Magnificent Murals Across Madison Wisconsin

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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