City of Austin covers iconic murals, sparking backlash over cultural loss

AUSTIN, Texas — Austin is losing several well-known street murals after the Texas Department of Transportation ordered the city to cover them, saying they violate state guidelines.

The city coated over multiple murals on Thursday, including the “Black Artists Matter” mural on East 11th Street and the Texas mural on Guadalupe Street near the University of Texas at Austin campus. People who live in Austin said the changes feel like a loss of culture and identity.

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“Kind of ridiculous. It wasn’t hurting anybody,” said Orion Sun, an East Austinite.

Landry Knowles, an Austinite, said, “It makes me feel really sad and angry.”

In some places, remnants of the murals could still be seen beneath the street coating.

The directive to cover what were described as “political ideologies” came from TxDOT earlier this summer under the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott. In a letter to the city, TxDOT said “the current markings are not acceptable and do not fully comply with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (TMUTCD) and related federal guidance.”

Austin Transportation and Public Works confirmed it covered the murals on Thursday.

For some residents, the change went beyond paint on pavement.

“It gave the place character. Now, it’s just another black street,” Sun said.

Knowles said the Texas mural “was a symbol of school pride,” she said. “The fact that it’s covered up, it erases part of the school’s identity.”

Knowles also said, “It erases creativity.”

Sun added, “It removes the uniqueness.”

Some Austinites said they are hopeful new artwork will be created to replace what is now buried under the street coating.