As a young child, I always loved art. Growing up in Madison, I was surrounded by color and patterns on every block. From a small doodle on an electrical box to a mural taking up an entire wall or a simple message on a train car, street art is an important part of Madison’s diverse community. Being a city, naturally there’s some political and social commentary that the artist infuses into their art. Much of this art focuses on the thoughts of different groups of people, such as black, hispanic, and queer communities. My focus here is on showcasing some of Madison’s murals and their value to the communities they represent.

Located on the Isthmus between lakes Mendota and Monona lies Madison, the Wisconsin capital. The Yahara river connects the two lakes, while Washington Street cuts through the middle of the Isthmus, down to the capital.

On the opposite side of the building to the “You are Beautiful” mural, there is the ocean mural. This piece is made up of hundreds, if not thousands, of handprints all combined together to make an underwater scene. Near the building is the Yahara river, which is a popular fishing spot near campus. *

Madison also has a thriving lgbtq+ community that shares their passion through various artworks. Heading downtown towards the capital is a great way to see these murals and, in addition, lots of graffiti.

“You are Beautiful" mural by Alaura Seidl and Wendi Kent. This gorgeous piece was made to inspire queer youth, especially those who are transgender. The mural conveys the message that being queer is a beautiful thing, even if the world tells you otherwise. This art is on the side of the Art Inn on East Washington Avenue.
The iconic “Love” mural was designed and painted by Michael Owen on 924 Williamson Street. The building was originally Plan B, a gay nightclub, and this artwork reflects the message of queer love. The mural has love written all over it in a rainbow of colors.

The UW college campus is also full of street art. Many electrical boxes are painted with bright colors and designs. Some have messages empowering BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People Of Color) people and communities. The Black Lives Matter movement was very important in Madison, and you can still see some traces of it around the Capitol Square. There are many spaces to hang out on campus, such as coffee shops.

On 1101 Williamson Street is the Mother Fools coffee shop. The building has a graffiti wall that has been through many different paintings since 2001. The wall provides a space for artists of all backgrounds to share their voices and create freely. This is the current mural there.

Some businesses give artists permission to paint on their walls. This helps liven up previously bland, grey concrete. A lot of spaces have murals that change over the years, but some are so beloved that they become permanent.

At 701 East Johnson Street is the iconic Flamingo laundromat mural. Created by Emiley Balsley, Ray Mawst, Brian Kehoe, and Triangulador, this art combines contrasting vibrant pinks and blues and is a favorite of Madison residents.

The campus also has a lot of dorms and apartments for the students. These tall, looming buildings can feel dull and confining, but artists have worked to help with that issue.

Standing at nine stories high, this mural takes up an entire side of an apartment building! This piece was designed by Brian Kehoe and Ray Mawst. It was made to commemorate Madison and celebrate the natural environment of the area. You can find it at the intersection of North Henry and West Gilman Streets.

Madison also has strong communities that have programs through their community centers, such as Wil-Mar. The people who are involved have programs to help people who may struggle to get jobs, such as previously incarcerated people. One program involves community gardens. These help teach skills and foster connection through community work. The Wil-Mar Center also does a mural painting program across Madison.

This mural was made by people at the Wil-Mar community center in Madison. The mural features many native plants and wildlife, such as the coneflower and monarch butterfly. The mural is near the community gardens and shows the community's connection to nature.

I encourage all who can to go to Madison and check out all these murals, and explore on your own to find more! Some of these murals are temporary and get painted over every few years, so there will always be something new to see. I tried to include the location in the captions if possible to make this easier. I encourage you to do some research about the history of Madison's murals, many of which hold significant cultural value to the area. Have fun exploring this beautiful city and the messages reflected by its art!

A quick note about the making of this essay:

I grew up in Madison and even though I have since moved, it is my home. I had a lot of fun going down and getting these photos. I can’t thank my boyfriend and his family enough for taking all these photos, helping plan the route, and taking 6 hours out of their Saturday to drive all around Madison and explore. I spent a lot of time and effort researching the backstories of these works of art and the buildings they are on. This may be a school project, but it is also my passion project, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.

This is me at hilldale mall, my favorite spot as a child.

*All photos by Yaroslav Lavlinsky

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