Austin, Texas story
The Frog That Kept Austin Weird
The origin story of Daniel Johnston's iconic frog mural and its connection to Austin's counterculture identity.
Read the story
If you have ever heard the phrase, Keep Austin Weird, you might wonder where that eccentric, artistic soul comes from. Look no further than the corner of Guadalupe and 21st Street, where a friendly, bug-eyed creature has been greeting passersby for decades. This is the famous, Hi, How Are You frog mural, created by the beloved outsider musician and artist Daniel Johnston.
Johnston chose to paint a variation of the iconic frog character from his 1983 cassette album cover, Hi, How Are You: The Unfinished Album. In 1993, record store manager Craig Koon commissioned Johnston to paint the mural on the wall. This quirky frog quickly became a beloved symbol of Austin's independent music scene.
Over the years, the community rallied to save it from demolition, and it was officially declared a Cultural Landmark in 2014. When Johnston passed away in September 2019, the wall transformed into a massive, impromptu memorial. It is a heartfelt reminder that in Austin, we do not just tolerate the eccentric and the creative—we celebrate them.
Updated June 2026