Mexicue Mural by Kara Burton

Details

Audio Guide, read by Bronwyn Beasley

Title:  Mexicue 

Artist:  Kara Burton-Barr 

Created in:  2020 

Mexicue 

Brandon Hurtado launched Hurtado Barbecue in 2018 by tapping into recipes from his childhood. Together with his wife, Hannah, he began by serving smoked meats at pop-up events held atmicrobreweries in Arlington, Denton, and Fort Worth. After a year of building grassroots momentum, the couple invested in a food truck which quickly became a local favorite. By 2020, the coupletook another leap and opened their first brick-and-mortar storefront in this Downtown Arlington location, a 120-year-old building and former railroad station. 

The brand continues to grow quickly. Now Hurtado Barbecue has multiple locations across the region and two stands inside Globe Life Field, thanks to a partnership with the Texas Rangers. In 2025, Brandon released a cookbook, Barbacoa: The Heart of Tex-Mex Barbecue. 

This vibrant mural on the side of Hurtado Barbecue playfully celebrates the restaurant’s signature fusion of Mexican flavors and Texas barbecue. Painted against a dark backdrop, the high contrastartwork features an oversized metal tray piled high with brisket, a taco, and classics-with-a-twist side dishes that form an irresistible snapshot of Hurtado’s culinary style.  

Radiating red and white stripes, plus large block letters spelling MEX and ICUE, anchor each side of the design. They give the piece visual balance and vintage food truck feel. All in all, the brightcolors, crisp outlines, and touch of whimsy make the mural a delicious expression of Hurtado’s award-winning flavors. 

Learn more about Brandon Hurtado:  

https://downtownarlington.org/post/hurtado-barbecue-from-personal-passion-to-dream-job  

About the Artist 

Kara Burton-Barr, who studied at the College of Visual Arts and Design at the University of North Texas, is a passionate artist whose portfolio is wide-ranging. As a painter, she accepts portraitcommissions and collaborates on public art pieces, including the Mexicue mural at Hurtado Barbecue. She also teaches art classes and craft workshops for students of all ages and skill levels. Outside of painting, Burton-Barr channels her creativity into metalwork. She is proud to be among the small number of women nationwide working full-time as welders, blending industrial craft with artistic expression. 

 Facebook:  facebook.com/paintsbykara 
Instagram:  instagram.com/six_percent_welding   

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. To find more public art in Downtown Arlington, visit the links at the bottom of this webpage. Downtown Arlington is the Arlington Cultural District.