Home to historic buildings, a diverse dining scene, lively nightlife, and—of course—the California State Capitol, downtown Sacramento definitely has a certain charm to it. A revitalization that started in the mid-90s completely transformed the city’s urban core, turning it into the oasis of food, culture, and public art that you see today. Walking along the streets, you’ll notice that Sacramento definitely isn’t lacking when it comes to artistic expression. In fact, the city is home to well over 100 urban art murals that were created thanks to the Wide Open Walls art festival. Take a day to see them all and appreciate these stunning works of art for yourself!
Every year, the Wide Open Walls festival transforms the capital city with colorful, larger-than-life street murals. Found all over the city—seemingly wherever you turn—you could spend hours seeking all of them out!
Wide Open Walls is a non-profit organization that has been promoting and celebrating public art since 2016. Believing that art has the power to empower and change lives, the organization brings some much-needed artistic expression to beautiful Sacramento.
Wide Open Walls hosts a festival in August every year in which both local and traveling artists come together to gift the community with some new works of art. The festival typically takes place over several days, but the murals stay up indefinitely for people to enjoy.
Most murals can be found around Midtown and Downtown Sacramento. However, there are several pieces tucked away in the surrounding neighborhoods. The festival generally attempts to pair the artists' style with the location. As a result, each mural somehow manages to both stand-out and blend into the environment.
Some of Sacramento's most iconic large-scale murals were created thanks to Wide Open Walls. For instance, this 15-story mural of Johnny Cash by artist Shepard Fairey has become one of the city's most recognizable piece of street art.
Some murals seem downright bizarre and random; Some connect with the area's local flavor and history. This large postcard-style mural was created by twelve different artists who were tasked with spelling out the city's name using their personal take on Sacramento for inspiration.
For an urban adventure in the heart of the state's capital, spend the day wandering around and finding your personal favorite mural! Plan ahead of time by using the suggested tours on the Wide Open Walls website, or creating your own.
What’s your favorite Sacramento urban art mural? Do you know of any other cities with public art that totally rocks? Share your thoughts with us below!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
