After a lengthy hiatus, Austin’s iconic HOPE Outdoor Gallery has reopened on a sprawling 17-acre site near the airport, blending an art park with a cultural events center. The new location showcases the creativity of over 30 artists within its 6,000-square-foot gallery and on its mural walls.
Visitors can also find a café and shop where supplies, including spray paint for tagging the gallery’s outer walls, are readily available.
On the inaugural day, attendees enthusiastically painted a variety of subjects, from robots and band names to vibrant eyeballs and whimsical characters. Friends hoisted one another onto shoulders for the final touches, while children joyfully sprayed bursts of purple and red paint in a spirited display.
Antonio Delgado, who watched his family decorate the walls, expressed his appreciation for the diverse range of artists participating. “I love that there’s different calibers of artists here,” he noted, highlighting the mix of newcomers, younger talents, and established professionals.
Having previously lived just a few blocks from the original graffiti park, Delgado fondly recalled his time spent there, often songwriting amid the vibrant art scene. Although he felt a sense of loss when the original site closed in 2019, he was thrilled to introduce his family to the new venue. “It’s great to see that we have this formal space that’s championing mural art,” he remarked, “and then outside we’ve got space where we can just play and have fun and practice.”
Local artist Eddie Martinez, accompanied by his dog Bonnie, brought his own supplies to complete a mural featuring the phrase “Te amo para siempre” in bold red letters, framed by playful blue clouds. “People have been taking pictures with it, posing with it, so it’s pretty cool,” he shared.
Andi Scull, the gallery’s founder and creative director, reported that eager visitors were lining up an hour before the official opening. “We’re back,” she declared, emphasizing her commitment to restoring the gallery’s original spirit as a safe haven for the creative community.
The original HOPE Outdoor Gallery opened in 2010 as a temporary installation, utilizing the foundation of an unfinished condo project. Scull initially collaborated with renowned street artist Shepard Fairey to launch a campaign named Helping Other People Everywhere (HOPE), connecting artists with humanitarian initiatives. Fairey is famously recognized for his OBEY Giant and Obama “HOPE” posters.
The gallery quickly became a canvas for anyone with a spray paint can, fostering a dynamic and ever-evolving art exhibit that attracted both locals and tourists for nearly a decade.
C.K. Chin, the gallery’s director of hospitality, explained that the space transcended mere graffiti. “On any given day, you’ll have someone putting up a mural, a random tourist just stopping by to admire the art, someone breakdancing on a piece of concrete, or even a proposal happening in a cozy corner,” he noted.
Scull reflected on the unique opportunities the gallery provided for experimentation and creativity. “I think that’s the coolest part about what we really learned in the 10 years of the project,” she said. “Try things big, and try weird things.”
However, the gallery was forced to close in 2019 due to the impending construction of a luxury condo building.
Recognizing the need for a permanent home, Scull and Chin sought out a new location. “It was really audacious and really kind of crazy to even consider. But, like we said, you don’t know what you can do or can’t do until you try,” Chin remarked, commending Scull’s relentless optimism.
With encouragement from local artists and supporters, they eventually secured the Dalton Lane site, although progress faced multiple delays from construction issues, permitting hurdles, and the pandemic. Yet, on the day of the grand reopening, all previous challenges were forgotten.
“The excitement of what we saw happen at the other location is already happening again, revolving around public art and an installation art park,” Scull expressed. “It was always beyond murals or graffiti or writers.”
Jen Morton, who was enjoying the art with her family, noted that the new space feels more purposeful. “The last one was like a pirate situation. It felt like anyone could come and just do whatever they wanted. And it felt a little illegal,” she commented. “And this one feels like it’s obviously meant to be here.”
