beautiful murals in new york city

Calling All Art-Enthusiasts: 10 Cities With Beautiful Murals

Larger than life and usually bold in color, mural walls could not get any more popular than they are today. In fact, it seems like most cities across the country have beautiful murals popping up around every corner.

Take a look at 10 cities in the U.S. making a splash with tourists and locals alike for their beautiful murals right now — some of these locations may even surprise you.

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta, GA mural in Cabbagetown.

In the city of Atlanta, you will find over 70 streets named “Peachtree” and more than 1,000 beautiful murals. It doesn’t matter what neighborhood you’re in here — you’re almost guaranteed to run into a “Peachtree” street and an inspired mural. It’s the Atlanta way.

The Eastside Trail of the Atlanta Beltline is a must-see. Plan to walk the 3.1 trail — it’s the largest art and sculpture park in the southeastern U.S. Afterwards, swing by Atlanta’s Cabbagetown neighborhood to explore the Krog Street Graffiti tunnel and the outdoor mural gallery along Wylie St.

From there, head to Edgewood Avenue, where you’ll cover both the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood and the historic Sweet Auburn neighborhood. Sweet Auburn is where the famous John Lewis mural is.

If you want to snap a selfie with Atlanta’s Big Boi and Andre 3000, head to Little Five Points and check out the towering mural of the iconic Outkast behind Wish Gallery.

Baltimore, MD

baltimore graffiti.

Baltimore really lives up to its nickname, “Charm City” — especially when it comes to the public art lining its seaport city streets.

Home to more than 250 beautiful murals, Baltimore has curated an outdoor public museum for residents and tourists to marvel over. If you’re visiting, make sure you head to the charming neighborhoods of Hampden and Remington to check out their diverse and colorful murals. East and West Baltimore and Station North neighborhoods are must-sees too.

Also, if you are looking to leave your own mark on this Maryland city, pick up a can or two of spray paint and head to Graffiti Alley. Located off North Ave and Howard St. in Station North, Graffiti Alley is a safe space for artists to express themselves legally. In fact, Graffiti Alley saves the City of Baltimore over $300,000 a year on graffiti clean-up.

Cincinnati, OH

Mural in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Home to more than 180 breathtaking murals, Cincinnati is a haven for artists and art lovers alike.

Thanks to its impressive local community art organization, ArtWorks — over 200 murals in over 36 neighborhoods turn the city into a public art gallery. In addition to all the beautiful murals in the Queen City, ArtWorks collaborates with youth apprentices and professional artists to create functional sculptures around the city streets like bike racks.

Looking for even more artistic inspiration in this colorful metropolitan area? Head to the numerous art museums like the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Contemporary Arts Center or the Taft Museum of Art.

Detroit, MI

Mural in Detroit, Michigan.

Typically, the first thing that comes to mind about the city of Detroit is its deep ties to the auto industry — this is how it developed its nickname “Motor City,” after all. However, modern-day Detroit is a canvas for public art — inspired by the artists that continue flocking to this Midwestern city.

Just like with the auto industry, Detroit also has deep roots in murals. In fact, in 1932, the Detroit Institute of Art commissioned Diego Rivera to paint murals on the D.I.A.’s Garden Court.

If you’re looking to see what Detroit street art has to offer today, make sure you visit Eastern Market and the two-mile, below-street level greenway Dequindre Cut. Also, the Z Parking Garage has 130 murals — making it a must-see. And don’t forget to get lost in adventure on the Grand River Creative Corridor — there are 100 murals and exhibits to explore!

There’s also the Murals in the Market festival, an annual event where local, national and international artists come to Detroit and paint their breathtaking murals in Detroit’s most beloved farmers market area.

Honolulu, HI

Beautiful mural in Hawaii.

Nestled between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu is one of Hawaii’s most beloved neighborhoods — Kakaako. With beautiful murals decking the walls of this industrial district, tourists and locals alike love the vibrant revitalization happening in this Oahu neighborhood.

Since 2011, the Kakaako neighborhood is home to the Pow! Wow! street art festival. Each year, hundreds of local and international artists flock to Oahu to create and collaborate on murals. The Pow! Wow! Street festival also offers art exhibitions, concerts, live art installations, artist lectures and creative community spaces.

Thanks to this festival, there are more than 100 awe-inspiring murals to see in Kakaako. Make a day out of it on a self-guided street art tour or opt for one of the many guided art tours to immerse yourself in the story of how art revitalized this neighborhood.

Nashville, TN

nashville mural

If you’re looking for a city that truly appreciates the arts, look no further than Nashville. Formally known as “Music City” because it’s also the “Songwriting Capital of the World,” Nashville is making its mark in a new way and it’s quickly turning into one of the most Instagrammable cities in America — thanks to its beautiful murals and creative street art installations.

