On July 27 in Midtown Houston, 15-year-old artist Abby Guerrero unveiled a new mural of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo titled Free of Judgement. The piece, which aims to capture the politician’s work and impact in the community, can now be seen at 2647 Crawford Street.

 

Against a pink backdrop, Free of Judgement portrays Judge Hidalgo saying into a microphone, “I know what needed to change and I was gonna do it.” Two other quotes on the mural read: “We need different voices in the government” and “Hold her own.” Hidalgo was elected during the 2018 midterm elections, when a record number of women and people of color were voted into office.

 

Guerrero, a born and raised Latina Houstonian, says she chose Judge Hidalgo as the subject of the mural thanks to the role she played in getting the artist and the Houston community through the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“I wanted to acknowledge and honor Judge Hidalgo because of how much she was a comfort during the times of COVID,” Guerrero says. “I have listened to her ever since and she has always been empowering whenever I’ve needed it.”

 

Although a remarkable feat accomplished within 40 hours spread across three weeks, Free of Judgement is not Guerrero’s first foray into the world of mural making. Only a few years prior, she completed her first mural of Houston rapper Don Toliver, which resulted in an offer to meet the musician.

 

“This was around the time that COVID was starting to fade,” Guerrero says. “It helped me a lot mentally after the whole thing because that took such a mental toll on me and my family. I actually got the opportunity to go backstage at his concert, meet his family, and spend some time [with them].”

 

Although the new mural has a much different subject matter than her first, Guerrero's passion for art and her admiration for influential figures remains evident. Growing up in a family that closely follows politics, she says her mother has always taught her to look up to Latina women. Through Free of Judgement, Guerrero sends a powerful message about female empowerment and the impact of strong leadership in shaping communities.

 

As the vibrant colors and powerful strokes revealed the portrayal of a strong Latina leader, Judge Hidalgo, who attended the mural’s unveiling, lit up with pride. She expressed her deep appreciation for Guerrero's unwavering confidence in her beliefs and her remarkable ability to bring them to life through art. 

 

“One thing is to be politically aware and think of these complex topics,” Judge Hidalgo said during her speech at the unveiling. “It’s a different thing to put it out there in a larger-than-life way. To share your opinion is brave and I hope that [Guerrero] continues to do that.”

 

Judge Hidalgo was also particularly impressed with the inclusion of the number 18,183 in a large, bright white font, representing the exact amount of votes the judge won her seat by in 2022 against challenger Alexandra del Moral Mealer.

 

Free of Judgement was brought to life with the help of Guerrero’s mentor, Alex Roman Jr., a popular local artist known as Donkeeboy. He was Guerrero’s former dance teacher at Break Free, a hip-hop school in Houston, before she decided to take some time away from the activity. Donkeeboy helped Guerrero find the mural space and crowdsource funds for the project. Guerrero is now a member of Donkeeboy’s Young Art Pros program, where he helps young students navigate the art world.

 

Harris County Commissioner for Precinct One Rodney Ellis, who was also present at the unveiling, spoke about the impact and importance of seeing people who represent the identities of marginalized groups in art.

 

“I think that art is a significant way to tell a story,” Commissioner Ellis said during his speech. “I think art like this gives us an opportunity to appreciate all our people, including those who were left out of our history and I’m glad [Guerrero] chose a contemporary history maker.”

 

Guerrero still has a lot more to explore and create, and her passion for art continues to drive her forward. She is already brainstorming ideas for her next project and contemplating the possibility of yet another important Houston figure gracing the city's walls with their inspiring presence.