The Ultimate Guide to the Best Street Art in Ann Arbor [2024]

01 // Ann/Ashley Parking Structure

This is one of the murals you can find on the A2AC mural scavenger hunt. It is located across the street from the entrance of the parking structure near the intersection of Ann & Ashley.

I was drawn to this mural because it's unlike all the other murals I've showcased in this blog. Typically, I'm drawn to street art with saturated and a wide spectrum of color. This mural is the opposite of that: the art piece is monochromatic.

Location: Across street from 220 N Ashley St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

02 // Blind Pig & 8 Ball Saloon

This is my third article writing about Ann Arbor. In my prior two articles, I've used images of this mural in both.

My favorite mural in all of downtown Ann Arbor is this one-- drawn on the side of the music venue The Blind Pig and also the 8 Ball Saloon.

This mural is included in the A2AC mural tour. It was done by artist Chris "Dokebi" Sammons.

Location: 208 S 1st St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

03 // Circ Bar

Hopefully I don't offend the artist by saying the red color and circles remind me of the store Target, but hey, that's what came to mind. Doesn't deter from its quality at all!

The circles are because this mural is located outside The Circ Bar.

Located just a few steps from the mural outside the Blind Pig and 8 Ball Saloon is this mural, designed by artist Gary Horton. The mural is named "Not Afraid to Dance".

The day I took this picture, there was a gate closing off an entrance on S 1st Ave. To get a better shot, I had to walk up to a train track on W Liberty St, and enter from the back.

Location: 210 S 1st St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

04 // 200 S Ashley St

Pretty mural of flowers on multiple sides of a building at 200 S Ashley St.

Another mural included on the A2AC mural tour. The artist is Ouizi and the mural is apparently entitled "Drifts".

Location: 200 S Ashley St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

05 // 117 N 1st

This blue-centric mural is located on the side of a commercial property space owned by Phoenix West.

This mural is included on the A2AC mural tour. It is entitled "Symbiosis of the Red Bellied Woodpecker and the Eastern Bluebird" and is done by artist Jacob Dwyer.

In case you're wondering what the word 'symbiosis' means (because, admittedly, I had to look it up), it means "a mutually beneficial relationship between different people or groups". You have expanded your vocabulary reading my article!

Location: 117 N 1st, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

06 // 123 N Ashley

This maze-looking mural is not just in this parking lot but also located on two sides of a small building nearby.

This mural is included on the A2AC mural tour. It is entitled "May Her Memory Be Our Innermost Revolution" by artist Ann Lewis. Cool title!

Location: 123 N Ashley, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

07 // Mural near S 1st St & W Washington

At the intersection of S 1st St & W Washington, if you head down W Washington toward Third, you'll see a bridge with this mural underneath.

I don't have any info on the artist nor the name of the mural.

08 // S Ashley Street Lot

Pictured above is just a fragment of this wide spanning mural. Basically, the entire building in the S Ashley Street Lot is painted in vibrant rainbow colors.

There are multiple designs interspersed on the rainbow background as well. Another mural in Ann Arbor I never tire of seeing-- and one that is very hard to miss!

This mural does not have a name. It is included in the A2AC mural tour and was painted by artist Joey Salamon.

Location: 309 S Ashley St, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

09 // Courthouse Square

The tallest and undoubtedly one of the most eye-catching murals in downtown Ann Arbor has to be this one!

This mural is located across the street from the Washtenaw County Courthouse. It is not part of the A2AC mural tour but, actually, belongs to a different collection of murals in Ann Arbor called Treetown Murals.

This 10-story mural was painted by two artists: Mary Thiefels and Danjiel Matanic. It is entitled "Challenge Everything. Create Anything". I like this title too!

This mural is also known by the name of 'Big Wall'.

Location: 100 S Fourth Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

10 // 113 E Liberty St

Located in an alleyway off E Liberty St is this tranquil mural. It is right across the street from the mural I've mention next.

This mural is part of the A2AC mural tour. It was painted by artist Nina Shahin.

Location: 113 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

11 // Bakehouse 46

Since this mural featured the abbreviation for Ann Arbor 'A2', I felt it was the best choice to use as the lead image for this article!

Located across the street from Nina Shahin's mural at 114 E Liberty St is this terrific and colorful mural on the side of Bakehouse 46. This mural is entitled 'Good to the Last Crumb' and was done by artist Jesse Kassel.

Location: 116 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

12 // Ideal Body Piercing

This is another cool mural you'll spot on E Liberty St. It is located in an alleyway on the side of a store called Ideal Body Piercing.

I do not have any other info about this mural.

Location: 211 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

13 // Graffiti Alley

Graffiti Alley was one of my favorite Ann Arbor spots and something I have highly recommended in the past when visiting Ann Arbor.

Why am I speaking in past tense?

I revisited Graffiti Alley in March 2024. The word "FARTS" was spray painted repeatedly and on nearly every wall when you enter from E Liberty St. Yes, I understand this locale is called Graffiti Alley but I still see this as juvenile desolation of one of Ann Arbor's most unique areas.

You can see the word "FARTS" as well in the image for this item, since this picture was taken during my most recent visit.

If you can ignore the obnoxious word, Graffiti Alley is still a prime spot in Ann Arbor to see street art. Graffiti surrounds you, from the walls to the ceiling. Graffiti Alley is basically impossible to omit from discourse on great street art in Ann Arbor.

Location: Across the street from Necto nightclub-- 516 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

14 // Aventura

This mural of a female bullfighter is located on the side of a restaurant in Ann Arbor called Aventura, in an alleyway.

Location: 216 E Washington St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

15 // Mary A. Rackham Institute

A calming mural on the side of the University of Michigan Mary A. Rackham Institute building.

I do not have any additional info on this mural.

Location: 210 S 5th Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Conclusion

In recent years, artists have added tremendously to the scenery of this renowed Michigan college town!

Aside from my guide here, you can also use the iPhone app CANVS Street Art to aid you in finding these murals-- and others I didn't include here!

CANVS is an app you can use to locate murals in many major cities throughout the US!

Alternatively, you can also go on the Google Maps app and type in "A2AC Murals", which will provide you walking diretions to some of the murals listed in this article!

This was my first article dedicated to just covering street art & murals in one city! I certainly will publish more articles on street art in other major US cities in the future!


Thank you for reading! Like... seriously. So many people just skim sh*t and don't read anything past the headline. You're one of the good ones!

One teeny favor to ask: please subscribe to the email list so you can be alerted immediately when new articles come out!