Street Art Hot Spots in the US

Decades ago, street art was dismissed as vandalism. Over the years, the craft has gained more and more recognition as a medium for both the art world and local communities. In fact, some public installments have even been chiseled from their original facades to be auctioned off in commercial galleries or displayed in fine art museums around the world.

As nice as gift shops and air conditioning are, we also like to experience street art in its natural environments – of brick, cement, iron, and rust. If you feel the same way, we curated our favorite street art spots in the US just for you.

Atlanta, Georgia

Street art is a living testament to Atlanta’s vibrant spirit. In fact, the art form is such a valued institution that the city has been hosting an annual conference on the craft called Living Wall since 2009. The Krog Street Tunnel is an immersive concrete canvas that changes colors, messages, and images from one day to the next. The tunnel connects Cabbagetown and the Old Fourth Ward neighborhoods, both of which are home to striking murals around every corner.

The stylish Glenn Hotel in downtown Atlanta is located right off Edgewood Avenue, which is peppered with impressive street pieces and leads directly to both Cabbagetown and the Old Fourth Ward.

Miami, Florida

Miami’s Wynwood Arts District is a must for all street art connoisseurs. In 2009 international artists collaborated to create Wynwood Walls, an outdoor museum of street art, which has since become the epicenter of one of the most exuberant street art neighborhoods in the country. Over in Little Havana, the rich blend of cuban culture and bold creative visions are visible in every mural down Calle Ocho.

Stay close to the Wynwood action and experience Miami like a true local by checking in to the Real Living Hotel Residence, with fully equipped kitchens and large balconies overlooking the city.

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit is living proof that street art doesn’t just change single walls, but entire communities. The Heidelberg Project was started in 1986, when artist Tyree Guyton began painting polka dots and vibrant colors onto abandoned homes in the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood to raise awareness about its condition, and to invite community members to collaborate in its revitalization. Before exploring downtown’s incredible murals, be sure to stop at the MBAD African Bead Museum, which features large-scale outdoor installations that incorporate rock, iron, wood, and mirrors.

Just down the block from the Detroit Institute of Art and the College for Creative Studies is The Inn on Ferry Street, which promises both comfort and a glimpse into Detroit’s past.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The gritty, industrial charm of Pittsburgh has captivated street artists for years. The old steel plant, Carrie Furnace, is the perfect integration of the city’s industrial past and the revitalizing power of art, now that the rusty walls and furnaces are covered in bold murals and messages. Back in the city, the Lawrenceville and Uptown neighborhoods are decked out in murals by local and international artists alike.

The EVEN Hotels Downtown Pittsburgh is as stylish as the city streets, and sits close to all the action in the Cultural District.

Baltimore, Maryland

The street art in Baltimore is powerful. Murals and sculptures around town depict scenes and figures form the city’s tumultuous history that might not feature so prominently in textbooks and calls on locals to mobilize for social justice. Sandtown-Winchester might be the epicenter of this local movement. It’s home to the Freddie Gray memorial, which commemorates a victim of police brutality, a Power to the People mural honoring activists, and Pontella Mason’s “The Baltimore Wall of Pride,” featuring prominent black leaders.

Graffiti alley is another Baltimore street-art landmark that’s transforms on a regular basis. Just a short drive south is the Hotel Revival Baltimore, which has a decor as bold as Baltimore’s street art, and sits right around the corner from the Walters Art Museum.