Downtown Mural Guide
Use this guide to take a walking-tour of some of our most beloved Downtown Murals! Find your favorites or just find a place for your next Instagram post! See below for descriptions and more info!
The Core Murals
The Sound of Memphis
Painted by Damon Lamar Reed and Pugs Atomz is located on Main Street across from Aldo’s Pizza, 100 S Main Street. Photo by James Wessels
The Artery Murals in Barboro Alley
The Artery in Barboro Alley (east and west of Main) showcases work from: Christopher Reyes and Michael Roy aka Ninjacat + Birdcap, Emily Miller, Lawrence Matthews, Eszster Sziksz and Stephanie Cosby, Marcellous Lovelace, Joseph Boyd and Jamond Bullock. Be sure to visit at night so you can see the Ninjacat + Birdcap work in full-effect!
Phone Box Murals
BirdCap Phone Box at Jefferson and Main St.
Untitled at Main and Union
Yo BirdCap by @Nosey42 at Main and Madison
A Day in the Life
by Assasin Duo at Main and Barboro Alley
High Cotton
You can get a view of this mural from the intersection of Madison Ave and S Main Street.
Rendevous Alley Mural
This mural by Brandon Marshall is located across From the entrance of the Rendevous – 52 S 2nd St in Downtown Memphis.
Sterick Building
The murals painted on the sides of the abandoned Sterick Building were painted by Kyle Taylor, Brandon Donahue, and Brandon Marshall were “inspired by the work, the big ideas, the soulful struggles, and the elbow grease that has made, and is making, Memphis what it is. These are located on Madison Ave and N B.B. King Blvd.
A Note For Hope
This mural by Jeff Zimmerman is located on 195 Madison Ave. Jeff Zimmerman, assisted by Rhodes College students and CODA staff, painted an original, five-story high mural on the east side of the vacant building located at 195 Madison Avenue. Owned by Rhodes trustee Wilton “Chick” Hill, the mural is visible from the stands of the Memphis Redbirds stadium (Urban Art Commission).
Quiltsurround
A piece by Greely Myatt is located on Adams Ave and N Front Street on the side of Memphis City Hall at 124 N Main Street. Artist Greely Myatt was commissioned to produce a decorative screen for the plaza at Memphis City Hall. Composed of recycled street signs, Myatt drew on his upbringing in the countryside of Mississippi for inspiration. (Urban Art Commission)
The Madison Avenue Trolley
This mosaic is inspired by downtown life was created by Cynthia Metcalf, Jeanne Seagle, and Lea Holland. It is located on the ground of the trolley platform on Madison Ave close to Stadium Ct.
Freedom from Want! Stereo Alley
Freedom from Want! By Carl E. Moore is a contemporary surreal image for one’s desire to live without the want for food or Shelter. We live in a country where we waste food on a massive scale. We throw away things that can still be used to fulfill the want for a newer model. We live in spaces that are sometimes 50 to 100% larger than what we need, yet there are still people who are homeless. The concept is loosely based on Norman Rockwell’s 4 Freedoms. “Freedom from Fear” is to live without the fear of war, false imprisonment, injustice, racism, lawlessness, and the threat of an unstable government.
Mockingbird – Escape Alley
The Mockingbird Mural by Melissa Wilkinson’s design incorporates a vibrant, multi-tonal abstract sky-scape featuring the Northern Mockingbird, a bird native to Tennessee and known for its range of vocal abilities. Humble in beauty but always a prominent personality, it depicts a diversity and range in song that serves an embodiment of the collective Tennessee persona.
Utility Box – Maggie H. Isabel Alley
Utility Box Mural by Carl Scott uses geometric patterns and musical themes to create a pop of color along this neutral wall and transform a utility box into a piece of public art.
Meandering Mississippi – at First Horizon Bank
The Mississippi river begins in Minnesota and the mouth of the Mississippi is located at the Gulf of Mexico. It spans almost the whole height of the United States of America: 2,348 miles. Imagining lines of movement upon this railing inspired the artist to visualize water flowing -not just any water, but the Mississippi River. Because the Mississippi meanders so much, that inspired her to take her signature lines and wrap them around these very long railings, representing the meandering attributes of our Mississippi River. The surrounding abstract textures are akin to the sometimes choppy waves. Mural by Darlene Newman and Angela Myers
Papel Picado – Escape Alley
Three designs reading “I love You” (in multiple languages), “Memphis” and “Te Amo” repeat in multiple bright colors along Escape Alley.
