These 15 Mind-Bending Murals Turn the Mundane Into the Memorable

See 15 images of superb street art from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

Photographs selected by Quentin Nardi

There are many ways to explore a town or neighborhood, but one sure route to discovery is just taking a walk around and enjoying the street art. Community members and local governments often determine what and how the otherwise empty walls of a district will be decorated.

Will the artwork honor a hometown hero, reflect the area’s commitment to education or the environment, depict a beloved park or historic building, or just offer bold, bright hues to lift visitors’ spirits? No matter what’s on the wall, it’s worth talking a look. See for yourself.

Old Havana
A pedestrian walks by a mural depicting various tropical fruits in the Old Havana neighborhood of the Cuban capital. Adriano Contreras, Cuba, 2016
A hidden mural
A hidden mural of a face overlooks a parking lot in the Wynwood neighborhood in downtown Miami. The striking scale stands in stark contrast to the surrounding structures and plants. Sandra Frankel, Florida, 2017
High Line
From the vantage point of the High Line in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood, this mural serves as a nice example of art in the city. Michael Boyce, New York, 2015
New York City
Colorful, abstract artwork covers the walls of a building in New York City. Natalie Dietterich, New York, 2017
red coat
A pedestrian in a red coat seems to seamlessly insert herself into a Toronto mural featuring a wintry scene. Sylvia Lorico, Canada, 2019
Red Skelton
The community of Vincennes pays homage to Emmy winner Red Skelton, a native who hosted his own comedy show from 1951 to 1971. Stephen Torain, Indiana, 2011
cylindrical silos
Seventy-year-old cylindrical silos served as the canvas—complete with steel panels, rivets and seams—for this colorful artwork. Elizabeth Szabo, Michigan, 2024
Day of the Dead
A mural in Phoenix evokes Day of the Dead imagery. Katharine P. Britt, Arizona, 2012
Austin
Which came first, the postcard or the mural? This popular Austin art has been featured on souvenirs and used as a logo. Pam Edwards, Texas, 2015
Tehran
In Tehran, a woman stands in front of an intricate mural that features a small landscape surrounded by a larger painting of flowers and swirls. Joyce Le Mesurier, Iran, 2016
Pig
Artwork of a black-and-white pig is juxtaposed against a kaleidoscope of colorful shapes. Jill Moskowitz, New York, 2009
Wynwood Walls
Wynwood Walls is an outdoor museum in Miami with giant murals. Agnieszka Wieczorek, Florida, 2024
Bob Dylan mural
This Bob Dylan mural in downtown Minneapolis, a major city in his home state, features lyrics from the artist’s 1964 track and album of the same name: “The Times They Are a-Changin’.” Lisa Drew, Minnesota, 2021
Hanoi
A worker and her reflection at the Hanoi airport finish sweeping near a wall-length floral mural. Olga Leskiw-Suzuki, Vietnam, 2020

Tracy Scott Forson is a senior editor at Smithsonian magazine.

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