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OKC ranked No. 9 city with the best street art

By Lauren King / Inside OKC / April 4, 2025

USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 recently ranked Oklahoma City No. 9 among the top 10 U.S. cities with the best street art collections, placing ahead of Portland, Oregon, at No. 10. 

Street art is more than visually striking—it reflects a city’s culture and identity, belonging to the community in a way few other art forms do. OKC is home to an impressive collection of public art, drawing national recognition. 

USA Today described Oklahoma City as “a veritable outdoor gallery,” highlighting the Plaza District, Western Avenue corridor and Bricktown as key areas for street art. 

The Plaza District 

The Plaza District is home to many of the city’s murals, with its most notable being Plaza Walls, a rotating mural project launched in 2015 by the Oklahoma Mural Syndicate. The initiative features more than 30 murals and showcases a diverse range of artists. 

Initially, the murals were located on the walls of a private alley, but as the project gained popularity, the Oklahoma Mural Syndicate expanded its efforts statewide. Since 2015, the organization has: 

  • Established OKC’s first mural district 
  • Transformed an unused alley into an outdoor gallery 
  • Commissioned over 500 murals across Oklahoma 
  • Hosted 293 artists at Mural Expos 
  • Earned national recognition from USA Today twice, with OKC voted as the No. 1 city for street art 
  • Inspired the launch of two additional public art organizations 
  • Raised over $1 million for the arts 

Western Avenue corridor 

Western Avenue features an array of murals, with new works emerging in recent years. While some works have been lost to development, new projects continue to expand the corridor’s artistic footprint. 

  • The Wilderness on Western (NW 71st and Western) was created by Nick Bayer, James Clark and Sam Douglas. The mixed-media mural pays tribute to Oklahoma’s diverse flora and fauna, showcasing endangered species and regional wildlife. 
  • Contact Light (5600 N. Western Ave.) by Jerrod Smith, Aaron Cahill and Phillip Danner was created in 2014 using spray paint. The mural was inspired by the vastness of space. 
  • Fortune Favors the Brave (4416 N. Western Ave.), painted by Julie “Juuri” Robertson in 2014, incorporates elements of her Japanese heritage. 
  • Oklahoma Aiukli (3704 N. Western Ave.), painted by Erin Cooper, Amanda Zoey Weathers and Lauren Miller in 2014, features vibrant depictions of Oklahoma’s natural beauty. The title includes the Choctaw word “Aiukli,” meaning beauty. 
  • Red Tail Hawk (4200 N. Western Ave.), created by Jason Pawley in 2014, portrays the hawk as a spirit guide symbolizing change. 
  • Vibratory Messages (5219 N. Western Ave.), by Scott Henderson and Ben Stookey, blends scientific illustration with a surreal aesthetic. 
  • The Nature of Things (4408 N. Western Ave.), created by Kris Kanaly, Dustin Gilpin and Jerrod Smith in 2015, explores sustainability and Oklahoma’s natural landscapes. 

Bricktown 

In recent years, murals have transformed streets and railroad underpasses leading into Bricktown. This work by local artists has provided accessible public art for residents and visitors alike. 

  • Abstract Passages, painted by Kris Kanaly, is located on the Main Street underpass and features bold colors, geometric shapes and natural elements. 
  • Cultivation Mural (2015), by Jason Pawley, is located in the underpass at S. EK Gaylord Boulevard and W. Reno Avenue and mimics a sunrise transitioning into sunset with a subtle gradient of colors. 
  • Earth to Sky, a Native American-inspired mural by Chad “Nish” Earles and Rhiana Deck, is located on the north side of the Sheridan Avenue underpass. Using deep reds, blues and whites, the mural features traditional Caddo pottery and feathers that morph into an evolving human figure, reflecting creation myths and environmental conservation. 
  • Strength of the Woman is on the south side of the Sheridan Avenue underpass. Created by J. Nicole Hatfield and Steven Grounds, the mural was inspired by the Native American poem See the Woman and honors the resilience of Native women. Hatfield painted black-and-white historical portraits, while Grounds used vivid colors to depict contemporary Native women. A central portrait blends both artists’ styles, merging past and present. 
  • Outside the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, artist Susan Morrison crafted a six-panel mosaic mural from 158,000 tiles, celebrating Bricktown’s history. 
  • Oklahoma History Timeline mural, spanning from E Main Street to E Sheridan Avenue, was created for the state’s centennial in 2007, illustrating Oklahoma’s journey from Indian Territory to the present. 
  • A mural inspired by Oklahoma!, painted during the centennial, depicts the state’s early agricultural roots in bright colors along N EK Gaylord Boulevard. 

These three OKC districts are only a few of the many up-and-coming public art destinations in the city. 

All 10 cities featured in USA Today’s rankings were selected by an expert panel and voted as the best in the nation by readers. 

View USA Today’s original article here. https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-city-for-street-art-2025/. Also, check out the Downtown OKC Public Art Map to visit all of OKC’s public art destinations.