An iconic mural featuring Willie Nelson and Janis Joplin on East Seventh Street in Austin is in the process of being torn down. The building’s owners have plans to turn it into a new high-rise development.

Local Austin artist Wiley Ross made the building at 407 East Seventh St. come to life with his painting of Nelson for South by Southwest (SXSW) back in 2016.

Ross has created about 20 to 30 murals of Texas legends and other artwork throughout the city, which have come to be known as landmarks for Austin locals and visitors alike.

“That, to me, that blows my mind and it warms my heart,” Ross said. “I’m really grateful to the city of Austin and to the people.”

But Ross said the Nelson mural has had the biggest impact on the community.

“I think it’s, I don’t know, sort of a visual manifestation of the spirit of Austin,” Ross said. “I never thought that it would touch as many people as it did.”

The nearly 100-year-old building was once home to Mug Shots bar, but was damaged by a fire last February. On the website for Jaffa Parks LLC, the property owner, the company says the approximately one-third of an acre property will become a “high-rise development site.”

Ross knew the building would eventually get demolished, but it came as a shock to him this week, seeing it be demolished while he was at the building. At the time, he was talking with the building owner about creating a new, "better and brighter" Nelson mural next door.

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