Kansas City has a rich street art scene with graffiti and murals all over the city. Here are some of the coolest spots to find great street art near UMKC and beyond.
Something great about UMKC is that there are so many places nearby that are a short walk, bike or drive away.
1.Plaza Medical Building Mural – 4620 JC Nichols Parkway.
Just a five minute walk from campus are the Plaza Medical Building murals. During tense times surrounding the George Floyd protests of 2020, the Plaza Medical Building was tagged with graffiti and its windows were shattered. After this, five artists were commissioned to create a mural covering the front-facing sides of the building to represent cultural and family unity. One artist JT Daniels completed a 36 by 75 foot space using spray paint. He showcased aspects of community and connection in his piece. The other artists used similar colors to create pieces reflecting the same themes.
2. Gaels Public House – 5424 Troost Ave.
On the side of a sports bar on Troost lies a mural that reads “Let Kids Play” with “they/them,” “she/her” and “he/him” written below. The mural, done by Jared Horman of Stonewall Sports, highlights a prevalent issue–lack of LGBTQ+ representation. In creating this mural, Horman said he hoped to do his part in advocating for a marginalized community by trying to inspire LGBTQ+ people in the city. This mural is a 10-minute walk from campus and passes by many local businesses on the way.
3. The Slabs – 4200-4298 Kenwood Ave.
About a 15-20 minute walk from campus is The Slabs, a historical location that is now popular with skateboarders and graffiti artists. This location is an ever-changing canvas, with new artwork popping up every time it gets covered in another layer of gray paint. When fully covered it is a sight to behold with all the corners and edges jutting out against the grassy field.
4. Crossroads Arts District
(Zane Oliver Watt Hoven)
A bit farther away from campus is a mecca of urban art in one single area, the Crossroads Arts District. Murals and other forms of street art have been curated here over many years and in different ways. On most walls in Crossroads, there are large expanses of beautiful artwork, many of which were curated during the nearly annual event SpraySeeMO. Another form of art lingers just beyond your first sight as well. If you venture into the alley on 18th Street in between Locust and Cherry, you will find the Art Alley. This alley is covered top to bottom in graffiti, characters and murals, and is a great place for photos. At 1919 Cherry St. is another magnificent work of art spanning three stories that was created by lots of different artists.
5. River Market Murals.
River Market is known for its City Market with stalls and businesses around every turn. There are also murals covering many of the walls nearby. When taking a walk around the market and in the neighborhood, historical and wonderful murals on the buildings pop out on every street. Take a turn down Main Street and there is a bridge leading to the Missouri River Viewing Deck. Continuing down the stairs a mural wall comes into view. With different artists coming together to create a stunning display of art, it is well worth a visit. Alongside the murals is the Riverfront Heritage Trail where people can take a stroll along the river.
Check out this for a map of some of the murals in the city for more info.
