With some of the best museums in the country, like the Detroit Institute of Arts (named the best art museum in the country by USA Today readers two years in a row), countless art festivals throughout the year, and many monuments to admire, the city of Detroit is every art enthusiast’s dream. With color and passion, artists who’ve participated in annual events and programs like Murals in the Market and City Walls, which was launched in 2017 to tackle the city’s blight problem, have skillfully used Detroit as their canvas and painted over 700 murals across the area.
Whether on a restaurant, abandoned structure, or apartment building, there’s something beautiful to discover at almost every turn.
“GIRL WITH THE D EARRING” By Sydney G. James
2937 E. Grand Blvd., completed: 2020
“JDILLA” by Tylonn Sawyer
2638 Orleans St., completed: 2016
“DETROIT MOVES PEOPLE” by Nick Pizaña
600 Civic Center Drive (at West Riverfront Station), completed: 2024
“It’s a huge honor just to have a piece of mine on the People Mover! I have fond memories as a kid and teenager riding them on trips downtown and being inspired by the art inside the stations. To be chosen to contribute my work to that is something I’m very proud of.”
“The title is “Detroit Moves People.” The circle in the background represents the various ways Detroit moved people in the last century, the car wheel representing our engineering and auto industry, the record representing dancing and our arts, and the globe representing the people from around the world that moved here for opportunities in those professions. The dancing couple represent the prosperity and culture of Detroit. I take a lot of inspiration from hand painted signs, and that is in there too.”
“It took about a month to complete. I really enjoyed spending all that time out on the riverfront!”
– Nick Pizaña
“DETROIT’S FINEST” by Tony Lee
2930 E. Grand Blvd., completed: 2015 (the image shows only part of the mural)
“Originally commissioned by the Detroit Grass Station dispensary back in 2015, it was inspired by the idea of shared Detroit pride, and then the concept of “Detroit’s Finest”.
“Being a sci-fi geek, The RoboCop was my favorite of the four, and it also was the first one. I’m glad I talked them out of painting some others. RoboCop is Detroit’s superhero, and we should continuously celebrate the idea of life and rebirth after trauma, and value strong convictions for social justice.”
– Tony Lee
“ROSA PARKS” by Kevin Ledo
1461 Gratiot Ave., completed: 2019
“LAS FLORES ON THIRD” by Ivan Montoya
700 Selden St. (at Third St.), completed: 2023
“DETROIT IS THE FUTURE!” by Daniel Bombardier
6500 Charlevoix St., completed: 2023
“THE SPIRIT” by Waleed Johnson
7930 Mack Ave. (at Van Dyke), completed: 2021
“I am most proud of the impact that this mural has had in the community. While I was painting, there was so much love shown to me. Lots of people came by to talk, telling me how the mural impacted them, and some even brought food and other gifts. Despite the mural being over three years old, I still get random emails here and there from people telling me how they love driving past the mural on their way to work and what it means to them. It’s such a great feeling to know that something I did has brought joy to so many people.”
“The inspiration for this piece was Detroit, of course, but also my experiences growing up in the city. I was raised by a single, black woman and everywhere I went in the city I saw the contributions of black women keeping the city afloat. I thought it fitting to represent The Spirit of Detroit as a Black woman in honor of those contributions. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention my wife (who was my girlfriend at the time) and her contributions to the process. I had an image I took of a friend that I had been sitting on for a while, waiting for the perfect time to use it. I knew that this was the time to use it, but I was still working through how I wanted to do so. My wife suggested that I make the head wrap my friend was wearing in the picture the Detroit flag. With that suggestion everything started to click and that eventually led me to the idea of reinterpreting The Spirit of Detroit.”
– Waleed Johnson
“LOCALLY SOURCED LOVE” by Bakpak Durden
8066 Kercheval Ave. (at Sister Pie), completed: 2019
“I wanted to highlight Sister Pie’s commitment to local, seasonal ingredients. So, I studied their menu and incorporated those exact ingredients into the murals design.”
