Houston is Inspired Artist Statement
By GONZO247
“This piece is all about capturing the energy that makes Houston, Houston. It’s that raw, vibrant hustle—the music, the culture, the stories we’ve been telling for generations. I wanted to create something that pulls people in, gets them hyped for what they’re about to experience. Every color, every shape, every detail is telling a story, a vibe. This ain’t just a mural or a piece of art—it’s a journey. It’s about the grind, the growth, and the inspiration we pass on to each other, on and off the stage.” – GONZO247
For this project, my goal was to create a visual experience that would ignite a sense of anticipation and excitement as audiences prepare to enter the theater. This design serves as a visual journey, weaving together elements that reflect the three featured productions in the second iteration of the “Houston Is Inspired” series at the Hobby Center in downtown Houston. The vibrant colors and interconnected motifs capture the energy, diversity, and complexity of the stories unfolding through these performances.
In approaching this piece, I wanted to create something that was uniquely tied to this year’s series while also continuing to pay homage to the original “Houston Is Inspired” mural I painted in Market Square in 2013. The visual language and iconography in this piece are meant to celebrate both the continuity of the series and the evolving spirit of the city.
In doing research on the Ensemble Theatre, I came across George Hawkins’ goal to “establish a ‘place and space’ where artists and the larger community could receive technical training and have expanded employment opportunities while providing a theatrical education for Houstonians and residents in surrounding counties.”
This statement really resonated with me. It was a direct parallel to the Hobby Center’s vision for the “Houston Is Inspired” series. The idea of creating a ‘place and space’ where people can come together to learn, grow, and share their stories is something I wanted to echo in this design. It seems only fitting to incorporate the words Place and Space into the artwork, reflecting the importance of both physical and creative spaces in the development of community and culture.
Center Image:
At the heart of the design is a stylized treble clef, symbolizing the core element of sound that connects all three productions. Music, rhythm, and beat play essential roles in telling these stories. Beneath the clef, an abstract heart represents the love, dedication, and passion that flow through the creative process. This heart is anchored by a backdrop of ladders—an allusion to the original mural—symbolizing the journey of rising from humble beginnings and building pathways to success. The ladders are transformed into abstract wings, representing the idea of reaching new, limitless heights as we create and grow, both as individuals and as a community.
Deep Roots:
The theme of roots also runs deeply through these productions, each grounded in the cultural traditions of Houston or their respective communities. From the heart, roots stretch outward, growing into vines that sprout new life—symbolizing the continuous cycle of growth and renewal. The flowers blooming from these roots represent the next generation, carrying forward our stories, traditions, and the promise of reawakening. This concept mirrors the season of Spring, where new beginnings and the past are intertwined.
A subtle detail within the roots features a pair of hands in a traditional Indian dance pose, a direct reference to Poetry in Motion. This nod reflects the rich cultural influences that shape the narrative of this series.
In the background, the bricks pay tribute to the historic brick streets of Freeman’s Town, a reference to Our Road Home, underscoring the connection between history, place, and identity.
Photos by Annie Mulligan