Hope Outdoor Gallery

The concept is cool. If it wasn’t art getting covered in graffiti. I’m not even talking about hard work tagging graffiti art, just words, simple one line crap. «Express yourself» by writing Curse words or crossing out something someone painted and just writing «NO». Also make sure you follow ALL parking laws. You’ll get a parking ticket if you don’t. Even if the meter maid sees you get out of your vehicle, they won’t warn you, they’ll just wait til you walk away and print out the ungodly long parking ticket and put it in the tiny little envelope and put it under your wiper blade then watch you come back to your car a few minutes later after seeing that there is 1% «art» here and the rest is crap and drive away. So maybe it’ll be cool when you go, maybe it’ll suck just as bad as when we went. But definitely park 100% correct even if you just pulled into the same spot the same way another car was parked and had just pulled away. Either way. Won’t ever be back to this crap.

J and I were sorely disappointed, and if you’re looking for graffiti murals or anything remotely well-​painted by the likes of Shepard Fairey you will be too. This is not like what you will see in the Mission in San Francisco or in the alleys in Melbourne. Most of the cool images have been covered with amateur tags, creating a colorful mash-​up of colors, more like what you will see on the Lennon Wall in Prague. There were a few faces and figures when we visited, but most is just what has been added by random visitors, not professional artists by any means. To get to the top you will need to climb a steep, dusty, dirty path that turns to mud when it rains, so dress appropriately. I appreciate the fact that anyone can come and add their mark, but I wouldn’t recommend it for those looking for something more highly wrought.

Inspirational & Awesome… Must see if you are visiting Austin, and you love «earthy» art… And it’s ALWAYS changing, great concept, great community project!

It is a lot to take in initially, but nice to walk by and digest each part of this area. It’s a run down building façade that has murals, and graffiti and everything else, everywhere.
Good:
–a lot of art that changes daily on the wall
–you can buy inexpensive art on the ground level
–watch your step it’s a hike to the top level, but worth the physical effort
Bad:
–street parking is tight, park a block away and walk if you can

Sweet views of the city of Austin at the top of this area.
Not much to it. It was actually a challenging hike up to the top… there really isn’t a proper way to get up to the top…
The graffiti changes from time to time since artists spray over existing walls.
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This is a good short pit stop if you’re looking to take a cool pic or two here rather than the overcrowded «I love you so much» wall but this place can get crowded easily too in good weather.

Yeah, as an Austin tourist, you’re gonna wanna come here. Sure, the idea of an ever-​changing graffiti wall MIGHT be overdone, but it’s worth seeing even so.
Can you imagine spending days on a piece of artwork and having it painted over within a day or two, or even an hour or two? I can’t, but that’s the fate/(beauty?) of this art installation. Professional artists can demonstrate their talents on the Hope Gallery’s walls, but so can any given person who happens to wield a spray-​paint can (which, coincidentally, are for purchase at the small shop below the gallery).
If nothing else, check this place out and check it off your Austin tourist to-​do list. If you’re brave enough, you can even leave your mark!

This place is great and it was so many levels! Definitely a place to stop by when you’re in Austin. You can buy a can of paint and make your own art as well, or just write your name, the wall changed every time you come. So it’s constantly new art. It jus sucks that on rainy days you don’t really want to climb to the top.

Stop tagging over the art! This place could kick way more ass than it does if people respected the art. No one wants to take photos of your Instagram handle over someone’s actual street art. Really cool spot though, I’m glad we stopped on our way out of Austin!

Simply an amazing view of the city with art portraying the Austin scene from its beautiful downtown to the gorgeous hill country… truly a unique city in the U.S. like no other

My friend and I visited the Hope gallery in the hopes of taking really nice graffiti art pictures. I’ve seen many photos of this place before visiting, so I had high expectations. *You’re allowed to spray paint so you will notice people spray painting the wall or notice cans of spray paint everywhere.
You will notice the four layers of walls. There’s a ground level, second level, mid level, and top level. My friend and I were wondering how we were going to get to the top level, which didn’t look too high. We thought they would have a flight of stairs on the side. Boy, we were wrong about stairs and the height of the place. We had to climb the rocks with lots of dirt and trees. We got to the second floor which was really high for us and our bodies froze as we kept looking down. It was scary climbing up but it was worse climbing down. It was slippery because of the inclination and the dirt. Not to mention, some guy clearly saw me climbing up and he kept spray painting! I felt mists of spray paint landing on my leg.
In the end, I felt this place was overrated and hyped up. Now that I have seen this place, I know what to expect.

If you like Graffiti, this place is awesome!
Street parking.
So colorful and great mix of art.
You can see people working throughout the day.
The actual space is a pretty dirty but its a site to see!

WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK?!
Oh right, it’s covered by annoying people who want to tag their name or their never-​to-​last relationship’s date. Ugh, I was so upset when I went here the other day. I did not see one piece of artwork that wasn’t destroyed by nonsense. Such a vast change from last year to this year. Before, I was able to observe the magnificence of artists’ ability to create beautiful masterpieces freehandedly with spray paint. And now, there’s nothing to look at but scattered thoughts.
I really hope the Graffiti Wall goes back to how it used to be; a place for artists to express themselves on a slab of concrete.

