Posted by Realty Austin on Friday, July 30th, 2021 4:52pm.
There is no doubt that Austin is a naturally beautiful city with its plethora of swimming holes and hike and bike trails. But did you know that Austin is also known for its beautiful street art? We searched the entire city from The Drag to South Lamar to find the best graffiti parks, art walls, and murals that we think you should check out. There are so many murals in Austin that we couldn't feature them all! So, grab your camera, call your friends, and start your own scavenger hunt to spot Austin’s street art this summer!
Best Street Art and Graffiti in Austin:
4413 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78751
Owner's of Wok 'N Express turned A&R Corner Store into a convenience store and Asian restaurant in 2012. While checking out and taking pictures of the beautiful mural of a pond with blooming flowers and creatures, you should give Wok "N Express a shot and taste their food from their dynamic menu!
1620 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
David P. Flores, the artist behind this super bright and colorful mural, enjoys creating art as an urban artist or street artists. After experimenting with street art, David Flores is best known for his self-proclaimed “stained glass” and mosaic style. He truly enjoys the street art movement since it allows individuals to speak their opinions out. These opinions can be expressed in any form of art, dance, and poetry. David P. Flores enjoys his freedom and meeting interesting people in every step of his way.
407 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701
With the goal of promoting the local art scene, community, and culture in Austin, Frank is inviting one artist per month to create a mural within 48 hours their handcrafted art of choice. These pieces can be a mural, street art or graffiti, as long as it's on the massive brick canvas along Colorado Street! In celebration of each piece, Frank will host a mid-month party every month highlighting the presenting sponsor and featured artist, and serve up great gourmet dogs and groovy tunes.
914 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
Goodwill is proud to honor this historical landmark by preserving a number of the famous murals, both on the interior and exterior walls. These murals create a shopping experience that acknowledges the past and embraces the future of our rapidly growing city. The Goodwill murals are in a part of Austin in which old meets new, and this Goodwill store is a perfect reflection of this!
582 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd, Austin, TX 78701
Downtown Austin is adding its own flair with new murals and other artwork like the Historic 6th Street mural. The popular “Welcome to Historic Sixth Street” mural is perfect for taking pictures with your friends or your family. Right across the street, there's also another super cute mural to check out!
1101 Baylor St, Austin, TX 78703
HOPE Outdoor Gallery is managed by the non-profit HOPE Events and was officially launched in March 2011 with the help of contemporary artist Shepard Fairey. It is the only paint park of its kind in the USA and was developed to provide muralists, street artists, arts education classes and community groups the opportunity to display large-scale art pieces driven by inspirational, positive and educational messaging. It has become an inspirational outlet and creative destination for all that come to visit and is recognized as one of the Top 10 Artistic destinations in Texas! But all good things must come to an end. In 2017, the hill that the gallery sits on was sold to a developer. HOPE is opening a new space about 10 miles to the southeast near Carson Creek Ranch, and the original slabs will be demolished by spring of 2019, taking innumerable layers of paint with them.
601 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
Located downtown, catch the Howdy Austin mural while you're exploring the Capitol area or after having breakfast at the Counter Café! The Counter Cafe is a unique 21st Century authentic American diner focused on serving up the finest of fresh, local and organic food with global love. They offer twists on all-day breakfast and comfort foods, from grilled pimento cheese sandwiches to biscuits ‘n’ gravy plus a burger packed with big flavor that draws citywide fanfare!
92 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
Nestled amongst the unique Rainey Street village, Bungalow is a hidden oasis supplied with all the essential bare necessities, including food and happy hour specials, complete with over 20 beers on tap! The expansive backyard takes advantage of the large plot of land, providing plenty of space and seating while giving the feel of a modern beer garden. Inside the restaurant is their own spinoff of the famous " I love you So Much" mural on SoCo; "I Hate You So Much." Check out their monthly events and take a picture with their mural!
Lamar Boulevard Bridge, Austin, TX 78704
Austin has a rich heritage of public art murals such as the “I’ve Got NINJA STYLE” is a fun and catchy graffiti mural painting on the Austin Railroad Graffiti Bridge over Lady Bird Lake. The first murals carried messages like, “Life is Change – Be Flexible,” and “Let’s Pretend We Are Robots.” The company that owns the bridge painted over two of them in 2012, causing a minor outrage. Then two new murals replaced the original artwork, and today the bridge declares, “Never Give Up” and, “Ninja Style Kung Fu Grip.”
