HOUSTON, TX – (July 4, 2025) This Fourth of July, International Longshoremen’s Association Local 24 will unveil a powerful new mural at their Houston union hall: Unity on the Houston Waterfront. Created by Antonio Reonegro and Tom Lynch of HAVOC Media Design, the large-scale artwork is the latest in a series of labor-inspired pieces the studio has developed through an ongoing and trusted relationship with the ILA.
The new mural tells the story of Local 24 through bold imagery, hand-done detail, and a deep respect for the region’s culture and legacy. It now joins a historic mural already housed in the union hall—together forming a visual timeline that connects past and present, honoring the generations of Gulf Coast workers who built one of the nation’s most vital ports.
HAVOC’s work with the ILA has included a 40-foot mural at the union’s International Headquarters and a bronze sculpture of President Harold Daggett, along with a wide range of commissioned artwork and maritime photography. With Unity on the Houston Waterfront, the team continues that tradition—approaching each project with the belief that the most powerful stories are told by hand and shaped by listening.
“We build each piece from the ground up,” said Reonegro and Lynch. “We talk to the members. We learn the history. We do the work by hand—and we make sure it feels like it could only belong to that Local, in that place.”
The introduction came through Charles Montgomery of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District, who was already familiar with HAVOC’s work and reputation within the ILA. He brought the New York-based team to Local 24 attention, seeing a strong match between their approach and the story Houston had to tell.
For two New York artists to be invited into a Texas union hall says something. That introduction opened the door—but what made the difference was time spent on the ground in Houston, getting to know Local 24 and their story firsthand. The result is a piece that reflects their voice, their history, and the culture that defines the port of Houston.
HAVOC Media Design tells stories through art—murals, sculpture, photography, and custom work shaped by the people it represents. While much of their work has centered on labor, each project is different, and the team continues to partner with locals, unions, and organizations of all kinds to bring their histories and values to life in ways that last.
Reonegro and Lynch have built a unique working relationship with the ILA—one that combines a deep understanding of union culture with a commitment to creating lasting, meaningful work. Through their HAVOC studio, they remain actively engaged with clients and projects that share that purpose—and they’re always looking to expand that circle and bring their approach to others who value the power of a well-told story.
