Are you interested in art? Do you also enjoy staying active and being outside? Do you have limited time and want an activity that will take an hour or less? Touring Downtown Jacksonville’s collection of wall murals is the perfect activity if one or all of those things mentioned above grabs your attention.
All within walking distance of each other, Downtown Jacksonville has nine unique wall murals designed by artists from all over the world, curated by ArtRepublic. Ranging from abstract to contemporary to surreal, touring the downtown murals is a great activity for those who enjoy photography, art appreciation or want to put an interesting spin on getting exercise. Enjoy the guide below to make the most of your tour of some of #DTJax’s most diverse street art.
Stop 1: James Reka┃245 Water St.
The first mural, and one of the most impressive in size, is an abstract piece by Australian artist James Reka. Located across the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts, it is nearly impossible to miss this piece of art due to its size and striking color scheme. While you are in the area, take in the scenic views of the St. John’s River at the Jacksonville Landing.
Stop 2: Waone Interesni Kazki┃315 W. Forsyth St.
Located on the side of Akel’s Delicatessen, the second mural on the tour is from Ukrainian artist Waone Interesni Kazki.
Stop 3: Dourone & David Petroni┃111 N. Julia St.
Directly across from Waone Interesni Kazki’s mural is another too-big-to-miss mural. Spanish artist Dourone’s piece adds a bright splash of color to a large parking garage on Julia St. If you choose to take this tour during the morning or early afternoon, you can stop by the The Brick Coffee House to get a cup of coffee to take on the rest of your walk.
Stop 4: Borondo┃404 N. Julia St.
A short walk up Julia St. from the Dourone piece, you will find Spanish artist Gonzalo Borondo’s work located across from the Ed Austin Building.
Stop 5: Phlegm┃140 Monroe St.
On your walk from Borondo’s mural down Duval St., take some time to stop by Sweet Pete’s Candy shop to satisfy your sweet tooth and find almost every type of dessert imaginable. Once you make your way to Hemming Park, you will find UK artist Phlegm’s mural. You can view this expansive illustration while enjoying live music, food trucks, and other entertainment located in Hemming Park, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Stop 6: René Romero Schuler┃231 N. Laura St.
A short walk up W. Monroe St. will lead you to artist Shaun Thurston’s brightly colored mural. While admiring this piece, you can stop in Chamblin’s Uptown, a bookstore specializing in used and rare books. This is a must see for any book worm!
Stop 7: Ricky Lee Gordon┃41 E. Duval St.
From Chamblin’s you can make your way up to Duval St. where you
will find South African artist, Ricky Lee Gordon’s, mural. If you’re looking for a light and healthy meal, from this mural you can walk to Super Food and Brew. They have a wide selection of salads and sandwiches, as well as a variety of beer to choose from.
Stop 8: Adele Renault┃100 E. Adams St.
A three minute walk from the Gordon mural will bring you to Adele Renault’s lengthy mural. This piece covers the entire side of a building with an optical illusion like design. Located by this piece, you can find Burrito Gallery, a #DTJax staple! They offer a wide variety of tasty and unique burritos, tacos, enchiladas, and salads.
Stop 9: Mohamed L’Ghacham┃112 E. Forsyth St.
The final stop, only two minutes from stop eight, you will find yourself looking up at a large portrait designed by Spanish artist Mohamed L’Ghacham. Stopping here, you will find yourself in the heart of the Elbow, Downtown Jacksonville’s Entertainment District, which includes hot spots like 1904 Music Hall, Cowford Chophouse, Bold City Brewery, The Florida Theatre and more.
The easily accessible and walkable mural tour is just one of the unique ways to see a variety of what Downtown Jacksonville has to offer when it comes to art, dining, and entertainment. Whether you’re looking for a creative date night or a way to refresh your exercise routine, following this guide will allow you to see many of Downtown’s artistic highlights.
For a complete listing of restaurants, shops and nightlife to enjoy during your tour, visit our directory and explore all that #DTJax has to offer!
About ArtRepublic
ArtRepublic is a global movement of highly-curated, immersive experiences to empower artists with resources to help them create their most boundary pushing work. For more information, visit their website.