywhere, including in Houston. Where three “500-year” floods occurred in 2015, 2016 and 2017 (Hurricane Harvey). This mural was created by artist Moh Awudu, based on the “Accra Floods” painting from Ablade Glover, and curated by Street Art for Mankind (SAM). It connects two cities, Accra (in Ghana) and Houston, on different parts of the planet yet struck by similar natural disasters. The original work, painted in 1992, is an oil on canvas measuring 40″x 40″. It was painted with a palette knife (not with a brush), giving an immediacy comparable to the street art technics. The original and the mural both paint the crowd movement and its spirit…”

Moh Awudu Instagram

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Mr Cenz

Mr Cenz mural is titled ‘State of elevation’

Mr.D 1987

Sebastien “Mr.D 1987” Boileau mural centres on road safety and is titled ‘Sharing the road’. The bright mural is about making good or bad decisions on the road and the possible consequences.

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Nomad Clan

Nomad Clan’s mural is titled ‘Inexorable’ and takes on the vibe of Houston’s LGBTQI+ community and allies. The mural was painted during non-binary awareness week.

“What does it mean to be Inexorable?

: not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped : relentless”

Nomad Instagram

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Smug One

Smug One paints a male housekeeper with a mop in hand on the side of The Sam Houston Hotel, whose doors first opened in 1924 and is the city’s oldest operating hotel.

Vesod

Vesod paints in the signiture style.

Vinie

Vinie paints in her signiture style and words drawn in her hair include REPORT ABUSE, EMOTION, ADVISE, PREVENTION, BULLY, STAY CALM, DONT REPLY etc.

W3r3on3

W3r3on3 murals are inspired by third eye navigation. this mural is titled ‘We hold the Key’.

Downtown Houston is tuning into an open-air museum. For a more immersive experience, visitors can get an in-depth understanding of each mural through SAM’s “Behind the Wall” app, a self-led mural tour through a free app called “Behind the Wall,” which features interviews with the artists, descriptions of the murals and more. Download the app from your Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Photo credit Street Art for Mankind

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