Papel Picado by Yancy Villa
Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil – Maggie H Isabel Alley
Jamond Bullock reimagines the classic “See No Evil, Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil” phrase in this painting. This mural is located at the Bon Ton Cafe fence.
Disco Alley Window Light Boxes – Floyd Alley
by A&M Creative. The work aims to tell the history of Raiford’s Disco aligned with the larger history of disco, depicting Robert Raiford as a folk hero of the discotheque movement. The light boxes create a disco pattern in the existing windows of Floyd Alley.
Always On – Moxy Hotel
Pablo Espinosa is an award-winning visual artist, designer, and citizen of the world. Born in Mexico City, he has lived and worked in New Zealand and Japan and has been involved in projects on five continents. His work has been seen in advertising campaigns, journalism websites, street posters and galleries.
He sought to create a bold piece of artwork that felt modern but also stood the test of time. At the center of his concept is the undying spirit of youth transcending generations: a curious, awake mind, a wild quest for pleasure and an intoxicating freedom that comes from within.
Once he decided to highlight these qualities the rest came naturally. A chaotic cloud of color, heat and flash, where seemingly random and magical elements coexist in perfect harmony, connecting the three characters, each a proxy for the aforementioned spirit of youth.
South Main Murals
History of Civil Rights in Memphis
Created by Micheal Roy and concept design by Derrick Dent. This mural is located on the corner of MLK and South Main St on the MLGW Downtown Community Office building. You can learn more about the details and story behind the mural in this ILoveMemphisBlog article.
I Am A Man
This mural was created by Marcellous Lovelace with BLK75. This mural was inspired by the “I am a Man” march that took place on South Main. The piece is part of the South Main Mosaic ArtWalk.
It is located on South Main st. close to Huling near 398 S Main St in Downtown Memphis.
Jay
This mural was created by Lance Turner made for the grunge musician Jimmy Lindsey ( known as Jay Reatard) who passed away at age 29. This mural is located on Vance Ave on the side wall of the building off S. Main Street.
The Untitled Train Mural
Created by Brandon Marshall (mural) and Kenny Hayes (sculpture, assemblage) this mural pays tribute to South Main being Memphis’ railroad hub. The piece is part of the South Main Mosaic ArtWalk.
Mural is located on the wall next to Cafe Pontotoc, 314 S Main Street in Downtown Memphis.
Hope Will Lead Us There
The Hope Will Lead Us There Mural by Erin Williams is located behind Street Ministries Downtown at E Pontotoc Ave and Turley Street in Downtown Memphis.
Upstanders – Facing History and Ourselves
These extraordinary Memphians embraced the challenge to speak out, stand up for others, and make decisions that have helped to create a more inclusive, just, and compassionate Memphis. Located at 115 Huling Avenue (near the National Civil Rights Musuem), this mual was created by artists: by artists Nelson Gutierrez, a Bogota, Columbia native who now works out of Memphis, and Cedar Nordbye, an associate professor at the University of Memphis and founder of the Memphis Mural Brigade.
The mural was a collaborated effort between the UrbanArt Commission, National Civil Rights Museum and Downtown Memphis Commission.
Click here to read about each Memphian depicted within the mural.
Lucky Heart
The Lucky Heart mural was once the sign for the Lucky Heart store which was one of the oldest African-American beauty supply stores. The Store has since moved but the Lucky Heart mural is still there located at Hueling and South Main Street on the side wall of 409 S Main.
Modern Hieroglyphs
The Modern Hieroglyphs mural by Anthony Lee was awarded the American’s for the Arts Public Art Year in Review Award in 2009. It is located across from Cross Fit Hit And Run, 574 S Main Street.
The Memphis Poetry Panels
Located next to 574 S Main Street. Along a 48-foot stretch, eight popular song lyrics about Memphis are stenciled in white on a bright red background. Renowned musicians with a history in Memphis share their passion about the city, among them such notables as Roy Acuff, Big Bill Broonzy, Jerry Lee Lewis, Junior Parker and Rufus Thomas (Urban Art Commission).
Carolina Underpass
These murals of historic downtown Memphis locations can be found on Florida St. beneath the underpass close to Loflin Yard, 7 W Carolina Avenue.
