The idea of a mural has an assumed permanence. While canvas can tear, fade or even rot, murals on walls feel like they can last forever. But knows this is not the case. The renowned Austin muralist has been painting for decades, but despite putting his large works on solid walls instead of canvas, his work has a knack of disappearing.
His first mural 鈥� painted on 3/4-inch thick wooden panels when he was a graduate student at UT Austin 鈥� was stolen.
鈥淲e were going to be traveling with it, moving it around,鈥� Valdez said. 鈥淚t disappeared! Somebody came and probably used it for building material or something.鈥�
Since then, his work has become a part of Austin's history and cultural fabric, but many of his works have suffered similar fates.
'Los Elementos' at Juarez-Lincoln University
For years, on the corner of Interstate 35 and Cesar Chavez Street, Valdez鈥檚 mural titled 鈥淟os Elementos鈥� decorated one of the only neighborhoods for minorities west of I-35 on the side of the Juarez-Lincoln University building. When the property was sold to a developer and demolition started in 1983, many in the community showed up to protest.
鈥淭hey were chanting: you can鈥檛 destroy our mural,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 became convinced that I was doing the right thing.鈥�
Despite the public support for the mural, the demolition went ahead and Valdez鈥檚 work was destroyed along with the building.
'Heart and Soul' at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work
In 2024, four decades after protesters tried to stop the demolition of Valdez鈥檚 mural on the side of Juarez- Lincoln University, a group of activists tried to save the UT Austin School of Social Work building and Valdez's mural depicting scenes of injustice and community.
Valdez was hired by the university to paint 鈥淗eart and Soul鈥� inside of what used to be University Junior High, Austin's first integrated middle school.
鈥淪ome of the former professors there at the school of social work, they put up quite a struggle up for it. I鈥檓 talking about a lot of work trying to stop it, trying to raise awareness,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y hats off to them. They did wonderful work.鈥�
Valdez said he attended the Longhorns' College Football Playoff game against Clemson in December and could see the part of the building with his mural still standing from his seat in the stadium. It has since been demolished, and the university plans to build a football practice facility on the site.
Pan-Am Hillside Stage Still Stands
One mural that has stood the test of time so far is his mural on the Hillside Stage at the Oswaldo A.B. Cantu/Pan-American Recreation Center. Valdez painted the mural in 1978, and he has maintained and restored it since then with support from the City of Austin.
Valdez is working on raising funds to recreate the Juarez-Lincoln University mural and the mural that was inside the School of Social Work.
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