Every year, more and more travelers are visiting Arizona. Many of them are certainly attracted by its natural beauties such as the Grand Canyon or Monument Valley, but some cities such as Tucson, Tempe, Flagstaff or the well known Phoenix should not be missed for the urban art which develops there. These creations that are born in the heart of the public space are worth the detour. For this reason, Petit Futé offers you its selection of ten street art favorites in Arizona.
N°10 - Tucson, The Agave Lady by Rock Martinez
Every year, the city of Tucson, in southern Arizona, calls upon local artists to embellish its walls. These boldly designed and colorful murals are one of the city's proudest achievements. Located at the entrance to downtown Tucson, Rock Martinez' colorful Agave Lady contrasts with the aridity of the surrounding desert. The young woman represented would be the girlfriend of the artist... A very beautiful proof of love !
N°9- Tucson, we lose our head with Jessica Gonzales
On this nice mural in the city center, we can see three female faces more real than life surrounded by images representing Tucson: the lasso reminds us of the rodeo culture; the monsoon clouds refer to the climatic phenomenon that hits the Southwest of the United States in July and August causing an increase in rainfall. A nice way to add color to your daily life!
N° 8 - Tucson, Vergiss, like an Asian air in Arizona
Fin Dac, an Irish artist and globetrotter, settled down for a few days in Tucson. He took the opportunity to leave a fascinating work of art on a historic building in the city center. This mural was originally painted for the Urban nation art project in Berlin but was destroyed. So Fin Dac drew again this young Asian woman with joined hands in Tucson, in 5 times bigger.
N° 7 - Tucson, myths and legends in downtown
On one of the walls of the Rialto Theater of Tucson appears a rather delirious fresco of Ignacio Garcia. The artist was inspired by American myths and symbols to represent a real rodeo scene. The two characters are part of the popular culture. We see a jackalope, an imaginary animal of the American folklore, resulting from the mixture of a hare and an antelope, and the man who rides it is none other than Bill Walton, a famous basketball player.
N°6- Flagstaff, optimism on Route 66
In the north of Arizona, Flagstaff impresses with its numerous art installations in the heart of public space. In Jetsonian Optimism, David C. Mullins was deliberately inspired by the gleam of the 1940's cars traveling on Route 66 to paint this mural covering the Travelodge Motel. The liveliness of its colors and its imaginary forms takes up the retrofuturist current.
N°5- Flagstaff, Mother myth mural : on Route 66
This mural by R.E. Wall and Margaret Dewar traces the history of Route 66. It was realized in the center of Flagstaff, between Phoenix Av. and San Francisco St., at the very place where two historical motels are located, which welcomed the travelers going to the Grand Canyon. You can admire this mural from right to left, as you travel the road from East to West, discovering the unusual evolution of this mythical highway.
N° 4 - Phoenix, stroll in the Roosevelt Row district
Street art is growing in Phoenix, Arizona's capital. The Roosevelt Row neighborhood, also known as RoRo, is nationally recognized for its artistic events which ensure a rather striking cultural vivacity! As you stroll along the streets, it's hard not to come across a mural or an art gallery. RoRo is without a doubt one of the temples of street art in Arizona!
N°3- Phoenix, Bienvenidos a Arizona
Silvana Salcido Esparza, a local conservator, brought together several of the best artists for the Calle 16 project, around16th Street. In 2010, Gennaro Garcia and DOSE created the first of these murals as a tribute to Hispanic arts. This gigantic and colorful work brought together more than 150 volunteers, from 5 to 80 years old, who all helped to paint these images mixing Mexico and Arizona. It is without a doubt one of the most impressive murals in Phoenix.
N°2- Tempe, Greetings from Tempe
For several years, public art has been appearing in the most unexpected places in Tempe, a student town in central Arizona. The street furniture is used as a support for colorful works that illustrate the uniqueness of its environment. The mosaic created in 1995 by Susan Gamble is inspired by the desert. It features cacti, local birds, and bright colors that illuminate the downtown area.
N° 1 - Tempe, art around the lake
Words Over Water is one of the most famous works of Arizonian street art. In total, almost 10 km of sentences and words written by artists on tiles, with poems and illustrations, are arranged along the retaining wall of Lake Tempe. These thoughts or short stories are arranged in such a way as to encourage visitors to come and walk around the water. A great way to promote tourism!
