Writing on the Walls

Writing on the Walls is an annual series of collaborative public art installations and events. At the inaugural event in March 2020, local, national and international artists simultaneously created two new landmarks in downtown Austin, including our city’s largest mural to date. This mural is located on the iconic Congress Avenue, 11 blocks south of the state capitol, and located at the gateway into downtown Austin.

Canadian artist Sandra Chevrier collaborated with American street artist and graphic designer Shepard Fairey on an iconic 12-story mural that was painted on the west side of The LINE. The design fuses both of their styles and incorporates iconography that evokes the power of women and the history of women’s rights in this country. The mural holds the significance of being completed in an election year, and 100 years after a landmark decision extending voting rights to women. Austin-based emerging artist Sadé Lawson created a bold, large scale mural on South Lamar exemplifying her fresh and unique style exploring identity and mental illness.

More than murals, Writing on the Walls is a week-long celebration of art, diversity and public spaces in our community. The events and activations throughout the week in 2020 included film screenings, workshops, artist demonstrations, live mural painting, panel discussions, a podcast taping, pop-up shops and much more. The community was invited to participate in every part of the process, and now enjoys two transformed public spaces downtown.