There is one thing you canโt deny about Austinโit is a city that buzzes with creativity. That creative weirdness is one of the things that makes Austin so special and so famous! Around nearly every corner, you can find spontaneous music or public art installations! From statues to murals, Austin embraces a culture of creative expression that makes this a perfect destination for exploring street art. Pump up your Instagram feed while visiting Austin with this street art guide!ย
A self-guided street art tour is the perfect free thing to do in Austin during your visit! You can find lots of murals clustered together in the South Congress neighborhood as well as a copious options in downtown Austin. But keep your eyes open for spontaneous stops and murals that aren’t featured on this list. There is always some new street art to discover in Austin, Texas!
Bikes are the perfect companion for exploring street art because you can easily hop on and off as you see something beautiful to snap a photo of. way around Austin affordably. Regardless of which of these murals catch your interest, there is no doubt that you will find more Instagrammable street art to love on your self-guided tour of Austin. Looking for cool street art is the perfect free activity to try while traveling in Austin!ย
These are the most Instagrammable street art murals in Austin, Texas!
Greetings from Austinโ720 S 1st Stย
One of the most iconic murals in Austin, the Greetings from Austin mural draws thousands of visitors per year thanks to its very โgrammable colors and style. Adapted from a vintage postcard, the mural was originally painted by local business owner and artist Todd Sanders in 1998. The neighborhood has changed over the years, but the mural hasnโt and it was restored through neighborhood donations in 2013.ย
Youโre My Butter Halfโ2000 E MLK JR Blvd
Willie for Presidentโ1415 S Congress Ave
Willie Nelson, an American country and folk musician, is a Texan hero in Austin. It is common to hear his music in bars and you can find a statue dedicated to him downtown. Willieโs activist attitude bonds him with the local culture in Austin, and there is even a street art mural encouraging him to run for president! You can find this fun mural on the side of tasty late-night pizza joint HomeSlice.
I Love You So Muchโ1300 S. Congress
A small unassuming mural on the side of Joโs Coffee on South Congress Avenue, the โI Love You So Muchโ mural is one of those murals that warms your heart from itโs simplicity but also the story behind it. In 2011, a local musician named Amy Cook took a can of spray paint and wrote a message to her girlfriend Liz Lambert on the side of Joโs Coffee. The message immediately caught on and people have come to take pictures with their loved ones in front of the green and red mural ever since.ย
Stay Classy Austinโ1603 S 1st St
Adapted from the movie โAnchormanโ, the Stay Classy Austin mural sits on the main stretch of South 1st Street making for an easy stop on your way to the next mural on this list. Local artist Mez Data painted this technicolor design in his unique contemporary style. The colors of the mural draw you in and Will Ferrell’s recognizable character makes you smile!ย
Wonโt You Be My Neighbor?โ1423 S. Congress Ave
Austin Toadsโ222 E. 6th Street
Art and conservation? Who doesn’t love that! Painted by a British artist named Louis Masai, the Austin toads mural was created in collaboration with the Austin-basedย Global Wildlife Conservation fund as a means to raise awareness of an endemic Texan species of endangered toads whose population is deeply threatened by urban development in Texas.
Love Will Win – Lavaca Street Between 2nd and 3rd
Howdy Austinโ601 W 6th St
Located in downtown Austin, the colorful Howdy mural is a fairly new addition to the street art scene. The words Austin are painted over an outline of the cityโs skyline and are filled with details that bring to life famous parts of Texan life. This mural is well-lit so you can even visit it at night to snap a picture!ย
6th St Historic District Mural โ 6th & I-35
This post is a compilation of blogs originally published in October 2018, then updated in January 2021.
Did I miss any of your favorite Austin street art murals? Comment below with your suggestions!