50 Outdoor Murals in Detroit
For our 50th post I Love Detroit Michigan took on its most ambitious project yet: we searched every corner of the city to fill out our definitive list of 50 outdoor murals in Detroit. Over the course of our hunt we learned firsthand about Detroit’s unique traditions of public art and that there’s oftentimes a very fine line between mural and graffiti in our fair city. All murals are located within the city limits of Detroit unless otherwise noted and dates are included where known.
1. “1917 American Bistro Mural”
Clinton Snider with Taurus Burns
North wall of “1917 American Bistro”, 19416 Livernois Rd.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
2.”Yes We Can Did”
Unknown artist
South wall of “Eric’s I’ve Been Framed”, 16527 Livernois Rd.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
3. “Pope Park Mural” (1982, restored 2000)
Southwest corner of Joseph Campau and Belmont St, Hamtramck.
An excellent life-sized mosaic-ish portrait of Cardinal Jozef Glemp is also part of this installation.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
4. Unknown title [5-story lion] (2010)
West wall of Russell Industrial Center, facing the US-75 North Service Drive between East Grand Boulevard and Clay Street.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
5. “Splash Murals Storefront”
Unknown artists [Katie Craig et. al.??]
7332 Oakland Street, just north of East Grand Boulevard.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
6. Unknown title [9-story “Splash” mural] (2009)
Katie Craig [et. al.??]
West wall of the 9-story high rise on the southwest corner of East Grand Boulevard and Beaubien Street.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
7. “We Kahn Do It!”
Unknown artist(s?)
East wall of the 3-story building on the southwest corner of Milwaukee and Brush Street.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
8. “Ove
rland Willys Knight Service Station”
Willys Overland Lofts, 444 West Willis Street.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
9. “Gold Code: LOVE” (2011)
Vagner Whitehead
West wall of The N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art at 52 East Forest Avenue.
The hands and symbols in this work spell out the word “Look” in American Sign Language, Braille and Morse code.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
10. “Park Shelton Apartments”
Unknown artist
North wall of The Park Shelton Condominiums Building at Woodward Avenue and East Kirby Street.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
11. “Patterns of Detroit” (2005)
Hubert Massey [central panel]
An all tile mosaic located on the east wall of the Center for Creative Studies parking ramp, at the intersection of Brush and East Kirby Street.
Multiple adjacent horizontal panels were created by various community artists in concert with various area youth groups.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
12. “Malice Green Memorial” (1992)
Bennie White [E. Israel??]
Northwest corner of West Warren Avenue and 23rd Street.
Click here to see something closer to what this memorial looked like when it was freshly painted in 1992. A relic of a far less than stellar chapter in the city’s history.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
13. “Shake It Up” (2011)
Unknown artist [J.Q.??]
East wall of the duplex at 1531-1533 West Warren Avenue.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
14. Unknown title (2008-2009)
Behind the Woodbridge Pub at the corner of Trumbull & Merrick Street.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
15. “Welcome to Woodbridge”
Summer In The City Non-Profit Service Organization
Barnabas Youth Center at 3530 Grand River Avenue on the northeast corner of Grand River and MLK Jr. Boulevard.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
16. “‘Today we need to combine learning with work, political struggle, community service and even play.’ –Grace Lee Boggs” (2011)
South wall of the building on the southeast corner of 2nd and Brainard Street.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
17. Unknown titles
Hygienic Dress League [Steve and Dorota Coy]
Street level of the old Hotel Eddystone on the northwest corner of Sproat and Park Avenue.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
18. Unknown title
Anna Muccioli
South wall of Muccioli Studio Gallery at 511 Beaubien Street.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
19. “Care” (2011)
Unknown artists
Grand Circus Park between Bagley and Washington.
We hear this mural was created as a backdrop for a soon to be released Kid Rock music video.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
20. “Whale Tower” aka “Whaling Wall #76″ (1997)
Northeast wall of Broderick Tower (1928) at the southeast corner of Grand Circus Park.
This mural is currently covered up by a 15-or-so-story Android telephone advertisement. Despite all the good things Dan Gilbert, the trillionaire owner of Broderick Tower, has been doing with his newly acquired downtown Detroit real estate, covering up the work of this Madison Heights native AIN’T one of ’em!
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
21. Unknown title
Unknown artist
Hart Plaza, in the main stairwell to the lower level underground stage.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
22. “Uplift, Inspire, Grace, Love”
Unknown artist
East wall of Saint Andrew’s Hall at 431 East Congress Street.
This mural promotes a gospel music tour entitled “How Sweet The Sound“.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
23. “Serman’s Fine Clothes for Men and Young Men”
Unknown artist
Southeast corner of Randolph and Macomb Street.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
24. “Vondie’s On The River”
Unknown artist [???? Wilson]
South wall of Vondie’s at 260 Schweizers Place in Rivertown.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
25. “Your BBQ Rib Headquarters!”
Unknown artist
Kap’s Wholesale Foods, 2630 Riopelle Street in the Eastern Market district.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
26. “Eastern Market” Mural #1
Unknown artist [Lee Mans Outdoor Advertising of Hazel Park??]
West wall of Eastern Market Cold Storage at 2531 Riopelle Street in the Eastern Market district.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
27. “Eastern Market” Mural #2
Alex Pollock [of Lee Mans Outdoor Advertising of Hazel Park??]
