Of all the ways to experience a city, wandering the streets to discover its vibrant murals may just be the most colorful!
If you’re in Milwaukee, you’re in luck because this city is home to some of the most stunning and creative murals around.
And what better way to explore them than with your kids in tow?
That’s why we’ve put together this Milwaukee Mural Tour, highlighting some of the best murals in the city that are sure to captivate the imaginations of both you and your little ones.
From towering masterpieces to hidden gems, get ready to discover the beauty and creativity that make Milwaukee’s street art scene so special!
1. Black Cat Alley
Location: Black Cat Alley is located behind the historic Oriental Theater at the intersection of North Avenue and Ivanhoe Place on Milwaukee’s East Side.
You can enter the Alley from Prospect Avenue near the Axe Bar (AXE MKE) or from Ivanhoe near Milwaukee’s only cat café (Sip ‘n Purr).
The Black Cat Alley is an outdoor art gallery located in a private alley on Milwaukee’s East Side.
This unique street art destination was developed by a group of community members and artists back in 2015-2016 in partnership with Wallpapered City, LLC, and sponsored by the East Side Business Improvement District.
It now contains 21 murals by 24 artists from Milwaukee – including Emma Daisy -, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Columbus and even Berlin. Their website is blackcatmke.com
2. Giannis
One of the newest additions to Milwaukee’s mural scene is the Giannis mural from Mauricio Ramirez, an artist who has painted several murals in the city.
It’s located at 600 East Wisconsin Avenue in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, and depicts the “Greek Freak” overlooking his home city in the United States.
This mural is within walking distance to Sculpture Milwaukee and the Milwaukee lakefront.
Chat about it: What do your kids know about Giannis and his life? What character traits do they admire about him?
3. SafeHouse
Artist: Fred Kaems
Location: On a wall facing Front St., near the entrance to a certain super-secret spy hideout.
In 2021, the owners of SafeHouse commissioned artist Fred Kaems to paint the 42-foot wall near the spy-themed restaurant.
(The SafeHouse is one of our favorite Kid-friendly Restaurants in Milwaukee!)
The mostly monochromatic mural is a nod to espionage but doesn’t include the word “SafeHouse.”
It’s meant to hint at the restaurant’s secret location rather than give it away entirely.
The left section resembles panels of a comic book, and the right section is a riff on the iconic opening sequence of many James Bond movies.
Stand in the middle of the spiral and strike your best 007 pose for a #stealthyselfie.
Look for it! Have your kids look for the little pops of red included in the otherwise monochromatic mural. Kaems also added a little yellow in his representation of an iconic Milwaukee structure – the Hoan Bridge.
4. “Peacemakers”
Location: On the Milwaukee County Transit Bus Depot – Mitchell St./1st St./Kinnickinnic Ave. intersection
Painted in the late 1980s, just a few years after the death of Father James Groppi by Milwaukee’s NAACP Youth Council, this mural features local and world peacemakers, including Nelson Mandela, Shaka Zulu, Vang Pao (Hmong refugee community leader), Buddha, a Laotian dancer, Miguel Hidalgo, Adelita (a Mexican revolutionary symbol), Jose Marti, Lolita Lebron, Pedroa Campos, Chief Joseph, Rosa Parks, Aurora Weier, Father James Groppi and others.
Friends and family of the painters are painted as silhouettes at the bottom of the mural. Richard Oulahan, former head of Esperanza Unida, is one those painted on the bottom, and the silhouettes of Father Groppi’s wife and children stand beneath his figure.
Chat about it: Ask your kids if they’ve learned about any of these heroes in school. What do they know about them? What other peacemakers could be on this mural? Invite your child the think of ways we can help make peace right now.
5. Selena
Blast your favorite 90’s Selena song and head to the mural in her honor. It’s located in Walker’s Point, and you can also view it from the highway.
Artist Mauricio Ramirez used his signature aesthetic to pay tribute to the late artist after his mural was taken down.
Chat about it: Ask your kids what they know about Selena and her life. Play them some of her songs and see what they think of them.
6. “Mural of Peace”
Artist: Renaldo Hernandez
Location: Esperanza Unida International Building (611 W. National Ave.)
The Mural of Peace was originally painted in 1993 on wood panels by artist Reynaldo Hernandez, but a storm knocked it down in 1999. Joe Kovacich, then vice president of Miller Compressing, lead a campaign to replace it.
