Free Play and Free Play Tokyo Station

Details

Titles: Free Play (created in 2019) and Free Play Tokyo Station (originally created in 2017 and updated in 2025) 

Artist: Jose May aka Joe Skillz 

Partner: Free Play 

Free Play and Free Play Tokyo Station 

Free Play and Free Play Tokyo Station are mural “cousins” by artist Jose May, aka Joe Skillz. The Free Play mural was first created in 2019, and was recognized for its excellence by Art Limited in the same year. The design remains unaltered since its original creation. The Free Play Tokyo Station mural was originally painted in 2017 and redone in early 2025 to mark the evolution of the business’ brand, which changed from Free Play Arlington to Tokyo Station.  

Both murals radiate with playful, vibrant energy through the use of bold lettering, electric color, and fluid use of shapes.  

Large, brightly-colored letters of Free Play are interwoven with dynamic curves and splashes of neon tones. Familiar video game characters and iconography interact with the “Free Play” logo, bringing playfulness, motion and a sense of improvisation to the design. The overall style fuses street art spray-technique with a contemporary aesthetic that invites viewers to feel the spontaneity inherent in the art and the games inside the building. 

Free Play Tokyo Station fuses retro gaming nostalgia with sleek, futuristic design. Set against a darkened brick wall, glowing blue neon-style lettering spells out “Tokyo Station,” framing the slightly jittery “Free Play” logo in its stylized white script. The muralevokes the look of a digital cityscape, its glowing elements creating a sense of energy, just like the lights of an arcade.  

When asked about the second mural, May said, “I got the opportunity to glitch out the existing Free Play logo as much as possible without losing the logo, so I added a futuristic neon Japanese feel to the 'Tokyo Station' font with cool neon vibrant colors. That was my vision when working on the mural." 

About the Artist 

Jose May (aka “Skilz”) is a self-taught muralist and graffiti artist based in Dallas whose creative journey began early. He grew up in a drawing-friendly environment and was influenced early by hip-hop culture and the graffiti crews of Deep Ellum in the early ’90s. It wasn’t long before he picked up a spray can. Now, with more than two decades of experience, May’s primary tools are spray paint and acrylics, and his work spans styles ranging from graffiti and contemporary to abstract. Known for his bold characters and high-energy compositions, Skilz cultivates originality, inspiring visitors to his murals to “think outside the box.”  

Today, you’ll spot May’s vibrant murals across Deep Ellum, Dallas, Arlington and other North Texas neighborhoods. Many are either commercial commissions or collaborative street-art interventions. In 2017, he co-founded the online platform Art Loot 52 with fellow artist Pkin, which showcases both of their work under the motto “Look Closer, Enjoy More.” This ongoing project reflects his commitment not only to making murals, but also to building a broader community around urban visual art. 

More information: https://linktr.ee/skilzcustomart 

About the Downtown Arlington Public Art Program 

The Downtown Arlington Public Art Program seeks to engage and inspire our community through art in public spaces. This mural was funded by property owner contributions. To find more public art in Downtown Arlington, visit the links at the bottom of this webpage. Downtown Arlington is the Arlington Cultural District.