Dallas’ Design District is getting a vibrant transformation with the launch of The Art Docks, a project converting nearly 20,000 square feet of underused industrial space into an outdoor gallery featuring 18 murals.
Commissioned by Fort Worth real estate firm M2G Ventures, the initiative brings together a diverse group of artists, including 11 from Texas and others from Spain and the U.K.
The murals cover an alleyway connecting Inwood Design District and Ace on Inwood, turning loading docks into a cultural canvas. Katie Murray, M2G’s chief creative officer, curated the artists from over 100 submissions with the goal of creating an immersive, accessible experience for visitors.
Fort Worth artists Kim Brewer and Jay Wilkinson are among those completing pieces. Brewer’s mural, “Love is on the Way,” depicts an intergalactic teddy bear riding a horse against the Dallas skyline, designed to evoke a sense of vulnerability and warmth. Wilkinson, known for photo-realistic portraits, experimented with layered textures in his depiction of his wife, pushing beyond his usual style.
Once the murals are finished at the end of the month, additional landscaping—including gallery lighting, turf, benches, planters, music, and placards detailing each artist’s process—will complete the space.
Jessica Miller Essl, co-founder of M2G, emphasized that art is foundational to all their developments, setting properties apart and creating a unique sense of place. “It takes a labor of love to get to this level of execution,” she said. The completed Art Docks experience is expected to be fully accessible to the public by late April.
