In many towns and cities, art isn’t confined to galleries—it lives on the streets. Murals, mosaics and sculptures transform sidewalks and buildings into open-air museums that anyone can enjoy.

Public art has become both a conversation starter and a tourist attraction. When new pieces are installed or artists work in public, curiosity draws people in and encourages them to visit local shops and restaurants.

“Our goal is to create a downtown you want to drive to, not through,” said Dave Goe, community engagement manager with Downtown Grand Junction. “Our downtown public art programming helps create a sense of community pride and adds to the charm of our Main Street.”

Main Street’s Art on the Corner program transforms downtown Grand Junction into an open-air gallery. Photo by Justin Shaw.

Grand Junction’s thriving art scene is a community effort. Credit goes to the local artists who continue producing new work, the City’s 1% for the Arts program, the Commission on Arts and Culture, and Downtown Grand Junction’s creative district, GJ Creates, which funds programs like Art on the Corner.

“The beauty of public art is that it is for everyone and is supported by everyone,” Goe said.

Since its start in 1984, Art on the Corner has become a defining feature of the city’s landscape. In recent years, downtown businesses have joined the movement by commissioning their own murals and sculptures.

ART IN THE OPEN

A sculpture from Grand Junction’s Art on the Corner, one of the community’s most iconic traditions. Photo by Justin Shaw.

Grand Junction’s creative culture is part of a broader movement known as street art—works displayed in public spaces that turn buildings, sidewalks and other visible surfaces into outdoor galleries for everyone to enjoy. 

The roots of this movement trace back to the late 1930s, when a government project during the Great Depression employed painters and sculptors to create works for schools, museums, hospitals and other public institutions. In the 1960s, an increasing wave of graffiti began appearing on city walls across the United States, often as slogans of protest, social commentary or political expression. 

Today, street art—also called neo-graffiti or guerilla art—encompasses a wide range of mediums, from spray paint, stenciling and sticker art to wood blocking and even yarn bombing, where colorful knitted or crocheted designs brighten everyday spaces. 

Examples of street art can be found scattered across the country. Los Angeles boasts murals, paintings and sculptures on walls, in Metro stations and even in parking lots. Downtown Chicago features more than 100 public works—sculptures, mosaics and paintings—by artists like Pablo Picasso and Alexander Calder.

In New York City, galleries host exhibitions of street artists’ work, while cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh provide funding to pay street artists to decorate public walls. 

Sarasota County, Florida, even claims its art is “as abundant as the palm trees,” appearing everywhere from traffic circles to parking garage elevators.

NEIGHBORHOODS OF ART

The world’s most famous street artist is Banksy—a pseudonym for an English political activist known for satirical, often stenciled images. His real name and identity remain unconfirmed. His works appear on streets, bridges and walls, and some have been sold by removing the surfaces they were painted on.

The mural “Seasons of Littleton” by artist Michelle Lamb at the light rail station in Littleton, Colorado, depicts local buildings during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Photo by Victor Block.

Closer to home, I encountered a striking example at the light rail station in Littleton, just outside Denver. Stepping off the train, my eyes were immediately drawn to a vibrant mural stretching 40 feet long and standing seven feet high, depicting 50 historic structures near the depot. This colorful piece not only welcomed visitors to town but also introduced them to the community’s art in public places program, which funds new murals each year.

Street art, whether in small towns or major cities, continues to blur the line between museum and sidewalk, reminding us that creativity belongs in the open, where everyone can experience it. Unlike museums with entry fees or limited hours, street art is free, open and available any time.

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