Coloring our world: Henderson pursues passion for mural artwork

After graduating in 2021 from Graham High School, Gaven Henderson’s long journey led him to pursue a passion in something that could be experienced by all–mural artwork.

After attending Texas Tech University and obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering, Henderson had his sights set on another future that was filled with artwork. His interest started at GHS with encouragement from his art teacher Christie Andrews.

“I’ve always been a little artistic,” Henderson said. “I didn’t really get into it until my high school art teacher wanted me to get into the state competition called VASE. She just begged me to do it so I finally started that and I think that’s where everything started.”

Henderson began taking commissions on canvases before completing his first mural in May of a Steer on Third Street in Graham. 

Since the completion of that mural, the community has seen his dedication for his work and the commissions have been rolling in.

Most recently, Henderson was commissioned to do artwork of the Kiowa War Chief Satanta for the Young County Museum of History and Culture before their grand opening in August. After completing that art for the museum he approached the business with another idea.

“I’m a mural artist, but I haven’t really got to do a ton of them because I started last year. I wanted the opportunity to do something realism, so I came up with the idea to do the first Native American on the wall, proposed it to them and now I’m doing the entire wall,” Henderson said.

The museum had an idea about what it wanted for their wall and added lighting with a mural in mind. 

“He hit our vision right on the mark with what he brought us,” Museum Executive Director Chandy Dunnam said. “…When he came in without us even talking to him about it and had those exact items (we wanted) up there, that was what we needed. It was just meant to be.”

Where a canvas is limited to a space, Henderson said a mural is larger than life and can pop for the general public.

“I think the public really likes them so I think that’s why I keep trying to put out a bigger and better piece every time,” he said.
His artwork has expanded to Wichita Falls and Hudson Oaks, with each piece having a different challenge.

“It’s either the texture of the wall or you get the wrong color paint. I mix up my colors… so I either skipped color, or, in one instance, I ordered the wrong color,” he said. “The texture of the wall can be fun. Stucco is hard to get paint all the way in there, bricks hard to get straight lines, you have to spray corrugated metal, so each mural has its quirks.”

Henderson said he looks to complete murals in the summer and work in the morning and nights. His process for developing a mural is one that he said starts all in his mind.

“(It starts as) some crazy idea and then I find a bunch of reference pictures and see if I can piece anything together and get a concept going and then propose it, project it and paint it,” Henderson said.

Currently, Henderson is working on two canvases in his studio, creating concepts for two companies for their logos and said he is juggling four to six projects at a time. 

While it seems like a lot for a new business, Henderson said the passion for art is what drives him.

“I just love art and that I can consider it work, but it’s not really work,” he said. “I think my favorite part is that I can do what I love and not feel like I’m working.”