We all know that LOU has a vibrant art scene — and we’re not just talking about the Speed Art Museum or KMAC Museum. One of our all-time favorite galleries? Louisville itself.
Derby City is home to a number of meaningful murals and street art pieces. Today, we’re sharing where to find pieces that really paint a picture of our city.
Downtown
“4th Street Kentucky Mural,” 642 S. 4th St. | By Fieldtrip
A disco ball, rickhouse, Muhammad Ali, and a birthday cake are just a few shoutouts to Kentucky culture depicted in this bright blue mural collectively designed by the Fieldtrip team.
“Hope Springs — The Wishing Well,” 4th and Main Streets | By Whitney Olsen
This mixed-media art piece transforms MSD’s downtown flood pump station into a shimmery, underwater work of art.
Old Louisville
“Family and Children’s Place,” 525 Zane St. | By Jaylin Stewart
Founded in 1883, the Family & Children’s Place works to address and prevent child abuse — so it seems only right that artist Jaylin involved local kids from Engelhard Elementary School to create an art piece on the agency’s wall.
“Greetings from Louisville,” 1101 Central Ave. | By Victor Ving and Lisa Beggs
Part of the nationwide mural project “Greetings Tour” (the artists have a goal to paint a mural in all 50 states), this postcard-style art piece incorporates iconic Louisville imagery into every letter.
NuLu
“The Unified Race,” 826 E. Main St. | By Kacy Jackson
Located in the heart of NuLu in the NuLu Marketplace, this colorful mural featuring two horses on a prism background came to life in 2021 and is one of the newer murals on the block.
“Rabbit Hole,” 700 E. Market St. | By Jeremy Booth and Often Seen Rarely Spoken
This Vector Noir-style painting serves as the backdrop to one of Louisville’s most beloved patios and was commissioned by the nearby Rabbit Hole Distillery.
“#NuluWildflower,” 701 E. Market St. | By Liz Richter
Kentucky wildflowers cover an outside wall of the NuLu gift store Red Tree as part of a project with Google Fiber and represent the growth of the neighborhood.
“Royals Hot Chicken,” 736 E. Market St. | By Wilfred Sieg III
Will Sieg has left his mark across Louisville and Southern Indiana — including this spray-painted abstract masterpiece of a chicken on the side of Royals Hot Chicken.
Portland
“The Waterfalls,” 1531 W. Main St. | By Chris Chappell
Louisville’s My Morning Jacket partnered with The Portland Investment Initiative and Beautify Earth to fund a series of public art projects — including this reinterpretation of the band’s “The Waterfall” album artwork.
Shelby Park + Smoketown
“Whiskey Got me in to Trouble,” 1149 S. Shelby St. | By Bryan Patrick Todd
Designed for Shelby Park bourbon bar Trouble Bar is a mural dedicated to a saying most Louisvillians know all too well.
“What we need is here,” 900 S. Shelby St. | By Liz Richter
This two-story public art piece draws attention to supporting the physical and mental health of mothers and was commissioned as part of the Lean Into Louisville initiative.
“Sunshine & Shadows,” 741 E. Oak St. | By Gibbs Rounsavall
Swirls of pastels take over the side of a building housing Shelby Park’s Perso restaurant.
This mural creates a new meaning for “book worm.”
Photo courtesy @shelbyparklouisville
“Believe in yourself,” 1124 Logan St. | By Wilfred Sieg III
This giant painting is the gateway to Shelby Park and features a larger-than-life crow with a pen in its talons, a black inkwell, and books.
