For the Lover of Street Art, the USA is not only one of the huge countries when it comes to expressing Art in its most wonderful form, here you can find all styles. From well-known spots with huge Murals made by international artists to typical, creative Street Art "alley finds" made by local artists. The USA has the whole range.
Some friends of Sticks & Spoons Food Travel helped us locate 9 Amazing Street Art Spots in the USA. Let us check them out right away! Follow, comment, and share.
Table of Content: "9 Amazing Street Art Spots in the USA"
Artist Tribute Murals in Downtown Minneapolis
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Artists: Simoni Fontana and Argirisser in Wynwood, Miami 2018
Street Art in Wynwood Art District, Miami
by Danila Caputo from Travelling Dany
There are a lot of great photo spots in Miami, Florida. Yet one neighborhood has become the modern Mecca for every Instagrammer out there. Wynwood.
Wynwood can be considered one of the biggest open-air street art museums in the world. This vibrant and colorful area in Miami today is a creative and cultural hub.
While many people think the only contemporary art spot is Wynwood Walls, there's so much more than that! Even the lesser-known side streets in Wynwood are completely covered in murals. The whole neighborhood is one huge canvas, to be used by the most popular street artists in the world.
This street art hub is very popular among contemporary art lovers. Since the murals are often covered by even more creative ones, lots of people make sure to walk through the neighborhood every six months, more or less. To hunt for new "treasures".
Some of the most beautiful murals in Wynwood are those painted by the Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra. The Wynwood Walls Museum is also showcasing 30 screens painted by Kobra, in his first 10 years. Most of them are studies of the immense murals he has spread throughout the world: all with pacifist messages, historical scenes, and environmental concerns.
While it is possible to visit Wynwood for free - which makes it a great contemporary art destination, even when you are traveling on a budget - you will need to buy a ticket to visit Wynwood Walls.
2021 is the year that has changed everything: the free venue now requires an entrance fee. Profits will be used to hire more artists, so the colorful murals will be changed 2-3 times per year.
U Street Neighborhood, Washington DC
by Teresa Markle from Female Solo Trek
Larger-than-life images of notable Black Americans can be found on street art in Washington DC’s U Street neighborhood. This historic neighborhood is home to Howard University where Vice President Kamala Harris graduated. Your best bet is to research the neighborhood in advance to acquaint yourself with street art.
Artist: Aniekan Udofia on U Street, Washington DC
On the U Street tour, not to be missed is Ben Ali Way at 1213 U St. NW (next to Ben’s Chili Bowl) to see local artist Aniekan Udofia’s murals of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, Harriet Tubman, Dave Chappelle, and Taraji P. Henson, among other notable stars.
Udofia honors Black baseball players in a nearby street mural. He also painted the Frederick Douglass mural in Anacostia, Duke Ellington building mural, and the gagged George Washington mural on U St. NW.
More Murals you can't miss on your U Street Neighbourhood Street Art Tour
Cita Sadeli (known as CHELOVE) is also famous for her "All My Hopes & Dreams" mural, located at Cloak & Dagger at 1359 U Street NW.
Also not to be missed is the nearby mural of Winnifred and William Lee, founders of Lee’s Flower Shop. Painted by Kaliq Crosby, it portrays “Lee’s Legacy” as black business owners.
Spanish artist Alberto “Sabek” Clerencia painted “Kindred,” a mural featuring two blindfolded young girls in a garden, at 1210 V St. NW.
U Street is also known as “Black Broadway,” due to its concentration of jazz clubs. Check out MuralsDCProject.com to learn about the city’s 141 murals in 72 neighbors featuring the work of 66 artists. Occasionally, DC walking tour companies offer U Street Mural Tours.
Roosevelt Row in Phoenix, Arizona
by Candice S from CS Ginger
Roosevelt Row is a really fun walkable arts district in Phoenix. Throughout Roosevelt Row, you will find a plethora of art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and more surrounded by beautiful works of street art. Visiting Roosevelt Row is one of the best things to do in Phoenix. The district starts at 7th Avenue and runs east until 16th Street.
