Baltimore, City of Murals
One of Baltimore’s most charming assets are its hundreds of murals artfully sprayed, stenciled and painted across a broad canvas of city buildings. How wonderful it is to turn a corner and be surprised by a striking painting 30 feet high. Or, to pass by the same mural every day, and marvel at how it seems to change with the time of day and the weather. These kaleidoscopes of colors and graphic imagery affirm a dynamic city teeming with creativity and promise.
- This mural by Pixel Pancho at 211 W. Mulberry St. is four stories high. (Articulate: Baltimore project) (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- This mural by Pixel Pancho at 211 W. Mulberry St. is four stories high. (Articulate: Baltimore project) (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- HKS181 created this mural at the corner of Franklin St. and Howard St. (Articulate: Baltimore project) (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- This mural detail on the corner of Franklin St. and Howard St. by El Salvadorian artist known as “HKS181,” depicts the play of light and shadow. He describes the blending of his artwork on the website, http://iam181.com/Contact.html. “I used to keep the two creative styles separate. Art had it’s place here and graffiti had it’s place there, but over the past few years, i’ve started to let the boundaries break and started to mesh it all together…” (Articulate: Baltimore project) (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- Michael Vinson with Arrow Parking walks by a mural by NETHER on Tyson St. at W. Mulberry Street. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- Chris Stain, originally from Baltimore and now living in NYC, & Billy Mode from Baltimore, created this mural on the south wall of the Downtown Cultural Center at 401. N. Howasrd St. (Articulate: Baltimore project) (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- The mural of mother and child by Indigo covers the side facade of 406 Park Ave. (Articulate: Baltimore project) (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- The mural of mother and child by Indigo covers the side facade of 406 Park Ave. (Articulate: Baltimore project) (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- Artist “Never2501” designed this mural with zebra-like swirls. It’s located at 610 N. Howard St. (Articulate: Baltimore project) (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- Artist “Never2501” designed this mural with zebra-like swirls. It’s located at 610 N. Howard St. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- The father and son artwork signed by “Sorta” is on the building directly behind #416 N. Howard St. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- Jesse Unterhalter & Katey Truhn used found objects for their mural: blue shopping bags and bottle caps. It’s on the north wall of 416 N. Howard St. (Articulate: Baltimore project) (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- Chris Stain & Billy Mode created a mural of friends sporting their Baltimore heros’ insignias. It’s on the south wall of the Downtown Cultural Center at 401. N. Howasrd St. (Articulate: Baltimore project) (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- A pedestrian walks past the Ways & J. Digital mural at 414/16 N. Howard St. (Articulate: Baltimore project) (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- This is a detail from the Ways & J. Digital mural at 414/16 N. Howard St. (Articulate: Baltimore project) (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
Several mural projects have sprouted in the past several years. Last fall, one such enterprise, Articulate: Baltimore, created a grouping of 7 murals in the Bromo Tower Arts & Entertainment District.
Part of Articulate: Baltimore’s mission -now complete- was “aimed at activating vacant space and integrating buildings, people, and culture along North Howard where it intersects with West Franklin and West Mulberry Streets.” Their goal was to lift properties “out of the blight that developed there as commercial and residential tenants abandoned this formerly vibrant area of the city.” (www.articulatebaltimore.org).
Co-curated by artists Stefan Ways Hauswald (also known as Stefan Ways) and Jesse James (“J. Digital”), Articulate: Baltimore involved local, national and international artists. The following photographs depict the murals in the historic landscape of West Baltimore. Each mural is as distinct as the artists who created them.
Also included are photographs of two murals in the same vicinity that, although they are not part of Articulate: Baltimore, they nevertheless add to the artistic beauty of this charming city.
RELATED
Interactive Map: Baltimore’s best murals
Photos: Baltimore’s 50 best murals
Nether
Jan 22, 2013 @ 18:57:15
The picture with the guy from Arrow parking is by “NETHER”.
…yours truly.
Stokely Baksh
Jan 23, 2013 @ 08:48:20
Thanks for your message. We’ve updated the photo caption.
Scott Carberry
Jan 13, 2013 @ 18:31:55
I love Baltimore’s urban art and artists. Check out my BaltimoreBoy blog.