What was once a silent corridor of concrete now stands as one of Dallas’s most striking cultural landmarks. Stretching along both sides of a drainage culvert built to protect nearby homes and businesses from rare but potentially devastating flooding, two towering walls were meant to be part of a purely functional background. Like power lines or signal towers, they blended into the landscape without much thought.
But for a young artist who grew up nearby, they offered incredible potential.
Seeing not barriers but blank canvases, Khadafy “DAP” Branch began to paint. His initial vision quickly evolved into something much larger: an outdoor museum of aerosol art that could be one of the largest in the world. Now known as The Walls of Pleasant Grove, the project transforms infrastructure into inspiration and turns an inactive space into a destination for creativity, culture, and community.
Take a peek at The Walls of Pleasant Grove.
KHADAFY “DAP” BRANCH
Khadafy “DAP” Branch taken by Ernesto Resendez III
Khadafy “DAP” Branch, born and raised in Dallas, TX, is a graduate of W.W. Samuell High School and curator of The Walls of Pleasant Grove. From an early age, DAP demonstrated a passion for art, drawing cartoons inspired by his favorite TV shows, Ninja Turtles and Thundercats. As DAP grew older, he connected with neighbors involved in aerosol art, which sparked a deeper interest in the culture and ultimately shaped his artistic path.
Committed to honing his craft, DAP practiced daily to refine his technique and develop his style. His first major project came while he was a junior at H. Grady Spruce High School, where he was commissioned to paint a mural inside the school. That initial commission marked the beginning of a growing reputation and a lifelong dedication to public art.
Over the years, DAP’s work has been featured in numerous publications and documentaries. He has appeared on the cover of The Dallas Morning News, on Good Morning Texas, and in features on Telemundo, Channel 5, and NPR. His accomplishments include exhibiting work at the Houston Holocaust Museum and serving as a juror for US Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett’s Congressional Art Reception.
In 2022, DAP began collaborating with City of Dallas leadership. With city support, he began formally curating The Walls of Pleasant Grove. In addition to showcasing his own work, the project has attracted nationally and internationally recognized artists, including Bacon from Canada, Maxx Moses of Yonkers, NY, and aerosol legends Part, Seen, Doc, and TATS Cru, artists whose work has been commissioned by major corporations and musicians such as Jennifer Lopez, Missy Elliott, Fat Joe, and Big Pun. TATS Cru’s work has also been exhibited at the Smithsonian Museum. Through his leadership, The Walls of Pleasant Grove has become a dynamic, ever-evolving gallery that showcases a wide range of styles, voices, and stories.
Beyond his role as a curator, DAP is a historian of Dallas aerosol art and the producer of the documentary The History of Dallas Graffiti, further solidifying his commitment to preserving and advancing the culture that shaped his career.
The Pleasant Grove neighborhood
The development of two vacant lots at the southern entrance of The Walls at Pleasant Grove by Trust for Public Land is a direct result of the project and will create a major new green space asset that will benefit the community socially, environmentally, and economically.