Colorado St. and W 5th Street
In the heart of Downtown Austin, Kababeque and Angry Mojo's can be easily reached by car on 5th St. and by public buses as well for any hungry UT Longhorns! While ordering food, you can see a giant mural on the side of a building beside these food trucks! KaBaBeQue food truck serves a beautiful blend of cuisines from the Asian Subcontinent and the Middle East, and Angry Mojo's presents comfort street food at its finest: tacos, loaded fries, hot dogs, sliders, and burritos, all filled and topped with your choice of seasoned meat!
Brazos and Second Street, Austin, TX, 78701
Stretching some 103 feet up the side of a downtown building, a mural by Josef Kristofoletti now claims the title of Austin’s tallest public artwork. A gradient color spectrum reaching ten floors up the northwest corner of a city parking garage, “Tau Ceti” was completed in November. The optically vibrant mural covers 3,811 square feet of wall space within the indented corner of the building at Brazos and Second streets. The mural’s title, “Tau Ceti,” takes inspiration from a star in the constellation Cetus that is spectrally similar to our sun.
6th Street and San Jacinto Blvd.
In an effort to tackle species extinction through art, British artist Louis Masai has transformed the side of a building downtown Austin into a colorful mural of two endangered Houston toads. Austin is one of 12 U.S. cities Louis Masai is visiting to paint murals of wildlife as part of The Art of Beeing tour. Masai created his Austin mural over the course of six days in partnership with Austin-based Global Wildlife Conservation and World Class Capital Group! What an incredible piece that is making a huge impact to protect endangered species!
408 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
If you're a native in Austin, then you'll know that this isn't the only mural in Austin that says, "The Only Magic I Still Believe In Is Love." The mural on Congress downtown is the easiest to find, and is more "intsagrammable." Take a stroll or walk downtown and take a picture of this mural with a sweet message. Just down the street are Frank's Public Art wall and The Contemporary art museum where you can find more inspiring pieces!
509 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78701
Wahoo Fish Tacos is home to the Triple Cash mural. Their food is worldly, uncommonly delicious and gives you experiences that make you feel more alive. So, ride those waves, care for your community, love what you eat every day, and be authentically you; just like the unique Triple Cash mural. It may be hard to see the painting now because Wahoo has added a covered patio over the mural.
East Seventh Street at Neches Street
When not playing and writing music, Wiley Ross, the artist who painted this massive mural of Willie Nelson, spends much of his time painting or creating the one of a kind bleach t-shirts he’s become known for. As his reputation has grown, so has the size of his creations (as you can clearly see from this mural). Austinites can see Wiley's murals on many walls throughout the city!
419 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
Mexic-Arte Museum is dedicated to cultural enrichment and education through the collection, preservation, and presentation of traditional and contemporary Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture to promote dialogue and develop an understanding for visitors of all ages! And this mural definitely shows that! When exhibitions change, so do the murals on the side of the museum!
Chestnut Ave & E 14th St, Austin, TX 78702
There are so many street art pieces in East Austin; you can't get a picture of all of them in one day! You'll be amazed at how much there's out there. Check out and take a picture of this cute and unique mural that represents Austin's love for bicycles on Chestnut Avenue!
1511 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
Painted by Nicholas Conrad Miller of the Austin Mural Program with six students from The Art School at The Contemporary Austin, the Cisco’s Mural is located on the iconic East Austin restaurant, Cisco’s. This community-based project adds to the cultural diversity of the local landscape and focuses specifically on the history of Cisco’s and its eclectic past as a one of East Austin’s most beloved, long-standing institutions.
1407 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
Sangria sorbet and bourbon ice cream are among the rotating cast of boozy scoops at Prohibition Creamery, a stylish East Austin parlor. They offer milkshakes, beer, wine and teetotaler-friendly flavors like salted caramel in a cool space with vintage accents! After grabbing some boozy ice cream, check out the Coffee Creature mural on the side of the creamery!
E 12th St & Chicon St, Austin, TX 78702
A mural honoring mostly black musicians at the corner of 12th and Chicon in East Austin was painted over last May. It depicted artists like Tupac Shakur, James Brown, Michael Jackson and Stevie Ray Vaughan, among others. An outcry followed. Though the mural was only a handful of years old, it held huge symbolism for this neighborhood. A few weeks later, Chris Rogers, the mural's artist, and the owner of the retail space then decided to paint over the mural agreed that he should paint a replacement on the same wall. The new mural was commissioned by the nonprofit Six Square, which supports Austin's black cultural heritage district.
