The Giant Marfa Mural

Texas has four of the 11 largest cities by population in the United States. But Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin are all in the central or eastern part of the state. That leaves a ton of room in western Texas to find cool and quirky things. As you’re headed westbound down Highway 90, you just may come across a giant Marfa mural — in more ways than one.

The “Giant Marfa Mural” is a nod to the 1956 western epic Giant. John Cerney created the mural to honor the film and bring more impressive art to Marfa, a city that’s already full of eye-catching works. The car featured in the Giant Marfa Mural also plays country western music composed by Michael Nesmith (of The Monkees fame), so you can really immerse yourself in the scene.

Who’s in the Giant mural?

Giant stars James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rock Hudson and was directed by George Stevens. They’re all in the mural, though Dean and Taylor are much easier to spot.

Each character is shown in an iconic pose from the movie. Cerney is a fan of Dean’s work and believes Giant is one of the actor’s films.

Unfortunately, it was Dean’s final movie. He died in a car accident on September 30, 1955, and the film was released a little over a year later on October 10, 1956.

Where was Giant filmed?

Much of the movie Giant was filmed in Marfa, Texas, which has a ton of remote areas with a dry, rustic feel. The early part of the movie used Albernale County, Virginia as a stand-in for Ardmore, Maryland.

For interior settings, the production team shot at the Warner Bros. studios in Burbank, California. The “Jett Rink Day” parade and various airport comings and goings were shot at the Burbank Airport.

I lived in LA for two years and continue visiting regularly, and I’ve never once used the Burbank Airport. Maybe I’m missing out!

Where can I see the Giant mural?

The Giant Marfa Mural can be visited any time of day and year, though visibility is more limited at night. The art installation is on US Highway 90, about five miles west of Marfa Wyatt Ranches in the Little Reata Division.

If you’re a fan of road trips, this Marfa art installation is one of many that Cerney has created across the United States. He picks a city each year and offers to donate a work of art. Trying to spot Cerney’s unique images is a far more entertaining road trip game than “Punch Buggy,” that’s for sure.