A great way to see all of the murals in Roosevelt Row is by renting electric scooters. The artwork is easy to find because there are so many pieces but the best place to see the artwork if you are short on time is at the 1 ½ Street Mural Project next to The Churchill.
If you are interested in visiting some of the local art galleries, be sure to stop b The Monorchid and Eye Lounge. After exploring the murals, stop in at the Wilderness Brewing Company. The restaurant has a nice outdoor dining area with fire pits and outdoor games.
When you visit, be sure to check the events calendar. There is a monthly art walk on the first Friday of each month as well as annual festivals like Phoestivus and the Pie Social. The First Fridays Art Walk is a great community event with local food trucks and local art galleries with their door open along with Live music.
Mosaic Mural Art in Walnut Creek, California
by Rasika from Bay Area and Beyond
Another amazing spot to check out street art is in Walnut Creek, CA. Walnut Creek is a hidden gem when it comes to public art. When driving in and around Walnut Creek, you can tell that the city identifies and portrays itself through unique pieces of murals, sculptures, fountains, and even utility boxes.
Artist: Jason Middlebrook "Water Light", Walnut Creek 2017
Each street art has its history and beauty. This photo is a public artwork named “Water Light” in the heart of downtown Walnut Creek. This huge piece stands at 17' x 36' and is located at 1507 Locust St, Walnut Creek, CA. Designed by Jason Middlebrook in 2017, this mosaic was created with ceramic tiles and glass with the help of grout and mortar. It was made with hundreds of opaque and mirrored ceramic tiles abstractly.
So why is it called “Water Light”? In front of the mosaic are water jets that create beautiful arches, similar to the arches created on the mosaic. Since some of the tiles are mirrored, you can also see the sky above and the background behind you. And that’s what makes this artwork unique. This mirrored artwork will look different to each visitor, especially with varying weather and during different times of the day.
Artist Tribute Murals in Downtown Minneapolis
by Tom Bartel from MN Trips
“The Times They Are A-Changin’” is the title of the famous early Bob Dylan song, and the mural dedicated to him in downtown Minneapolis. Due to its location, size, and artistic quality, it’s probably the best-known street art in Minneapolis. Painted for two weeks in 2015 by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra, the three-part mural includes portraits of Minnesota native Bob Dylan in the early, mid, and current eras of his career, all framed by a colorful kaleidoscopic background. The huge mural is 160 feet (49 meters) wide and five stories tall. The piece also has lyrics from the song of the same title. The mural faces Hennepin Avenue at 5th Street.
You’ll have to look a bit harder for artist Rock “Cyfi” Martinez’s tribute to the other iconic Minnesota musician, Prince. It’s on the back of the building at 2601 Hennepin Avenue facing the alley on the west side of the building. Martinez, from the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington, took only about six hours to complete the mural just after Prince’s death. It’s about one story tall and includes Prince’s one-time symbol instead of his name. Martinez originally planned the mural as a “get well” message during the brief period between Prince falling ill and his death. He painted the mural anyway as a present to a grieving Minneapolis.
Kaka'ako Warehouse District Street Art in Honolulu, Hawaii
by Michelle C from International Travelers
In Hawaii, street art is becoming a big draw in the former warehouse district of Kaka'ako in Honolulu. Oahu is the third largest island in the Hawaiian chain. Just under a million people call Oahu home, with the largest population in Honolulu, the state capital. Honolulu is also conveniently next to the HNL international airport.
With the big city comes more local activities, restaurants, and cultural events than you might not see on smaller islands. There's something to do for everyone - from hiking and surfing to lounging at the beach, visiting museums and historic sites, browsing farmer's markets, and of course, searching for street art!
