Walking the streets of Los Angeles is like sauntering through an expansive outdoor art gallery — every corner is littered with awe-inspiring works.
Here’s a guide to some of the most striking L.A. murals every art fan should visit.
The Berlin Wall Project
See a slice of Berlin in Los Angeles. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, The Wende Museum brought 10 segments of the original wall and installed them on Wilshire Boulevard. Local artists have been invited to paint a series of politically and personally inspired murals on the segments, reaffirming L.A. as the mural capital of the world.
The Great Wall of Los Angeles
At half a mile long it’s no wonder this work is dubbed the “great wall.” It charts the city’s most memorable historical moments, spanning pre-historic California right up to modern times. With more than 400 participants contributing to the wall since work began back in the 1970s, the continuous project is a fascinating example of the city’s evolution.
Hollywood Freeway
Kent Twitchell is one of the city’s most renowned muralists, and there are lots of examples of his impressive artwork dotted around town. On Hollywood Freeway — the gateway to downtown L.A. — you can catch a glimpse of one of the artist’s seminal pieces: two huge opposing portraits dubbed by the artist himself “The Grand Avenue Altarpiece.”
6th Street Mural at the Standard Hotel
With a revolving door of prominent artists ready to adorn its 6th Street exterior walls, The Standard Hotel is embracing the city’s vibrant arts scene, while ensuring views of the urban cityscape never get old with their ongoing mural installation.
Homage to Starry Night
Take a stroll down Venice Beach and the beachfront soon morphs into your very own walking gallery. Make a beeline for local artist Rip Cronk’s legendary “Homage to Starry Night” — a masterpiece in its own right celebrating one of Vincent Van Gogh’s most famous works.
Featured image: © Ram Smith/Flickr
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to… whose guides cover all the best hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, sights, shops and spas.
