Michigan artist Krystal Cooke painted this mural of actress and Corpus Christi native Farrah Fawcett during Mural Fest 2023. Photo by Bridget May
The downtown Marina Arts District is ground zero for street art in Corpus Christi as vibrant murals offer a punch of color and a kick to business.
You’ll find imaginative works on almost every block, and more are being created each year. In all, some 40 murals decorate public parks, electric boxes, and the sides of buildings across the arts district.
Corpus Christi celebrates this public art form with the annual Mural Fest, which introduces new works amid block parties, food stands, and live music.
[image id="35742" title="Mesquite Street Parking Garage mural" linkto="file" ] The Mesquite Street Parking Garage became a canvas for Miami artist Ivan Roque at Mural Fest 2023. Photo courtesy of Downtown Corpus Christi/Downtown Management District and Brave Shine Photography, Matthew Meza
Mural Fest 2023 added five creations, including a 14,400-square-foot ground mural in Norma Urban Park at the Peoples Street T-Head and a much-anticipated painting of the late actress Farrah Fawcett, a Corpus Christi native, at Starr and Water streets. Crowds get to witness each artist’s creative process from start to finish.
Mural Fest ended June 3, but you can view the art year-round, including these selected murals:
Greetings From Corpus Christi
114 N. Mesquite St.
This mural, styled after a vintage souvenir postcard, is a great selfie spot. Corpus Christi artist Jeremy Flores incorporated images of local landmarks into the lettering.
Endless Sunset: The Colors of Our City
820 N. Lower Broadway St.
[image id="35738" title="Endless Sunset: The Colors of Our City" linkto="file" ] Endless Sunset: The Colors of Our City by Sandra Gonzalez. 101CorpusChristi.com photo
Artist Sandra Gonzalez filled this 64-foot-by-34-foot space on the Corpus Christi Caller-Times building with images of local shorebirds, turtles, and fish against a brightly painted background.
Dia de los Muertos
La Retama Park, 501 N. Mesquite St.
[image id="35739" title="Dia de los Muertos" linkto="file" ] Dia de los Muertos by Ricardo Ruiz, Gerald Lopez, Day Wheeler, and Jimmy Pena. 101CorpusChristi.com photo
Artists Ricardo Ruiz, Gerald Lopez, Day Wheeler, and Jimmy Pena collaborated on this work showcasing skeletons celebrating Day of the Dead, both day and night.
A Breath of Fresh Air
301 N. Mesquite St.
This work by Jeremy Flores pays tribute to a summer ritual at nearby Padre Island National Seashore when newly hatched Kemp's ridley sea turtles begin their journey across the beach into the Gulf of Mexico.
Born to Fly
601 N. Chaparral St.
[image id="35740" title="Born to Fly" linkto="file" ] Born to Fly by Rafael Blanco. Photo by Bridget May
Chicago-area artist Rafael Blanco’s mural, a nod to the city’s longtime U.S. Navy presence, features a pilot in the foreground and five fighter planes and their vapor trails in the distance. This work debuted at Mural Fest 2022.
chuck@thepicayune.com