It’s cool. like everyone said. It’s one of those places you must visit at least once while in Austin. After that, there’s no need to go again. Tiers of wall splattered with graffiti, some artistic and nice… some religious… some political… some peace/love…some just handwriting and scribbles. There were a select few of really artistic work — even worth framing. At first I thought it featured a lot of local artists’ graffiti work, but then I saw people paying for cans of spray paint and painting over it. I saw a kid spray paint the «#» symbol over a work of art. That sucks. Any random person can ruin a nice piece of graffiti. Boo. Parking sucks, but luckily we were able to find one as a car was pulling out. The climb can be steep and scariest when going down – can get quite slick. Cute spot to take pictures, but be prepared with the proper shoes. The top is a nice view of the skyline so make the short climb if you can.

Way cool idea! Austin is so full on randomness but it works for this city and I heart it! This is one of those spots! Check it out of you have the time. It’s not very big but it allows some great artwork to be displayed and is ever changing. Never know what you will find!

Very cool! I came here at sunset on a gorgeous day so viewing the artwork as the sun went down was so nice.
There’s four tiers of «walls» and to get up to the top is quite the climb! It’s on the side and pretty slanted with a dirt path so if you’re wearing sandals or a cute dress or something I wouldn’t suggest coming up haha
Seeing people actually create work was inspiring! It’s also not your random, tagged urban graffiti since it’s also regulated. If you want to add unto the wall or paint over something, you have to pay a fee and also fill out a form (there’s a trailer on the left side where you can do all this).
It’s a bit difficult to take pictures without other people in your shot since so many people comes to take pics but it’s definitely worth seeing!

I feel like there’s a lot of history/​backstory to this place that if I knew, I might potentially push up to a five star review. But here’s the layperson’s tourist review of the place.
This place is overhyped. I was told to come here to check out the awesome graffiti but… at the end of the day, it’s graffiti. Sure there are a few really cool images here and there scattered all over the place, but I was expecting more of a mural wall? To that end, I was really not impressed – it’s literally just a wall full of graffiti. I don’t know anything about graffiti so you could argue that I’m not educated/​qualified to determine what good graffiti is, but none of it struck me as really beautiful or anything?
I think the place is pretty cool – a lot was going on when I visited. Artist were there doing their thing, music was playing, tourists took photos, etc. Popping place but as a wall of graffiti… it’s not that exciting. Yes you can climb onto the walls from the sides and get a nice view, but eh. It was a bit of effort to make it there since there’s nothing else in that area. It’s one of those places where you see it and go hey. That’s cool looking. Let me take a picture and call it a day and move on.
tldr; if you just view it as a tourist destination… it’s not super exciting. it’s conceptually cool and I have to admit that I’ve never seen anything like it, but it’s definitely more random graffiti than actual pictures. some of the pictures are gorgeous, but meh

Very neat place you have to visit at least once when in Austin. I recommend going to the top using the left side (if you are looking at it from below) as it has trees to grab on the way up and when you slide back down. As others have said wear hiking/​tennis shoes. I plan to go back after the «art» changes in a few months.

What an Austin gem! This unique park is a continuously changing art installation of sorts and is a collaboration of local artists. It is one of the largest outdoor galleries in the USA. The «foundation» is the canvas for street artists, muralists and the community. On the weekend street parking is scarce as people come to enjoy artists in action and to take advantage of the great photops.
There is a stand where you can learn about HOG and buy items like t-​shirts and fanny packs with their logo. I overheard a couple discussing whether selling items onsite was a selling out. my answer to that question is if doing so supports the artists and ensure this prime real estate preserves the park instead of it turning into a condo… then I support it.

this place is a dump. a glorious, free, visually stimulating, endlessly entertaining, constantly evolving dump.
bring your camera and wear sturdy shoes.
thanks, austin, for letting this space be.

Per the official looking sign at this site, the official name is Hope Outdoor Gallery. However, like the street names in Austin, there are multiple monikers for this local favorite, such as Austin Graffiti Park or Castle Hill Graffiti Park. They are one in the same, and all describe a hill of forgotten layered cement walls which has become home to many an aspiring artist. The walls if they could talk could share multiple tales of the layers of artistic expression that are piled on top of each other. You may even find some local artists with spray cans in hand during your visit, like I recently did. It isn’t a free for all, this outdoor gallery is part of a art project launched by HOPE in March 2011, and supposedly you need permission prior to adding your legacy to the cement canvas.
The gallery is free to all to view, somewhat dog friendly, and never the same. There seemed to be a vendor selling photographs/​posters of some of the art from the walls. I say somewhat dog friendly because the place unfortunately also seems to have become a dumping ground. The grass is littered with broken glass, and you must tread lightly. There is no formal path or stairs, be sure to be alert as you are walking around and climbing up the steep hillside to view the art up close.