The Best Richmond Neighborhoods for Murals and Street Art

The Best Richmond Neighborhoods for Murals and Street Art

Over the last several years, Richmond has become a hot spot for muralists. Between the Richmond Mural Project, an annual gathering of the world’s top artists, and regular commissioned works by locals, sometimes it feels like every city block is adorned with larger-than-life works of art. The city’s murals tend to be clustered together, making it easy for you to spot several in a short time. Here are some of the neighborhoods with the most murals.

The Fan

While there are murals throughout the entire neighborhood, you’ll find most of them along the Cary St. and Main St. corridor. One of our favorites is Overthink by Swiss-Turkish artist Onur (pictured below). Local artist Nils Westergard has painted several in The Fan neighborhood, and there’s also a hidden, secret mural by Stormie Mills. Think you can find it?

Carytown

Richmond’s chic shopping district, Carytown is also home to dozens of murals. You’ll find a handful along the main stretch of Cary St., but be sure to check the side roads and alleys for plenty more. Among our favorites is the massive cartoon character on the side of the Citizen Burger Bar building, by artist Sonni.

VCU

Virginia Commonwealth University’s sprawling downtown campus is home to tons of murals. While most have been painted on residential homes or local businesses, you’ll even find some on official campus buildings. Be sure not to miss the stunning image of a Civil War drummer by artist Elio Mercado just north of Broad St (pictured below).

Jackson Ward & Monroe Ward

If you only have time to explore one part of town, this is probably it. Jackson Ward and Monroe Ward (on the north and south side of Broad St., respectively) are home to over two dozen murals. Of particular note are the many murals painted by African-Americans, especially in Jackson Ward. Artists like Hamilton Glass, Sir James Thornhill, and more have graced the walls of the neighborhood with their skills. Check out Bikers on the Horizon by Thornhill, who was inspired by the 2015 UCI Cycling Championships, hosted downtown.

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