Detroit Street Art Paints the City in a New Light

By: Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers | May 16, 2018
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In a city that’s being revitalized on a daily basis, it’s no surprise that you’ll find some of the country’s most beautiful pieces of street art in Detroit. From commissioned pieces by famed international artists to community art installations, Detroit’s street art scene is one of the most vibrant in the country and serves to literally change the face of the Motor City. If you’re not sure of where to start, here are a few to recommendations.

The Alley Project

Started in 2004, The Alley Project (TAP) is an initiative in Southwest Detroit that seeks to empower local youth through art. In its infancy, TAP consisted of four garage canvases and 8-12 young artists. Now, the initiative boasts 30-50 participants per month across a studio, a garden lot and an alley gallery. You can follow TAP’s progress and view the murals online here.

One Campus Martius

One Campus Martius is home to two enormous murals. “Peace and Justice Lotus” by Shepard Fairey was made using more than 300 cans of spray paint across the 185-foot mural. “Balancing Act” by two twin street artists Raoul and Davide Perre (How & Nosm) came about a year later. Each was commissioned by Bedrock Detroit, Library Street Collective and Meridian Health.

Eastern Market Murals

Designed by Dalek as part of Murals in the Market in Eastern Market in Detroit. Photo courtesy of 1xRUN.

Thanks to the annual art festival Murals in the Market, Eastern Market has become a hotbed for international street artists to decorate this corner of Detroit in beauty. For 10 days in September, artists help the revitalization of the city by painting their works of art. The artwork has led to increased traffic through the Eastern Market neighborhood and economic development. The next Murals in the Market will be held September 13-22, 2018. Detroit Experience Factory often holds tours of the Eastern Market murals called “Art in the Market Tour”.

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Dequindre Cut Greenway

Back in 2009, the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy worked with the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit and the College for Creative Studies’ community+public arts DETROIT initiative to have four artists create original artwork near the Gratiot entrance of the Greenway. Since then, more murals have sprung up, decorating the path for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Lincoln Street Art Park

The former abandoned industrial site is now the site of some of the most eye-catching recycled art pieces around. Once abandoned, the area on Lincoln Street became a dumping ground for all kinds of garbage. A community took it upon themselves to take the “one man’s trash” idiom literally and turn the garbage that littered the lot into pieces of art.

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