GONZO247’S Top Pick: Oscar Food Market

Artist Mario E. Figueroa, Jr., known as GONZO247, was born and raised in Houston and found his artistic identity when he discovered graffiti and hip-hop as a teen. In 1990, he painted his first public, self-funded, and unsanctioned mural during the 16thannual G7 Economic Summit, hosted in Houston. He later established Houston’s Wall of Fame, produced a hip-hop video magazine, and founded a graffiti/ street art gallery, both entitled Aerosol Warfare. GONZO247 is also the founder of Houston Urban Experience (HUE), a biennial art festival that invites artists from around the world to activate mural installations across Houston’s inner city. While he continues to be active as an artist, GONZO247 educates communities and promotes the positive aspects of graffiti as an art form through engagement, advocacy, and tours of murals and street art. He recently wrapped up with 5th Houston Urban Experience (HUE) Biennial Mural Festival, which produced five murals inside Arts District Houston, kicking off with his — entitled The Creative Flow. Inspired by personal experiences the artist has had while spending time in Arts District Houston. Gonzo says “The colors match the vibrancy and diversity of the District’s residents, workers, and visitors. The twists, turns, and interlaced paths give way to a constant sense of discovery and an invitation to explore the surroundings.”