For about a year and a half now, Virginia’s capital city of Richmond has been my home base. There are honestly so many things about this city that are unique and worth a visit. Perhaps one of the most unique things about Richmond is the 150+ street murals bedecking the city’s neighborhoods. This large number of murals is especially amazing considering that the initiative to bring more street art to Richmond began less than ten years ago in 2012 with the advent of the Richmond Mural Project and the RVA Street Art Festival.
Though the public art initiatives of 2012 and onwards were the initial catalyst for Richmond’s myriad murals, the continuance of the street art tradition has been thanks in no small part to a handful of incredible local muralists. As I have explored the world of Richmond street art both online and in-person, I feel as though I have gotten to know the local talent. I may or may not be irritating friends and family with my constant proclamations like “those colors look like something the Nightowl would paint” or “Look, another Nils portrait!” or “I hadn’t seen that Ham Glass mural before.” …I am also absolutely enamored by the Girls Girls Girls! murals by HerrSuite. I could go on but just trust me when I say that there are some excellent muralists here in Richmond. In fact, why don’t I just show you?
Please scroll down to join me for a mini-tour of just a very select few examples of Richmond’s stunning street art.
Stop 1: Old Town Manchester
Stop 2: Shockoe Bottom
Stop 3: Canal Walk
Stop 4: Jackson Ward
Stop 5: VCU
Stop 6: Carytown
Stop 7: The Fan
Stop 8: Scott’s Addition
Take Your Own Richmond Street Art Tour with the Most Comprehensive Richmond Street Art Map
After frequently discovering new murals in Richmond completely by accident, I recently set out to get a look at as much street art around the city as possible. When I began, I genuinely had no idea that there were nearly as many murals as there actually are. These past few weeks, I have found myself trudging through alleys, side streets, and parking lots to get photos of only a small handful of Richmond’s numerous murals. I’ve also spent nearly as much time noting mural locations in the city as I go about daily life and also by stalking the websites & Instagram accounts of local street artists. Ultimately, after the aforementioned weeks of research, I put together what I believe is the most comprehensive map of all the street art in the city of Richmond. I was on the lookout for other people’s maps as I went on my own hunt, but many of them are either outdated or only include the murals from a specific project. Check out my Richmond Mural Map (last updated January 31st, 2020) to use as your own street art guide to Richmond, VA.
Would you take a self-guided tour of Richmond’s Street Art? Do you know of any murals I may have missed on my map? Let me know in the comments!