South wall of Cost Plus Wine Shoppe at 2448 Market Street in the Eastern Market district.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
28. “Wigleys Corned Beef” “Cheech’s Chicken” “RJ’s Meats” [Gratiot Central Market murals]
Unknown artists
1419-1439 Gratiot Avenue
A nearly identical set of murals can be found on the backside of the building along the US-75/375 Service Drive.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
29. “Family Owned and Operated since 1918”
Unknown artist
Busy Bee Hardware, 1401 Gratiot Avenue in the Eastern Market district.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
30. “Insect Control Rodent Killer”
Unknown artist
Busy Bee Hardware, 1401 Gratiot Avenue in the Eastern Market district.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
31. Unknown title
Dequindre Cut Greenway alongside about fifty to one hundred of the city’s very best works of graffiti art.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
32. “Greetings From Gratiot”
Summer In The City Non-Profit Service Organization
North side of the intersection of Gratiot Avenue and Jos Campau.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
33. “Gratiot Grill”
Unknown artist [???? Patrick]
3121 Gratiot Avenue, on the north side of the intersection of Gratiot and McDougall.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
34. “The African Amalgamation Of Ubiquity”
Unknown artist
Northeast corner of Gratiot and Cadillac, just north of Harper Avenue.
This timeless beauty is badly in need of a quality restoration. Here’s to hoping some capable and industrious local steps up to the task, and soon.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
35. “Jefferson East” aka “Summer In The City”
Carl Oxley, John Hix, Phil Cierpial, Greg Frederick, Dave Danielson, Chad P. Hunt, Mark Sengbusch, Chazz Miller, Julia Rowe and Madison Hicks
West wall of Crown Cleaners at Jefferson Avenue and Lakewood Street.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
36. “Corktown: Since 1834: Detroit’s Oldest Neighborhood” (2004)
East wall of the building at 1236 Michigan Avenue, just a tiny bit west of the Lodge Freeway ovepass.
Check out Ferretti’s “Monumental Kitty” just around the corner at the intesection of US-75 South Service Drive and the Cochrane Street pedestrian bridge.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
37. “Corktown”
Summer In The City Non-Profit Service Organization
West wall of the building at 1236 Michigan Avenue, just a tiny bit west of the Lodge Freeway ovepass.
We’re extremely curious about the identities of the three faces in this work. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
38. “Corktown: Dedicated to R. Drury” (2004)
West wall of Duncan Speedometer Service at 2135 Michigan Avenue, just a bit east of 14th Street.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
39. “EN MASSE @ Corktown” (2011)
Jason Botkin, Sintex, FEL3000ft, Mike Han and Chris Carden
East side of 14th Street between Michigan Avenue and Dalzelle.
Click here and here for more info about this piece.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
40. “The Cornfield“
Vito Valdez and James Puntigam; Restored by Vito Valdez with assistance from Jen Boyak (1997-1998??)
Northwest corner of Bagley and Sainte Anne Street in Mexicantown.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
41. Unknown title
Unknown artist [Mexican-American heritage themed, all-metal mural]
Front wall of Detroit GreenWorks Solutions: Green Jobs Training Center at 2301-2315 Bagley Street, just west of Sainte Anne.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
42. “Never Stop Dreaming/Nunca Dejes de Sonar”
Jen Boyak et. al.
West wall of Matrix Theater Company at 2730 Bagley Street, between Sainte Anne and 20th.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
43. “Dia De Los Muertos: Mexicantown: 2010” (2010)
Unknown artist
West wall of Detroit GreenWorks Solutions: Green Jobs Training Center at 2301-2315 Bagley Street, just west of Sainte Anne.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
44. Unknown Title [“Tree Of Life”??] (1979)
???? Moreno and ???? Vargas [restored by ???? and Callahan, 1997]
West wall of the building at the southeast corner of Bagley and Sainte Anne Street in Mexicantown.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
45. “Spiral Of Life” (2010)
An all tile mosaic located at the east end of the Bagley Street pedestrian bridge over US-75, just to the west of Bagley and 21st.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
46. “Aztec Calendar“
Unknown artist
West wall of Los Galanes Mexican Restaurant at Bagley and 23rd Street.
There’s an even larger, but less aesthetically pleasing mural on the north wall of this joint.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
47. “Cesar Chavez”
This all tile mosaic is located on the street side of the “LA SED” Building aka Myron P. Leven Learning Center at 4138 West Vernor Highway in Mexicantown.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
48. “Victoria Violeta” (2010)
East wall of 6016 West Vernor Highway, just east of Livernois Avenue.
A tribute to Chilean folk singer, Violeta Parra.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
49. “Mano de Obra Campesina [Hand Of The Peasant Labor??]” aka “Hijo del Maiz [Son Of Corn]” (2010)
West wall of Hacienda Mexican Foods at 6022 West Vernor Highway, just east of Livernois Avenue.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
50. Unknown title
Unknown artist [underwater nude Meso-American female humanoid??]
West wall of the building at 5658 Fort, just slightly west of Junction Street in the Delray neighborhood.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Our Continuing Research Department promises to fill out the long list of “unknowns” found herein with actual researched factual information over the coming months. Any lowdown our adoring public cares to share with us regarding the 50 aforementioned murals in Detroit would be welcomed and greatly appreciated. ~I♥DM
