Willie Nelson Mural in Downtown Austin Demolished Amid Surprise High-Rise Development

The cherished Willie Nelson mural in Austin, a striking 60-by-20-foot public art installation, was unexpectedly torn down on Monday, February 3rd, to accommodate a high-rise development at the site of the 100-year-old building located at 407 E. 7th Street. The demolition surprised mural artist Wiley Ross, as he had a meeting planned with the building’s owners that very day to talk about the potential of recreating the mural in a different location.

Initially created in 2016 for South By Southwest’s "Heart of Texas Rockfest," the mural evolved into a symbol of Austin, later refreshed to include another music icon, Janis Joplin. The structure, formerly home to Mug Shots bar, has been left vacant following a fire in February 2024. The owners, Jaffa Parks LLC, opted for demolition instead of renovation, even though the building and mural had been considered for preservation by Austin’s Historic Landmark Commission.

Ross and his team were taken aback as they witnessed the mural's destruction up close, with Montagne remarking, “By the time we arrived, Janis was already gone.” The demolition also resulted in the missed opportunity to adequately document the mural in video format.

Nonetheless, there is still optimism for a new version of the mural. The proprietors of 405 E. 7th Street, which houses the whiskey bar Seven Grand, are currently engaged in talks to organize a recreation of the artwork. The timing may also coincide with SXSW in March, reflecting the mural’s initial unveiling.

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