1161 Angelina St, Austin, TX 78702
The George Washington Carver Branch mural, Voyage to Soulsville, was created by John Fisher in 1986 for the south wall of the George Washington Carver Branch library. This mural expresses a voyage through the discovery of black identity, depicting a community upon a vessel that embraces the African diaspora from pre-Columbian to present times.
1104 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
Victory Grill's famous mural was painted by a collective artist group Trust Your Struggle. The California and New York-based group create murals in collaboration with local artists. The mural covering the west wall of the Victory Grill honors Austin soul, queen Lavelle White. Also pictured is Johnny Holmes, who founded Victory Grill in 1945, and pianist Roosevelt “Grey Ghost” Williams, the first musician Holmes booked to play the juke joint.
Chicon St & E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
The owner of the recently shuttered Cool Store is now operating a taco stand, 6th Street Tacos y Mas, behind Whisler's on East 6th Street, which debuted during SXSW in 2016. You can check out the famous Let's Band Together street art piece while getting fresh and delicious tacos at 6th Street Tacos y Mas!
2201 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
Mister Cartoon, the prolific Chicano artist, created and painted the Livestrong masterpiece on the south side of LIVESTRONG Headquarters. Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor, champion cyclist and LIVESTRONG founder and chairman wanted a mural that represents the foundation's goal; giving back and serving the community.
807 E 4th St, Austin, TX, 78702
Let's not forget about some of the more hidden gems like this mural. After all, this is Austin so, the lesser known something is, the cooler. This mural is located on the side of Native Bar and Kitchen. They have low slung chairs, exposed brick walls, and funky modern touches. This eatery in an East Austin upscale youth hostel is a sweet spot for both day and night. Craft cocktails, live music and American fare like burgers, grilled pimento cheese, and deviled eggs are on the menu for trendy travelers and locals alike. While you check out the mural, visit the restaurant!
2015 E Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78741
The Puppy Love mural is located on the side of Mud Puppies, where you can take your kids and your dog for an adorable photo-opp! It's also an easy and fun stop to take a picture of you and your better half! It is recommended to not go during the afternoon as the light is a little harsh at that time and it is a little trickier to get your perfect picture!
2000 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78702
Sam's Bar-B-Que, a ramshackle joint with the hand-drawn Martin Luther King, Jr. mural on an exterior wall in East Austin is often overlooked in the frenzy over all of the other bbq places. But it occupies a commanding presence in local and even national barbecue circles. Stevie Ray Vaughan not only ate there frequently but is said to have ordered its ribs when he played Carnegie Hall! The Martin Luther King Jr. mural gives Sam's Bar-B-Que more character.
E 7th St & Waller St, Austin, TX 78702
Till Death Do Us Part was painted by Archuleta, an artist who uses mainly stencil and freehand spray paint techniques, applying multiple layers and bright colors. The Till Death Do Us Part mural was loved so much it was recreated in November of 2010 on a larger scale in downtown Austin on the Mexic-Arte Museum. Today, it's still in its original spot in East Austin.
1047 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78702
The Paint Yard, LLC was established in 2009 to serve the local artist in the greater San Antonio area selling the German Montana line. The Paint Yard, LLC has now expanded their brand and has given artists opportunities to share their work using their product. They share their artist’s talents and thoughts with the public and work with some of San Antonio and Texas' finest aerosol artist. One of these public works is the mural along the wall of Austin Pipe and Supply Co.
E 12th St & Chicon St, Austin, TX 78702
We Are East Austin, a classic mural on the east side, is right down the block from the famous East Austin mural painted by Chris Rogers. It's bright, it stands out, and it represents what East Austin is all about. This mural makes the side of a liquor store more fun and energetic. Once you're done taking pictures by this mural, check out others down the street; there's a lot of them!
2000 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78702
United Way of Greater Austin has been supporting the local community by leading the effort against poverty and providing resources to families in need. In 2012, they unveiled this brilliant token of positivity and unity. Local designer John Rockwell of Creative Suitcase provided the inspiration for the unique design. He and the whole Creative Suitcase team volunteered two days of their time to the completion of this meaningful and fun piece of street art that still adorns the wall of the United Way property!