Numerous local groups, businesses, schools, and churches contributed, and together the neighborhood was able to fund its restoration.
Chat about it: What do you see in the mural? Where do you think the artist got his idea for the striped colorful lines? Do you see any flags? Why do you think it was so important to restore the mural after the storm knocked it down?
7. “Bay View Neighborhood”
Location: North side of Maytag Laundromat (2510 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue)
This mural, painted in December of 2016, was commissioned by the Bay View Historical Society after they were inspired by the Walker’s Point entryway mural on 2nd Street.
It depicts Bay View historic landmarks that may be familiar. For example, the copper beech tree on the left panel depicts the largest copper beech tree in the state, located in South Shore Park.
Also in the mural are Beulah Brinton House, Bay View United Methodist Church, Groppi’s Grocery, South Shore Park Pavilion, Delaware House, Avalon Theater, and more.
Look for it! Can your child find each location listed above? If you also visit the Walker’s Point welcome mural, what similarities and differences do you notice?
8. “Leopard”
Artist: Stacey Williams-Ng
Location: North wall of Kashou Carpets
In October 2016, the owner of Kashou Carpets was inspired by the murals in Black Cat Alley (behind the Oriental Theatre) and asked the artist, Stacey Williams-Ng, to paint a mural on his shop. The mural was inspired by the animal prints on rugs inside the shop.
9. “Sherman Park Rising“
Location: 4715 W. Center St.
This 56-foot-long mural was a community effort, traced by artist Tia Richardson and painted by individuals in a paint-by-number style. It depicts the challenges faced by the community and the perseverance of the residents who live there.
Chat about it: What are each of the people in this mural doing? What do you think the flowers and vines represent?
10. “Fear The Deer”
Artist: David Zimmerman, Bigshot Robot
Location: Rear of the parking garage of the Brix Apartment Lofts at 408 W. Florida St. Best viewed from W. Freshwater Way in the Reed Street Yards or the S. 6th St. bridge.
The Milwaukee Bucks are the reigning NBA champions, so Bucks fever is at an all-time high. This mural depicts Milwaukee’s love for its World Champion hometown basketball team.
Chat about it: What natural elements can you see in this mural? How do they represent Milwaukee?
11. “Heart & Sol”
Artist: Mauricio Ramirez
Location: 728 N. James Lovell St.
Heart & Sol is the largest mural in downtown Milwaukee, depicting two young female figures with bright colors, portrays optimism for our city’s future.
12. “Gild the Lily (Caribbean Hybrid I, II, III)“
Artist: Carlos Rolón
Location: Chase Bank building is at the intersection of North Water Street and East Wisconsin Avenue
Artist Carlos Rolón, who has other large-scale pieces in Miami Beach and the Netherlands, transformed the entire lobby of a financial hub (Chase Bank) into a beautiful floral escape in the middle of downtown Milwaukee.
The exterior glass is wrapped with a translucent array of tropical flowers, and it’s even more stunning after dark when the lobby illuminates the vibrant colors.
Rolón’s piece was installed as part of Sculpture Milwaukee 2019. In April 2021, the building’s owners announced that the installation would remain for at least another year.
13. “Field of Play”
Artist: Whitney Nettles
Location: Little Village Play Café
Photo Credit: Whitney Hill Photography
The “Field of Play” mural, designed by local artist Whitney Nettles, reflects the energy and spirit of Milwaukee – both championing local artists and celebrating the city’s deep-rooted love for baseball.
What other murals should we add to this list? Email us at hello@mkewithkids.com.
Related Posts:
How to do Sculpture Milwaukee With Kids
10 Doors Open Milwaukee Tours For Kids
20 Tours and Tastings Around Milwaukee
8 Best Things to do at the Milwaukee Art Museum With Kids
In 2013, Calie Herbst, a former teacher with three little ones, saw a need for a “One Stop Shop” for family fun in Milwaukee. So she founded Milwaukee With Kids. Her goal was to find the best this city has to offer families and share it with other parents. In one place.
In 2019, she published “Exploring Milwaukee WIth Kids”, a comprehensive Milwaukee travel guide for families and kids.
She appears regularly on WISN News, Fox 6’s ‘Real Milwaukee’, B93.3, and Wisconsin Morning News. She has been featured in Medium, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, NPR, the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, and on CBS 58 News.
Calie is available for hosting, moderating and media appearances.
