Friday will see the unveiling of a new mural in Deep Ellum, which will pay tribute to the blues heritage of Dallas.
Leon Bridges, a soul musician who goes on to win a Grammy Award and was born and raised in Fort Worth, is featured on the mural.
He was depicted in the painting wearing the Dallas Mavericks City Edition jersey that he had contributed to the design of.
“The mural itself is obviously featuring Leon, as well as all of the giants of the shoulders that he’s standing on musically that have come through Deep Ellum and have history and legacy and just have roots here in Deep Ellum,” said to Jeremy Biggers, the artist. “Being able to feature Leon is something that is really cool and something that was really enjoyable to be able to have him and the history of Deep Ellum in one piece.”
The blue colors that are used in the artwork, according to Biggers, are also significant.
“It is evident that I intended to talk about the blues history of Deep Ellum, which is highlighted in the blue circle. Additionally, that circle is emblematic of a great deal of the activities that I engage in within the context of my personal efforts. Even though he was already on the scene and had already been nominated for a Grammy, Leon continued to make his way back to Deep Ellum to busk in the streets. This was a moment that brought the narrative full circle. “I wanted that full circle moment to be a part of the work, and I also wanted there to be a reference to the colors of the jersey and the uniform,” he explained.
According to Biggers, the mural that he painted on the wall of the Patagonia parking lot along Main Street took him around one week to complete.
Deep Ellum’s monthly First Friday event, which also includes live music, art, and cuisine, will be the occasion for the official unveiling of the product at five o’clock in the afternoon.
