I’m obsessed with great street art.  The colors change drab exteriors into masterpieces and turn unremarkable strolls into stimulating scavenger hunts.  Great street art has the power to transform rundown areas into vibrant communities (and even lower crime!)

And like many major cities throughout the world, the growing street art culture is alive and well in Denver, Colorado.

You can find impressive works on building exteriors and in back alleys all over the city.  But to find the best street art in Denver, you need to head to the RiNo Art District.

The RiNo Art District

Located just north of downtown Denver, the River North (RiNo) Art District was once an industrial area driving the local economy.  However, when businesses moved to the city’s core in the late 1980’s, RiNo fell into disrepair.  Warehouses stood empty and the infrastructure began to crumble.

But with high vacancy rates came affordability.  And so the area became attractive to local artists, who started taking up residence.  Over the years, they have formed a tight-knit community with creativity as the common thread.

The district now boasts some of the most impressive street art in Denver.  Defining itself as a community “Where Art Is Made”, the area features phenomenal murals everywhere you turn.  In keeping with the district’s focus on creativity, RiNo also has a number of artist studios and galleries, along with specialty shops, eateries, and breweries.

Where to Find the Street Art

No matter where you go in the RiNo district, you’re going to run into some of the best street art in Denver.  While on a photographic outing with my editor, the amazing Grace from Tenacious Gracious, we found several murals along Walnut and Larimer between 26th and 31st.  I suggest parking near Walnut and 27th, and heading north.

Let your curiosity lead the way and don’t forget to duck into back alleys – they’re a treasure trove of prismatic perfection!

One alley in particular is found between 26th and 27th near Larimer and Walnut.  “Art Alley”, as it’s been nicknamed, features some of the best examples of street art in the city.

The Annual Denver Walls Event

In order to keep things fresh, Denver Walls (formerly the CRUSH Festival) descends on the RiNo Art District every Fall for a week-long celebration.  Founded by Denver graffiti artist Robin Munro, Denver Walls aims to bring talented street artists and the community together.  This urban beautification allows visitors of all ages and demographics to experience art in a new way.

Since its inception, the event and its number of artists have continued to expand.  Denver Walls has now grown into Colorado’s largest independent street art project and event.  And for good reason!

During the event, local and international artists transform the community, while attendees enjoy activities and special promotions.  Some walls are repainted and others are a blank canvas for new creations.  Onlookers can watch as exteriors are transformed into jaw-dropping outdoor galleries of artistic talent.

Mural being painted by Dr.B.Zurk.

Artwork by Remote comes alive.

Shitty Kitten painting another masterpiece.

An intricate mural being painted by Cryptik.

The Colorful Creations

Like any other art form, each street artist has a signature style.  Some are bold while others are whimsical.  Some play with words while others play with symbols.  But all are impressive for their originality and vision.

For instance, artist Casey Kawaguchi‘s creations tend to feature a heroine in black and white with a pop of red.  Meanwhile, pieces by The London Police tend to have little white smiley faces integrated into each mural.  Artwork by Vyal usually centers around realistic and geometric eyes, while creations by Mike Graves usually feature characters with small eyes and big lips.  And paintings by Kelsey Montague are almost always angel wings (a fan favorite for selfies!)

As you stroll by each mural you’ll notice how unique and extraordinary each style is.

Mural by Casey Kawaguchi.

Mural by Optimysticism.

Mural by Inkie Graffiti.

Mural by Birdcap.

Mural by Uc Sepia.

Mural by Patrick Kane McGregor.

Mural by Think426.

Yarn creation on the roof by Ladies Fancywork Society.

Mural by Chew26k.

Mural by The London Police.

Mural by mpek36.

Mural by Vyal.

Mural by Mike Graves.

Mural by Kelsey Montague Art.

Mural by Tukeone.

Mural by Dread (founder of the CRUSH festival).

Mural by Mr Cenz.

Mural by Jeremy Burns.

Amazing Attention to Detail

All of the street art in RiNo is astounding for different reasons.  One piece in particular that caught my attention was by LovePusher.  The lettering seemed to leap right off the wall, and the attention to detail was down to the very last brick.  Literally.

At the top of the mural were 3 bricks that, at first glance, appeared to have broken off the building’s exterior.  However, upon closer inspection we noticed they were actually placed there intentionally, and painted to match the corresponding colors below.

If I wasn’t already impressed, that little element blew me away!

Mural by LovePusher.

Tips for Photography

Photographing street art is endlessly entertaining.  Whether you’re capturing an entire mural or focusing in on one particular aspect, each shot creates art from art.  The colors, the angles, the lines.  It’s no wonder why hunting for street art has become so popular!

In order to effectively photograph it, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Use A Wide Angle Lens

Murals are often large and tucked into tight spaces.  Consequently, you’ll be unable to capture the full mural if you’re shooting on anything but a wide angle.  Interestingly, I found I often wouldn’t realize the full scope of a mural until I looked at it through my camera!  Suddenly, shapes and colors came together to form faces, words, and scenes too large to comprehend with my eyes.  It made shooting the artwork that much more entertaining.

Pay Attention to Weather and Time of Day

Depending on the street art you’re shooting, time of day and weather can make a world of difference.  If you hope to capture a fun, happy shot then shooting in the afternoon on a sunny day is ideal.  If you want your frame to look a bit grungy or moody, shoot on an overcast or rainy day.  Likewise, if you’re wanting something a little dramatic, evening shots when the light is low can be ideal.

Incorporate People and Objects

Some street art is small while others are quite massive.  In order to give the art some scale, incorporate other elements into the frame.  Examples include children playing, parked cars, landscaping, or objects like fire hydrants and benches.

Wear Something Simple

One of the most popular ways to shoot street photography is to incorporate a human element.  However, if you wear something busy (like patterns or clashing colors) you can take away from the street art itself.  Instead, try to wear something more basic so the true subject is your background.

Mural by Detour.

Mural by David June Louf.

Mural by Miss Meeg.

Mural by Esic.

As you can see, the RiNo Art District has some of the best street art in Denver (and I’d argue the world!)  The vivid designs have transformed this neighborhood into one of the highlights of Colorado, and a must-see for anyone visiting the Mile High City.

Where have you experienced incredible street art in your travels?

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