Massive Mural of Black Cowgirl Pays Tribute to Deep Ellum’s Rich Cultural History

The Stack Deep Ellum

Photo: Ben Torres

Designer, illustrator and street artist Tristan Eaton is perhaps most well known for his large-scale murals that can be found in cities around the world—including New York, Paris, and Shanghai. The artist’s signature collage style is instantly recognizable, with its bright, colorful imagery and dynamic compositions. In one of his latest commissions, Eaton’s canvas was an 8,500-square-foot building called The Stack in the heart of Dallas, Texas’ historic Deep Ellum neighborhood.

The massive mural is a collaboration between Eaton and Goldman Global Arts, led by CEO Jessica Goldman Srebnick. The resulting masterpiece harks back to Deep Ellum’s roots as the diverse center of the city’s music, art, and entertainment scene. After getting to know the rich history of the area, Eaton was inspired to center the public artwork around a portrait of a Black cowgirl—also including imagery of other famous Dallas icons and local heroes. In fact, much of the composition references the area’s rich African American history. There are nods to Harlem Renaissance artist Aaron Douglas, Black architect William Sidney Pittman, and singer Erykah Badu among the mural’s many tributes.

“These are famous Dallas icons all combined into one gigantic collage that—I hope—sums of the spirit of this town,” Eaton explains. Scroll down to see more sublime images of the artist’s incredible Deep Ellum mural at The Stack.

Street artist Tristan Eaton painted a large-scale mural at The Stack in Dallas' historic Deep Ellum neighborhood.

Tristan Eaton Mural

Artist Tristan Eaton's mural at The Stack Deep Ellum. Curated by Goldman Global Arts. (All images © Ryan Whitehead)

The Stack Deep Ellum

The resulting masterpiece harks back to Deep Ellum’s roots as the diverse center of the city’s music, art, and entertainment scene—with many references to the area's rich African American history.

The Stack Deep Ellum

Tristan Eaton Mural

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Eaton's Deep Ellum mural.

Tristan Eaton: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Tristan Eaton.

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Arnesia Young

Arnesia Young is a contributing writer for My Modern Met and an aspiring art historian. She holds a BA in Art History and Curatorial Studies with a minor in Design from Brigham Young University. With a love and passion for the arts, culture, and all things creative, she finds herself intrigued by the creative process and is constantly seeking new ways to explore and understand it.
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