10 beads of urban art in Arizona

Every year, more and more travelers travel through Arizona. Many of them are, of course, attracted by its natural beauty like the Grand Canyon or Monument Valley. But do not miss some cities like Tucson, Tempe, Flagstaff or the well-known Phoenix for urban art that thrives there. These creations that are born in the heart of the public space are worth the detour. For this reason, I propose a selection of my ten favorite street art in Arizona.

10 - TUCSON, The Agave Lady of Rock Martinez

© OT Arizona
Every year the city of Tucson, in southern Arizona, uses local artists to beautify its walls. These frescoes with bold graphics and vibrant colors are one of the pride of the city. Located at the entrance to downtown Tucson, the colorful Agave lady of Rock Martinez 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!

9 - TUCSON, we lose the head with Jessica Gonzales

© OT Arizona
On this beautiful fresco of the city center, we see three female faces more real than life surrounded by images representing Tucson: the lasso, recalls the culture of the rodeo; the monsoon clouds are referring to the climatic phenomenon that is affecting the southwestern United States in July / August, causing an increase in precipitation. A nice way to put color in your daily life!

8 - TUCSON, Vergiss, like an air of Asia in Arizona

© OT Arizona
Dac, an Irish artist and globe-trotter, 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 fresco was originally painted for the Urban Nation art project in Berlin but was destroyed. End Dac has drawn this young Asian woman with hands joined Tucson, in 5 times bigger.

7 - TUCSON, myths and legends in downtown

© OT Arizona
On one of the walls of Rialto Theater in Tucson is a rather delirious fresco by Ignacio Garcia. The artist was inspired by American myths and symbols to represent a real rodeo scene. Both characters are part of popular culture. We see a jackalope, an imaginary animal of American folklore, from the mixture of a hare and an antelope and the man who rides him is none other than Bill Walton, a famous basketball player.

6 - FLAGSTAFF, optimism on Route 66

© OT Arizona
In Northeastern Arizona, Flagstaff impresses with its numerous art installations in the heart of the public space. In Jetsonian Optimism, David C. Mullins was deliberately inspired by the glamor of 1940s cars traveling on Highway 66 to paint this mural that covers the Travelodge Motel. The vivacity of its colors and its imaginary forms take up the retrofuturistic current.

5 - FLAGSTAFF, Mother myth mural

© OT Arizona
On Route 66: This mural by RE Wall and Margaret Dewar tells the story of Route 66. It was made in the center of Flagstaff, between Phoenix Av. And San Francisco St., at the same place two historic motels that greeted travelers to the Grand Canyon. We admire this fresco from right to left, as we travel the road from East to West, discovering the unusual evolution of this highway become mythical.

4 - PHOENIX, a walk in the neighborhood of Roosevelt Row

© OT Arizona
Street art is gaining momentum in Phoenix, Arizona's capital city. The Roosevelt Row neighborhood, also known as RoRo, is nationally recognized for its artistic events that provide a rather striking cultural liveliness! While strolling along the streets, it is difficult not to fall on a mural or an art gallery. RoRo is without a doubt one of the temples of street-art in Arizona!

3 - PHOENIX, Bienvenidos in Arizona

© OT Arizona
Silvana Salcido Esparza, a restaurateur of the city, brought together some of the best artists for the Calle 16 project, around the 16th St. In 2010, Gennaro Garcia and DOSE realized the first of these frescoes in tribute to the 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 frescoes in Phoenix.

2 - TEMPE, Greetings from Tempe

© Greetings from Tempe by Susan Gamble in 1995, photograph by Craig Smith
For several years, public art has appeared in the most unexpected places in Tempe, a student city in central Arizona. Street furniture is used to support colorful works that illustrate the unique character of its environment. The mosaic made in 1995 by Susan Gamble is inspired by the desert. There are cactuses, local birds, and bright colors that illuminate the city center.

1 - TEMPE, art around the lake

© Words Over Water by Alberto Rios, Harry Reese, and Karla Elling, in 2001, photograph by Craig Smith
Words Over Water is one of the most famous works of Arizon's street art. In total, there are almost 10km of phrases and words written by artists on tiles, with poems and illustrations, which are arranged along the retaining wall of Lake Tempe. These thoughts or little stories are arranged in such a way as to lead visitors to come and walk around the water. A great way to promote tourism!