“I’m especially proud that this mural has endured and creates a welcoming backdrop for people enjoying their baked goods outdoors on a nice day.”
“After meeting with Lisa to fully understand Sister Pie’s journey and achievements, I presented my artistic vision for the mural. Once we aligned on the concept, I began bringing that vision to life.”
– Bakpak Durden
“DETROIT NEVER LEFT” by Sheefy McFly
Gratiot and St. Aubin, completed: 2018
“GREATNESS ON GRATIOT” by Torrence Jayy Jackson
14383 Gratiot Ave., completed: 2024
“It was anything but easy. I started them in October and painted all throughout winter to complete the art and I think it came out beautifully.”
“Since I am a native Detroiter, I wanted to highlight the beauty in Detroit’s residents. Additionally, I wanted to do some visual storytelling within the art, so I added words that translate to the journey throughout life, to GROW up and move through life with GRACE to achieve GREATNESS.”
“I had an awesome time painting this mural. I believe every wall is a lesson, with each having unique challenges to work around. But painting has taught me patience and to fall in love with the process and the finished artwork is always worth it. I hope both help beautify my city and inspire the communities to further support the arts.”
– Torrence Jayy Jackson
“SPREADING THE SEEDS FOR A MORE EQUAL FUTURE” by Carlos Alberto GH
Frank Murphy Hall of Justice (near Gratiot and Raynor St.), completed: 2021
“It is part of the Zero Hunger Mural program by the United Nations and Street Art for Mankind, dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring action against global food injustice that disproportionately impacts African American communities. Taking that into account, I decided to use this female central character that represents mankind, but she also is the symbol of justice, holding a scale that makes apoplexy of the equity we are seeking as human beings for everyone to have access to food. She is spreading seeds from one of her hands, that later will become the fruits of the Earth.”
“Today is still the largest anamorphic-style mural in the United States.”
– Carlos Alberto GH
“GUARDIANS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD” by Pat Perry
Mitchell Street and Gratiot Avenue, completed: 2017
“Charles and Naomi have both passed away since I painted this mural. The families have embraced the painting as a way to honor their memory. The community in general has seemed to feel positive about the painting over the years, like it shows something authentic about our community. That makes me feel like the thoughtfulness and time I tried to put into the concept paid off in the end.”
– Pat Perry
“CHECKERED PAST” by Nathan Bell
2520 Orleans St., completed: 2018
“It’s a checkerboard love letter to Michigan — everything I grew up with, everything that still sticks with me. Music, food, culture — if you’re from Michigan, you’ll probably catch a ton of little references woven in. From Bob Seger to Better Made, each block is a nod to something iconic, personal, or just a slice of Midwest life. I wanted it to feel like a visual mixtape of what makes the city special — whether that’s a song lyric, a food order, or just a feeling.”
“The whole experience was a mix of organized chaos and creative problem-solving. 1xRUN and Murals in the Market made sure we were all good, which definitely helped. My three-year-old niece even got in on the action, throwing down some paint — so technically, she’s got a mural in Detroit, too. Muralism is a real team effort.”
– Nathan Bell
“THE SPIRIT OF SOUTHWEST DETROIT” by Sheefy McFly and Freddy Diaz
1920 25th St., completed: 2023
“What makes me proud of these murals is the love that they receive from the city. Each one specifically speaks to the neighborhood it resides in. After years of the murals standing there, they’ve became local monuments. They almost feel alive sometimes.”
“The inspiration was to go beyond the style that I usually use on canvas and create more subtext and layers. I wanted them to be more than just a color splash but a homage to the city of Detroit.”
-Sheefy McFly
To read the full 2025 City Guide, visit hourdetroit.com/cityguide.
This story originally appeared in the April 2025 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our digital edition will be available on April 7.
|
|
|
|
|
|
