HOUSTON – For more than a decade, a weathered building off Chartres Street in East Downtown Houston became a living canvas—bold, raw, and ever-changing.
Known as Graffiti Park, the space was co-created by three local artists who transformed the concrete walls into a collaborative installation that drew visitors from all over the world.
Now, that space is gone.
Crews began demolishing the structure this week as part of the I-45 expansion project by TxDOT, leaving behind memories, controversy, and a call for preservation from the artists who built it.
“Three kids had nowhere to paint.”
Daniel Anguilu is one of the original founders of Graffiti Park. He immigrated to Houston from Mexico City and has spent more than 12 years maintaining the space and curating the evolving artwork on its walls.
“So, it’s three of us. We didn’t have a place to paint,” Anguilu said. “We had a friend renting the building and he gave us the opportunity. We started something that didn’t exist—and built culture around it.”
Anguilu was the first to lay paint on the building’s walls. Over the years, his murals included tributes to George Floyd, Selena, and abstract shapes rich in rhythm and color.
“This was an interactive piece. People came here for graduations, for weddings, for memories,” he said. “Sometimes you create things that you don’t know how they’ll take on a life of their own. That’s what this was.”
For Anguilu, this wasn’t just an art project—it was a personal mission.
“I came here and cleaned it every week,” he said. “There’s freedom here, but there was still care. I erased anything that didn’t belong. I maintained it because it mattered.”
A loss felt by the community
Vladimir Nino, who grew up in Humble, called Graffiti Park a safe haven and a place where artists and non-artists alike could create lasting moments.
“It wasn’t just a chill spot. This was a movie moment for us,” Nino said. “It crushed me when I heard it was coming down. I would’ve loved to propose to my wife here.”
Nino criticized city and state leaders for not doing enough to protect cultural spaces.
“There are roads all over Houston that need fixing. Why this?” he said. “Art is priceless. Memories are priceless. You can’t just bulldoze that.”
Artist says there was no direct communication — TxDOT disputes that
Despite the years of work poured into the space, Anguilu says he and many contributing artists received no formal notice before demolition began.
“I wasn’t contacted until this past Monday. The building itself was the artwork—and maybe that was the confusion,” he said. Anguilu acknowledges that the property changed hands over the years and says the artists were never owners but were consistently allowed to paint and maintain the building.
In response, TxDOT disputes claims that the community was not notified, telling KPRC 2 in an email: “This is not correct. We have always given community members advanced notice of our intentions with the buildings and the property. Even to the point of still allowing limited access as we addressed security concerns. This was not months in the making but multiple years.”
TxDOT also said it welcomes questions and wants to respond fully in writing.
“We want to be helpful for the story, but we want to be confident that the narrative is not directed by folks who continue to provide information that is not completely accurate.”
What comes next?
TxDOT has pledged $500,000 to support future art and culture initiatives in Houston. But Anguilu says what’s lost can’t be bought back.
“I don’t think you can put a price on culture,” he said. “I’m hopeful now that they know who I am, we can work together. I have a proposal that could make this educational.”
He’s already running a second space—the Harrisburg Art Museum—and is open to helping shape future city art projects. But he’s asking for more local input.
“We made this from the ground up. This is how the people of Houston want their city to look,” he said.
As for what message he would send to TxDOT or city leaders?
“Listen to the artists,” Anguilu said. “There’s no right or wrong here—just an opportunity to learn and do better next time.”
“This was started by three kids who weren’t from here—who made a home and made a statement,” he said. “There’s no right or wrong. There’s an opportunity. Listen to the artists.”
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