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
“Whatever you are, be a good one,” 15th and Rowan Streets | By Often Seen Rarely Spoken
This Abraham Lincoln quote is brought to a bright yellow life on the side of a warehouse around the corner from the fifteenTWELVE compound — and it also pays homage to the legacy of an anonymous Louisville street artist.
“Say Their Names,” 1026 S. 11th St. | By Whitney Holbourn, Andrew Thompson, Braylyn Resko Stewart
This honorary mural depicts Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, George Floyd, Travis Nagdy, and more and was unveiled in July 2020.
“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.
“Be the energy you want to attract,” 16th St. and Muhammad Ali Blvd. | By Victor Sweatt
Featuring mostly primary colors, this inspirational mural was dedicated to kids in the Russell neighborhood.
🎨 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 pizza restaurant Square Cut and ice cream shop Sugar Room.
“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.
