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See the best street art in these 10 cities across the country
Photo courtesy of E+ / ArtistGNDphotography
Street art is exploding in popularity across the country. Urban art gives insight into a city's culture and personality, and these 10 American cities have some of the best collections of public art. A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote over four weeks. Scroll to see the winners.
No. 10: Austin, Texas
You don’t have to look hard to find public art in Austin – the city’s quirkiness tends to be on full display. South Austin and downtown have a high concentration of murals, but you’ll also find colorful walls in East Austin and along North Lamar.
Photo courtesy of Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau
No. 9: Miami, Florida
Miami earned a spot on the street art map in the early 2000s when the Wynwood warehouse district became a destination for the world’s best graffiti artists. The Wynwood Walls remain a favorite, with works from more than 50 artists. You’ll also find murals in downtown, Little Haiti, Little Havana and the Design District, among others.
Photo courtesy of Alexander Thompson / NYC & Company
No. 8: New York, New York
New York has long had a vibrant street arts scene. These days, Bushwick is a hot spot, though you’ll find art scattered throughout the five boroughs. Highlights include the 100 Gates Project in the Lower East Side Business Improvement District, the Graffiti Hall of Fame in East Harlem and the Welling Court Mural Project in Queens.
Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago
No. 7: Chicago, Illinois
Chicago has tens of thousands of square feet of murals painted across its buildings, bridges, train stations and other surfaces. The Wabash Arts Corridor features some 20 large-scale murals in a seven-block stretch, but you’ll find more in Pilsen, Logan Square, Wicker Park, Bucktown and Rogers Park.
Photo courtesy of VISIT DENVER, Nikkie Rae, Marka
No. 6: Denver, Colorado
Denver’s buildings offer an urban canvas for street art, including commissioned pieces and unsanctioned areas where the art is always evolving. Street art enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the River North Art District, East Colfax, the Art District on Santa Fe and Confluence Park.
Photo courtesy of San Francisco Travel
No. 5: San Francisco, California
You’d be hard pressed to find a neighborhood in San Francisco without excellent street art. The Mission District ranks among the most famous neighborhoods for mural art, but you’ll also find them along Haight Street, Jack Kerouac Alley in North Beach and in the colorful Castro.
Photo courtesy of Jesse David Green
No. 4: Detroit, Michigan
You don’t have to leave your car to take in works of art in Motor City. Detroit’s Grand River Creative Corridor stands out as a highlight with nearly 100 murals between Rosa Parks Boulevard and Warren Avenue. Ride the Detroit People Mover on its 2.9-mile loop to take in the Art in the Stations collection of 13 mixed-media displays.
Photo courtesy of J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA
No. 3: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mural Arts Philadelphia was founded in 1984 to empower professional artists to showcase their talents. Since then, the organization has produced more than 3,600 murals, many of which are still on display. A highlight is the Love Letter project, a series of 50 rooftop murals visible from the Market-Frankford elevated transit line.
Photo courtesy of Lydia Schrandt
No. 2: Cincinnati, Ohio
ArtWorks Cincinnati has created more than 180 public murals throughout the city. Some favorites include Mr. Tarbell Tips His Hat, The Golden Muse, Cincinnati Toy Heritage and Ice Cream Daydream.
Photo courtesy of Oklahoma City
No. 1: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think about street art, but this city has become a veritable outdoor gallery. Start your explorations in the Plaza District before continuing on to the Western Avenue corridor and Bricktown.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
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10Best Local Experts provide users with original, unbiased, and experiential travel content of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. No business pays to be listed. Our Local Experts are well-traveled and well-educated group who are not only experts in their fields - and their cities - but discriminating in their tastes. These local experts live in the city they write about, with constantly updated content.
