MuralFest Brightens Historic Downtown Pasadena With Local Art

There’s a new way for residents to Live the Vida Local and enjoy art in Pasadena, Texas. The first annual MuralFest will be held on Saturday, October 24, from 11 AM 6 PM, at Shaw Avenue, from Munger to Charles. This is a free event for all ages, so families can come enjoy a fun day out with live mural creation, music, and festivities.

“Public art does so much more than make a blank wall beautiful; it instills community pride and actually encourages people to go out and explore their city,” says Dr. Jo Estrada, Manager at Visit Pasadena.

Several murals will be painted on nearby buildings during the festival, and a portable mural wall will invite the community to join in and help create a shared work of art.  

Estrada recently sat down with two local muralists, David Maldonado and Adrian Avila, to discuss their art. Check out the video below and learn why we’re so excited about MuralFest! 

Public Art Celebrates the Local Community 

Murals allow artists to approach art on a large scale, from painting connector alleyways to multi-story buildings. However, murals also give back. They are some of the most accessible forms of art for the average person. Anyone can enjoy a mural when walking down the street or driving past in their car. There’s no entry fee to get into a museum or gallery.

“I love that we can tell the story of a community and the people who live there, but we can also turn an ordinary space into an area that people remember, or want to return to, or connect with, and that’s something we want to bring to Pasadena,” says Estrada.  

Research shows that murals also have a significant impact on perceptions of neighborhoods. One study in Philadelphia found that people felt that areas with murals were more comfortable, welcoming, and safer. They were the types of places you want to be. Murals help residents feel proud of where they live while creating areas that attract people from other communities.

“Every project is different,” says Avila. “And that keeps things interesting. Every project has a challenge, a different background, and different people involved.” 

Local Artists Use Art to Start Conversations

Some muralists embrace this art form because they are giving back. They see their art as a way to celebrate the people around them and tell the world about their community.

“When you paint a mural, you create artwork that exists for the people, it no longer belongs to you,” says Maldonado. “It’s a shared experience. So I try to create work that resonates with the people in the community.”

Maldonado particularly enjoys events like MuralFest because they allow him to talk with other artists and with the community as a whole. He gets to learn from others while sharing information about his art and techniques. This is a social gathering that brings people together.

“Murals are a conversation between the city and us,” he adds. “And it’s not always positive. Sometimes it's neutral, sometimes people hate it, some people love it, but it breaks down a wall that divides us and allows us to engage in conversation.” 

Pasadena is Celebrating its Art Community

This has been a big year for art across Pasadena. In June, the community hosted its first-ever art walk in collaboration with Texas Markets, launching a summer series that brought together local vendors and artists from Pasadena and the surrounding areas. Attendees could shop, watch artists at work, and learn about their creative inspiration.

“There’s so many creatives here, and the art walk has helped bring them out,” says Maldonado.

Live mural painting became a highlight of the series, with the artwork reaching beyond the events themselves.

“Every month, you could watch an artist creating live, from start to finish in one evening,” says Estrada. “The mobile walls were brought to local community centers, so residents can still enjoy the art.”

For Avila, creating art at Crenshaw Park also brought a personal connection to the experience.

“It was funny that we had the art walks at the Crenshaw Park because we have a lot of photographs of my childhood when family would come visit us, and we took them to Crenshaw Park,” says Avila. “Fast forward years later, and we’re here.”

Mark Your Calendar for MuralFest on October 24

MuralFest is about much more than murals and a one-day festival. It’s a celebration of local talent, community pride, and everything that makes Pasadena, Pasadena: our people, our history, and our creativity. It’s also part of a larger effort to bring new life, activity, and investment back to Shaw Avenue, part of our city’s historic downtown. Through placemaking, public art, beautification, and economic development, we’re creating spaces that bring people together and inspire renewed pride in the places we call home.

Mark your calendars, come celebrate our local artists, and join us in #LivinLaVidaLocal! This year is just the beginning. The best brush strokes are yet to come!

Have any questions or want to participate in MuralFest? Don’t hesitate to reach out! We’re always looking to get more people involved.