In comparison to other cities on this list, Nashville excels at using any and all spaces as a canvas. In fact, who needs a wall when there’s a water tank or old silo to paint? Prepare to find yourself impressed once you see just how creative Nashville gets with some of its murals.

To get an immersive experience of the Nashville mural scene, make sure you head to The Gulch, 8th Avenue & Melrose, the Charlotte Corridor, West End and Elliston Place and East Nashville. If your cowboy boots are up for more walking, head to the Frist Art Museum. Located in the city’s historic U.S. Post Office building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, the Frist is an important cultural hub in the art community here!

Philadelphia, PA

Street art structure in Philadelphia.

Home of Gritty (the official mascot for the Philadelphia Flyer’s National Hockey League Team), cheesesteaks, Rocky and the Liberty Bell, Philadelphia already lives up to its reputation as the “City of Brotherly Love.”

However, thanks to its long history of supporting public art endeavors, Philadelphia is now one of the most renowned art cities in the world, earning it another well-warranted nickname — the “Mural Capital of the World.”

Since 1984, Mural Arts Philadelphia has helped produce more than 4,000 works of community-based public art in Philadelphia and the organization is now the nation’s largest public art program. Because of this city-wide commitment to beautiful murals and street art, Philadelphia as a whole is a living, breathing art gallery that its residents and tourists can experience around every neighborhood.

Oklahoma City, OK

Mural tunnel in Oklahoma City.

When you think about Oklahoma City, public art is probably not the first thing that comes to mind — but it should. Oklahoma City’s mural scene has exploded, completely turning the city into an outdoor art gallery that’s aesthetically hard to top!

First off, make sure you head to the Plaza District. This area is home to Plaza Walls — a curated, rotating mural project produced by The Oklahoma Mural Syndicate. Since its launch in 2015, the Plaza Walls has become the top attraction in the district (and rightfully so).

Besides visiting the Plaza District, make sure you wear your most comfortable walking shoes and stroll the Western Avenue corridor for highly Instagrammable murals alongside eclectic restaurants and bars, retail shops and boutiques and, of course, art galleries. Oh, and don’t forget the tourist-friendly area of Bricktown — there are murals aplenty to explore here, too!

Reno, NV

Reno sign at night.

Along the Nevada-California border is “The Biggest Little City in the World” — Reno, NV. Although small in size, Reno boasts a lively arts scene heavily influenced by the Burning Man festival.

Currently, the Downtown and Midtown districts of Reno feature over 100 murals. Painted by local, national and international artists — these beautiful murals add color to Reno’s high-desert landscape. There’s even an annual 24-hour Mural Marathon competition held on the side of one of Reno’s most beloved casinos, Circus Circus.

Art installations and sculptures also pop up in Reno, taking street art to a new level. Check out the sculpture garden in Bicentennial Park or head to Reno’s Neon Line District to check out Burning Man sculptures. And, of course, make sure you do an art walk through the curated collection of regularly rotating installations throughout Victorian Square in Sparks, NV — only eight minutes from the heart of Reno.

Richmond, VA

Building with a mural on it in Richmond, Virginia.

With more than 150 murals, it’s no surprise that the capital city of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond, is an art-loving community.

Nestled right along the James River, Richmond is home to murals from local, national and international artists. In fact, thanks to the street art explosion in the “River City,” tourism has even increased! It’s no surprise, though — who wouldn’t want to snap a selfie or two in front of larger-than-life murals?

To get the full mural experience in Richmond, make sure to explore the Riverfront Canal Walk. It’s an outdoor art gallery with plenty of gigantic murals (we’re talking 18′ x 32′ murals) to admire. The Riverfront Canal Walk area is significant for Richmond and its street art history — the inaugural RVA Street Art Festival started here in 2012.

Additionally, while you’ll find murals all over Richmond — plan to explore Carytown, Northside and Southside.  Shockoe, Church Hill, Downtown, Monroe Ward, and Oregon Hill are must-see spots too. The Fan and the Museum District both offer even more dazzling “I have to take a picture of this” street art moments.

Appreciate the art

All of these cities wouldn’t be as colorful as they are today without the artists behind the murals and street art. So, whether you’re on vacation or just snapping a selfie in front of the new mural in your artsy neighborhood, take a moment to appreciate the hard work, creativity and artistry in front of you.

Also, if you post a photo of the mural on social media, remember to tag the artist. Many artists tag their social media handles on their work somewhere, so keep an eye out for that. Think of this gesture as a thank you for the free art experience!

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