Intersection of Aurora Dr & W Koenig Ln
Driving around town and fighting traffic, you usually find yourself so focused on getting from Point A to Point B that you fail to notice the details in between; like street art! But so much of Austin’s unique appeal is in those details and quirks that we tend to take for granted, like all of the fantastic art we pass every day. One piece to take a closer look at is Hello!
6010 N IH 35, Austin, TX 78752
Jerry’s Artarama has been helping artists keep Austin weird for over a decade with its incredible selection of paints, brushes, canvases, and more. And that’s not all. When you visit their Austin location, you’re getting to experience some of the awesome art that the city is known for. They've covered all of their exterior walls with murals painted by local or traveling artists to provide a colorful backdrop for the Austin community!
10938 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78759
Without a doubt, the double-sided mosaic at Planet K in Charles Urdy plaza is a classic and unique piece. The mural is an amazing 50-foot long piece of work that shows life under the sea. A University of Texas art professor designed one side of the mural, and a local glass artist designed the other side of the mural. There are also some lovely painted murals within an easy walking distance of this!
907 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
Tatiana Suarez’s work draws you into a surreal, creamy, and ethereal world filled with doe-eyed figures ornamented by unsettling accompaniments. On both canvas and walls, Suarez’s work is rich with symbols from her Brazilian and El Salvadorian heritage, juxtaposing the beautiful with the exotic and creepy to create enchanted narratives. The natural mythology parent cultures influence her work, from the indigenous face paint and adornment used to the rich and tropical color palettes of the South American landscape. Her mural, Going Under, definitely exhibits her culture and mythology!
907 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
Yoskay Yamamoto’s artistic tastes expanded as he fell in love with the urban culture of the West coast. Yamamoto discovered a way to fuse the two different cultural backgrounds together into his work. Yamamoto nostalgically blends iconic pop characters from his new Western home with traditional and mythical Japanese elements, balancing his Asian heritage with urban pop art. His style is similar to Tatiana Suarez’s; and that's why they collaborated on the mural Guide Me Home (it's on the other side of Hina, the Hawaiian Goddess of the Moon).
E Riverside Dr & Alta Vista Ave, Austin, TX 78704
The Travis Heights mural is a lot of Austinites favorite pieces of street art because of the detail on the birds with beautiful flowers and plants, as well as a skull with gorgeous monarch butterfly wings. Be careful about finding a spot to park and getting to the mural; it's covered by large trees and bushes so it's hard to find. Take advantage of this awesome photo op!
1301 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
Amy's Ice Creams aims to make your day with super-premium ice cream! Their location can also make your day with its different shades of blue and Zany characters that cover its walls. Taste their world famous Mexican Vanilla ice cream and pose with it by one of their fun and infectious walls!
1401 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
In 2006, Blake Mycoskie and five interns started TOMS in a small apartment in Venice Beach, California, with one goal in mind: to give shoes to children in need. That goal has since grown into a global movement, and now when you buy a pair of TOMS, another child in need gets a pair of shoes. TOMS goal and mission inspired their GIVE mural on the side of their store in hopes to inspire others to give back.
1300 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
In 2010, the I Love You So Much mural was created by local musician Amy Cook when she took a can of red spray paint and wrote this five-word love letter to her partner, majority owner of Jo’s Coffee, Liz Lambert. I Love You So Much has become iconic to Austin and the words are widely featured on local hats and shirts and family and couple pictures! While you're checking out the mural, grab a coffee or a snack at Jo's Coffee!
1700 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
Mi Casa Gallery is the reflection of the Luedeke family's love affair with Texas and Latin America. The Gallery opened in August 1996 and now has become a popular center for unique religious objects and folk art from Mexico and the Americas. The Luedeke's have traveled extensively in order to personally select a wide variety of treasures from around the world, and their love for art inspired the Mi Casa mural on their building!
S Congress Ave & Elizabeth St E, Austin, TX 78704
Smile! Even If You Don't Want To is one of Austin's most instagrammable murals! It's also located right beside Hey Cupcake!, PitaLicious, Parisian Crepes, and The Science Cream; the perfect place to grab lunch or a delicious snack while taking pictures by the mural and walking around South Congress!
1500 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
Tesoros Trading Company is a retailer and wholesale distributor of folk arts and crafts and traditional items from over 20 different countries including Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Colombia, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Italy, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Peru, Turkey, USA and Vietnam. The artistic aspects of Austin and all these countries are captured by the mural on Tesoros Trading Company near Elizabeth St.; the painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe by Federico Archuleta.
