Murals bring color, creativity and community to Lawrence

Emma Coffey | @em_coffey

Lawrence’s walls and tunnels are coming alive with color as local artists use murals to transform once-blank or graffiti-covered spaces into vibrant works of art.

For many of these artists, their projects start with an opportunity to bring their creative visions to life in public spaces, often through partnerships or local art grants.

“Sometimes having a relationship with an organization that owns a building is one thing,” local artist Rick Wright said. “There are other opportunities, whether it be like an arts grant where an artist has a project already in mind and they get funded for it.”

Across town, murals are showcasing everything from nature, to indigenous culture and American history, to Lawrence’s creativity and pride. For some artists, this process is about much more than beautification, it’s also about bringing a connection to the community. 

“The more that the community buys into a mural, if they’re involved in that process, they’re going to take ownership of it,” Wright said. “And I think the more people that are involved in that process, the higher likelihood that it will be kept up and deter potential damage.”

As murals continue to become a growing part of Lawrence, they’re not just beautifying walls, they’re helping to represent the city’s identity.

“My hope is that through some of the public art, we can gain new understandings about who we are and what we want to become,” muralist Dave Loewenstein said. 

From downtown alleys to small business walls, each of these murals have helped to transform Lawrence, proving that a splash of paint can make a big difference in how a city can look and feel. Artists say they hope the projects continue to inspire connection and creativity for years to come.

To explore the city’s murals and sculptures, visit this section of the Explore Lawrence website to see a full list of locations.