U Rock Memphis
This can be located from the National Civil Rights Museum parking lot off Mulberry St. on the side of URock Photography building, 136 GE Patterson Avenue.
Happy Mexican
This Van Gogh like mural is on the side wall of the Happy Mexican Downtown, 385 S 2nd Street.
That’s How Strong My Love Is
This mural painted by Kyle Taylor in 2014 and is found at 375 South Third Street close to GE Patterson.
Eygpt Memphis
This mural uses images inspired from Memphis, Eygpt and Memphis, Tennessee. The artist is unknown and it is found next to the squirrel and raccoon grafitti on the corner of Talbot and S. Main St.
South Main and Pontotoc
This mural is located on S. Main St. and E. Pontotoc Ave. The artist is George Hunt and was painted in 1983.
Edge Neighborhood Murals
The Millennium Wall
This Millennium Media Label “M” mural is found at 317 Madison Avenue, from the side parking lot where Madison Ave splits.
Collabortory
The work in the Edge is overhead, underfoot and omni-present as it pays homage to the neighborhood’s past while serving as creative placemaking for the future. There’s More to be Proud Of from Cat Pena hangs in the space above the most prominent intersection, Cedar Nordbye’s Maker’s Walk is literally carved into stone markers in the sidewalks, Anthony Lee and Kirsten Williams’ ulta hip auto murals decorate garage doors, while Lester Merriweather’s racing striped mural creates an east-facing welcome to the neighborhood.
More to be Proud Of! by Cat Pena – hanging sculpture.
Marshall Arts and Edge Garage Doors by Michael Roy.
Garage Doors by Anthony Lee and Kiersten Williams.
The Garden Path Studio Mural
Painted by Gina Sposto, and Austin Swopeis and is located on 597 Madison Avenue.
St. Blues
The I Love Memphis Mural “St. Blues” by Brandon Marshall Is located in the parking lot next to Saint Blues Guitar Workshop, 645 Marshall Avenue.
Otis Redding Mural
The Otis Redding Mural is located on 655 Marshall Avenue.
Beale Street Murals
The Beale Street Wings
Beale’s newest mural gives you wings and is a perfect photo-op on America’s most iconic street. The mural is located right next to Tin Roof, 315 Beale Street.
#ILoveMemphis
This I Love Memphis Mural is found on Handy Circle on the side wall of Wet Willies, 209 Beale Street.
Choose 901 Mural
The Choose 901 Mural faces the FedExForum on South B.B. King Blvd behind Dyer’s Burgers.
Gibson GuitarTown Guitars
Beale Street has its own artistic guitars spread out along the street thanks to Gibson GuitarTown. Snap a photo with a guitar at B.B. King’s, Silky O’Sullivan’s or other bars/restaurants on America’s Most Iconic Street.
American Flag Mural
This mural of the American Flag is seen from the corner of S 4th Street and Beale Street on the side of the 340 Beale Street building.
Uptown Murals
I Am Free Mural
Uptown’s cool paint drop mural was done by the same artist who did “Hope Will Lead Us Through” mual by Streets Ministries, Erin Miller Williams. It’s located at the corner of Second Street and Mill.
Living in Community
This mural was painted by Charlie Forrester. Charlie’s design shows his interest in creating beauty and creativity in the streets of Memphis while demonstrating how artwork can communicate a distinct soul of Memphis’ family roots (Urban Art Commission). It is found on the corner of Mill and North 5th street on the sidewall of Brian’s Grocery, 533 N 5th Street.
An Afternoon in Uptown
An Afternoon in Uptown Memphis is designed by 18 year resident and Uptown native, Carl Scott. Carl chose a few local landmark to illustrate Uptown’s progress of old and new neighborhood establishments (Urban Art Commision). Located on Mill and N 3rd St on the sidewall of Roxie’s Grocery, 520 N 3rd Street.
Courage
A mural painted by Brandon Marshall is found on N 3rd Street and Greenlaw Ave On the sidewall of Grace Church Memphis, 190 Mill Avenue.
Working Hard
This mural is located at N 5th Street and Bethel Ave on the sidewall of The Bake Shop, 258 Bethel Avenue.
Pinch District Murals
The Pinch District Mural
This mural was painted by Amy Beth Rice is located on the side of the Carriage Tours of Memphis Building, 393 Main Street.
