Austin's graffiti wall returns: HOPE Outdoor Gallery opens 18-acre site

Austin officials and art enthusiasts celebrated the grand opening of the HOPE Outdoor Gallery’s new location Dec. 17, bringing the city’s graffiti wall back to life.

The details

Many Austinites may remember the original wall near 24 Diner and the former Waterloo Records location, a fixture along Lamar Boulevard for years. After being removed six years ago, HOPE Outdoor Gallery has found a new home in Southeast Austin, near the Austin Bergstrom International Airport.

The 18-acre site features a 6,000-square-foot open-air gallery and event space, a community art park, murals by local artists, a cafe, a rooftop bar, an art supply shop, and spaces for community programming and local vendors. HOPE is free, open to the public and serves as an all-ages experience.

What they're saying

"Something extraordinary about [this space] is people are able to participate in the art and not just observe," C.K. Chin, the organization's director of hospitality, said.

The local impact

The HOPE, short for Helping Other People Everywhere, campaign connects creatives with nonprofit organizations and community causes, encouraging artists, designers, musicians, chefs, and other professionals to donate their time and skills to support social and humanitarian projects. Organizers say the initiative is part of a larger movement of art-driven activism in Austin.

• Opened Nov. 28; ribbon cutting Dec. 17
• 741 Dalton Lane, Austin
• www.hopeoutdoorgallery.com