New Orleans’ is becoming renowned for its gorgeous graffiti, murals and street art.
For something that used to be condemned, graffiti has come a long way. Now it’s become strategy for both councils and businesses from all over the world, to spruce up the streets and attract lovers of the art form.
New Orleans is and always has been famously colourful. It’s a pioneering city for the arts with its iconic architecture and musical history. But more recently, beautifully curated and complex murals that captivate the spirit of NOLA are becoming more and more popular.
Hot Spots
You won’t find much street art in the historical center of New Orleans. The French Quarter is preserved and protected, but you don’t have to wonder far before finding some of the most impressive graffiti that NOLA has to offer.
The neighboring areas of Marigny and Bywater are constantly being painted by everchanging numbers. From commissioned pieces to naughty scribblings, searching for street art in these areas is always a trippy treat. Bywater is also home to Studio Be, a trailblazing center for modern and political art.
Studio Be
This place is a must-see if you’re in New Orleans and a lover of street art. Home to local artist Brandan Bmike Odums, the giant warehouse features countless pieces that tell stories of politics, revolutionaries and New Orleans.
We definitely recommend paying entry to view the exhibitions. There’s a spectacular array of art on display, but there are also murals spray painted on the outside that’re always changing, and worth the visit alone.
Banksy
Yes, you read that correctly; the undisputed King of street art is splattered around the city. Following the tragedy that was Hurricane Katrina, Banksy used several buildings and houses as canvases. Many have sadly disappeared, but there are still remanences of the anonymous artist.
The most famous of these remains is ‘Umbrella Girl’, which is located on St. Claude Avenue at Kerlerec Street. The International House Hotel in Downtown NOLA have also restored one of the pieces. It chillingly portrays military officers filling up a shopping cart with stolen items.