Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial

The Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial is a bronze sculpture located at Auditorium Shores that depicts a standing figure of the guitarist with an extended shadow element. The composition merges the main figure with an abstract shadow form that captures the gesture of playing guitar.

The memorial was designed by Ralph Helmick and installed in 1994 along Lady Bird Lake to honor the Texas guitarist who reshaped blues music during the 1980s. It marks the lasting recognition of an artist whose influence fundamentally changed the direction of modern blues.

The memorial has become a gathering place where people come to pay respects to a pivotal figure in modern blues music and his influence on Austin's musical identity. Visitors and musicians often congregate here to acknowledge his lasting impact on the city's artistic landscape.

The memorial sits directly along Lady Bird Lake and can be accessed through trails at Auditorium Shores where public parking is available nearby. The location offers free access throughout the day, making it possible to visit at your own pace.

The shadow element extends outward and is shaped to form a silhouette of a figure holding a guitar, creating a visual metaphor for the musician's artistry. This sculptural detail merges the physical form with the musical expression in a single unified composition.