Kaka’ako is a recently revitalized, trendy area of Honolulu to visit. It’s known for its new restaurants and condo complexes, colorful street art, proximity to Ala Moana shopping center and beach park, and Kaka’ako Saturday Market.
To enjoy the street art in Kaka'ako, simply wander around and discover murals painted in the annual POW!WOW! Street art festival throughout the district. The worldwide festival has been coming to Honolulu for nearly a decade each February. Dozens of local artists, as well as visiting muralists, participate, so there are a wide variety of styles to enjoy.
Artist: Derek Donnelly "Greetings from St. Pete", downtown St. Petersburg in Florida
Street Art Hot Spot St. Petersburg in Florida
by Vicky Sosa from Buddy the Traveling Monkey
An amazing street art spot in the USA is St. Petersburg, Florida. Street art in St. Petersburg has grown in the last few years and it’s the reason many people visit the city. The street art in St. Petersburg wasn’t always appreciated, though. It was often still considered graffiti and/or illegal.
The thing that helped change the negative views of street art was the SHINE mural festival. In 2015, the festival brought local and international muralists together to transform building walls into canvases. The festival was very successful and became an annual event. Now, the city has well over 40 pieces, and new murals are added every year.
And although St. Petersburg is now known by international artists for its street art, many of the murals in town are still done by locals. One local artist, in particular, Derek Donnelly, has paintings all over the city and even coordinates walking tours to showcase the city’s murals. One of Derek’s most popular murals is the “Greetings from St. Pete, Florida” mural in downtown St. Petersburg.
Street Art along the Highline Park in New York
by Victoria Heinz from Guide Your Travel
The Highline Park in New York City has quickly become one of the most famous attractions in the city. This 2.3-kilometer-long park used to be a railway track until it was converted into a beautiful park in 2009 and the following years. It was saved from demolition by residents and is now a hotspot in central Manhattan.
A lot of tourists and locals come here to go for walks, escape the city and enjoy a tiny piece of nature. However, in recent years Highline Park has also become a hotspot for street art and incredible murals.
Around 5 million people visit the park every year and packing your camera is highly recommended. Since the Highline leads through the center of Manhattan there are a lot of buildings and empty walls to decorate.
Renowned artists like Ed Ruscha have produced pieces close to the Highline Park which regularly draws crowds. The Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra also recently painted a colorful work close to the park which is an interpretation of the iconic photo of V-J Day in Times Square. Highline Park is worth a visit especially if you’re interested in street art.
Artists: Meg Saligman "Philadelphia Muses" for Mural Arts Philadelphia 1999
The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program in Pennsylvania
by Lance and Laura Longwell from Guide to Philly
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is best known as the Birthplace of America. But it is also generally agreed that the modern street art movement began in the city with the artist known as Cornbread in the early 1960s, who took mere graffiti tagging and evolved it into an art form. His work and interest in it (as well as condemnation) soon caught on in other cities like New York, Boston, and Baltimore.
The city of Philadelphia has evolved the art form. In 1984, the Mural Arts Program was launched in the city as an anti-graffiti/beautification project. To date, the Mural Arts Program has created well over 4,000 large-scale, public murals in the city. Additionally, there are tens of thousands of unofficial murals throughout the city. It is generally believed that Philly has the densest collection of street art in the world. While some European cities may have more, they don’t have them in such a small amount of space.
One of the best places to see street art in Philadelphia is Mural Mile in downtown Philly. This one-mile stretch connects 15 of the best murals in the city, including the iconic Philadelphia Muses by artist Meg Saligman. It is a massive 6-story mural covering an entire building and reinterprets the classical muses through the lens of the creative arts in Philly.
For those passionate about street art, a visit to Philadelphia is a must!
That's the Street Art Spots recommended for us so far. Do you have a Street Art location you think should be on the Street Art Guide USA? Let us know. We would love to do the second and third parts of this Street Art Guide making it into a series of Street Art USA posts!
To be continued...
/ Sticks and Spoons Food Travel
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