100 E Elizabeth St, Austin, TX 78704
Austin Texas’ men’s clothing store STAG came to Jacqui Oakley to draw Willie Nelson (see 2015’s La Zona Rosa mural) for another Austin wall! Willie For President was drawn by Jacqui Oakley, the bold type and red stripes were designed by Erick Montes and the mural was painted by Joe Swec. What a great collaboration!
1415 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
Won't You Be My Neighbor is a documentary about Mr. Rogers and the mural on South Congress is a timely reminder of how just one gentleman can inspire hope and kindness to millions. A bullied youth, an ordained minister, an early participant in television’s first decade; these experiences all led to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the innovative mix of education and whimsical make-believe that began airing on American public broadcasters fifty years ago!
2208 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
Gary Clark Jr, an American musician from Austin, is best known for his fusion of blues, rock and soul music with elements of hip-hop. Clark has shared the stage with many legends of rock and roll, including Eric Clapton, B. B. King, and the Rolling Stones! So it would only be fit to create a mural in Gary's honor!
1603 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
In a world of Southern Prep and East Coast Classic, Criquet has an easygoing, fun-loving Austin spirit all its own. Their inspiration often comes from iconic shirts they recollect from the past as well as the occasional vintage store treasure. And these iconic shirts inspire the mural beside their store as well. A few years ago it was Matthew McConaughey's character from Dazed and Confused and today it's been replaced with Bob Baker's character from Happy Gilmore!
1720 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
The Greetings From Austin mural was originally painted in 1998 by artist Todd Sanders, owner of Roadhouse Relics. He wanted to add color to a neighborhood that was, at the time, taking a turn for the worse. 20 years later and the mural is still around and as vibrant as ever after it was restored in November of 2013. The beauty of that restoration was the result of contributions from the local community! While you’re there, check out Roadhouse Relics!
1905 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
Sweet tooths is what makes Sugar Mama's Bakeshop a favorite for Austinites. They have some of the best cupcakes in town, including the Hemingway key lime and Elvis banana peanut butter, plus off-the-charts cookies and bars, mini-pies and vegan treats. So grab a delicious dessert from Sugar Mama's and check out their unique mural on the side of their bakeshop! Grabbing a treat and taking a picture by the famous mural is an Austin must-do.
401 Deep Eddy Ave, Austin, TX 78703
The Deep Eddy Mural was commissioned as a community-based tile mural to highlight the colorful history of Deep Eddy Pool, the oldest swimming pool in Texas! Thousands of local teachers, students, non-profits, and volunteers helped design and create the mural. The artists used historic photographs and archival materials from the Austin History Center to develop the themes and imagery, including the historic water slide!
1115 W Lynn St, Austin, TX 78703
Daniel Johnston, the musician-artist who painted the now-iconic "Hi, How Are You?" mural on the Drag, painted this mural. The Love Is The Question Love Is The Answer mural features a superhero and was produced in conjunction with the Austin-based advertising firm GSD&M. The superhero-themed artwork is part of a campaign to raise money for Superhero Kids, an organization that provides financial support for families of kids at Dell Children’s Blood and Cancer Center!
Guadalupe St & W 23rd St, Austin, TX 78712
Kerry Awn, Tommy Bauman, and Rick Turner painted the Austintatious mural back in 1974 when Nixon was still in office. These murals have been a part of the fabric of Austin for 40 years and have come to represent the link between the old Austin and the new Austin of today. The mural has also been restored in 2014 after it was vandalized.
2538 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705
The Bob Dylan mural is on the side of the Hole in the Wall club and was created by Steve Hopson during the South by Southwest music festival in 2008. After taking pictures of the mural, check out Vert's Mediterranean Grill or Fuzzy's Taco Shop for a delicious lunch!
408 W 21st St, Austin, TX 78705
The iconic piece of Austin street art serves a purpose beyond a tourist attraction. “Hi, How Are You” was painted by singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston to celebrate mental wellness. The goal is to spark a conversation and help those suffering in silence find someone to talk to. Now there's a day called “Hi, How Are You” Day on January 22nd!
3700 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705
Planet K's TEXAS mural is another street mural depicting life in Austin on Guadalupe Street. It gives a little bit of what has been happening around Austin and some of the key players in the area in this vivid mural all about central Texas. The mural is bright, colorful, represents Austin, and is the perfect spot to take a picture by!