Public art has long been a vital element of Grand Rapids, from well before the installation of an Alexander Calder sculpture that came to symbolize the city’s creative spirit to well beyond the advent of ArtPrize, the global art competition that fills public spaces with hundreds of artworks each year.
Launched in 2009, ArtPrize helped foster a renewed enthusiasm for large-scale art pieces like murals. There are more than 100 murals throughout the city, many originally created for ArtPrize. However, most of the murals in Heartside – a downtown neighborhood just south of the city center – were commissioned by local organizations seeking to beautify public spaces, honor notable residents and spark conversations about pressing issues.
Take the self-guided walking tour below to see some of Heartside’s most significant murals. It’s not a comprehensive list – more murals are appearing all the time – but it’s a great introduction to the neighborhood’s funky art vibe.
Can’t get enough of murals? Check out our City Center, North Quarter, Southtown, Uptown and West Side mural tours, as well as the Rad Women A-Z Initiative, which spans 26 mechanical boxes in the downtown area, and our Painted Ticket Booths Tour, featuring moralized parking lot ticket booths.
Fuel Up for the Journey
Start your tour at the intersection of Fulton Street and Ionia Avenue. Depending on the time of day, you might want to fuel up for your mural tour with a meal at Scholar (southwest corner) or Buffalo Wild Wings (southeast corner). Starting early? Social Misfits (home of waffles, coffee and craft cocktails) is on the northeast corner.
Now you’re ready for an inspiring artistic journey!
Walk one block south on Ionia to the Weston St. intersection.
“Currents to Unknown”
26 Ionia Ave. SW
World-renowned Polish street artist Natalia Rak was commissioned to create this colossal mural in 2019. The fantastical depiction of a young woman riding a swan through a river with lily pads is consistent with Rak’s typical approach of using brightly colored paint to create multistory scenes invoking mystery and metaphor. The mural is on the south wall of the Richmond Stamp Works building, identifiable by the vintage neon sign above the front door.
Continue south on Ionia one-half block to a small parking lot on the east side of the street.
“Women Activists in Grand Rapids”
44 Ionia Ave.
This mural from Grand Rapids artist Kevin Wolfrom (aka Gump) depicts six powerful and courageous women who dared to stand up for equal rights in West Michigan: women’s suffrage activists Mary Roberts Tate and Clara Comstock Russell, author Constance Rourke, local and national YWCA president Helen Jackson Claytor, civil rights activist Phyllis Scott and Native American advocate. It’s on the south wall of the 44 Ionia Building.
This is one of 15 Heartside Historic Murals on the tour. In 2021, Dwelling Place, a nonprofit creator of housing solutions, teamed with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. to honor the untold stories of the Heartside neighborhood through public art.
“Stella’s Skull Pile”
44 Ionia Ave.
At the rear of the parking lot, perpendicular to the historic mural, is this creation by Grand Rapids artist, muralist, screen printer and graphic designer Erwin Erfkitz. Splayed across the back entrance of Stella’s Lounge, it blurs the line between street art graffiti and mural painting.
Continue south, passing the Oakes St. intersection, Dublin Hall and Peppino’s Pizzeria & Sports Grille to reach the Cherry St. intersection.
“Travelers”
41 Cherry St. SE
The west wall of the parking ramp just beyond the Peppino’s parking lot on Cherry features a Heartside Historic Mural by Eddie Chaffer, aka Son Visual. (Look up to see the painting.) Chaffer depicts evolving means of transportation, from footpaths and birch bark canoes through steamboats, streetcars and automobiles. Progress always came with a price, as Chaffer symbolizes with homes that were destroyed to build the city’s US-131 highway in 1962. Chaffer has a number of other murals around Grand Rapids and is the founder and director of the city’s annual Pleasant Peninsula Mural Festival, which uses public art to promote environmental education and awareness.
Continue east on Chery to Commerce Ave. Walk one have block north to Commerce, past the Cherry Commerce Parking Ramp.
"Celebrating Diversity" by Erick Picardo
Photo by Erika Townsley Courtesy of Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. Artwork: Erick Picardo
“Celebrating Diversity”
141 Commerce Ave. SW
The small alley just past the parking ramp is brightened by this vibrant mural from Afro Caribbean artist Erick Picardo, who settled in West Michigan after moving to the U.S. Made possible through an “Activate This Place” grant from Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., it’s one of several large-scale Picardo pieces around town.
Continue north on Commerce to the Oakes St. intersection. There is a small parking lot on the northeast corner.
“Schematic in Two Parts”
68 Commerce SW
Artist Jeff VandenBerg painted this piece on the exterior of the Pyramid Scheme music venue, which he co-founded. VandenBerg – who goes by the moniker JVB as an artist – is also responsible for much of the distinctive poster art the Pyramid Scheme produces to promote the indie and alternative touring bands it hosts.
Continue one half block north to the front entrance of Stella’s Lounge.
"Giants Among Giants" by Muralmatics
Photo by Bryan Esler for Experience GR. Artwork: Muralmatics
“Giant Among Giants”
21 Weston St. SE
An advocate for women and housing justice, Dr. Ella Mary Sims helped establish a transitional women’s housing program in Heartside and served on the board of Dwelling Place. This mural by Grand Rapids artist Dustin Hunt illustrates Sims’ journey from Mississippi to Grand Rapids, and her far-reaching impact on the local community. A Heartside Historic Mural, it’s on the east side of the 21 Weston building, on the north side of the street.
Continue east on Weston to the Division Ave. intersection.
“AIDS Resource Center Mural”
42 South Division Ave.
Artist and clinical psychologist Kimberly Kunze led a team from the Grand Rapids LGBTQ+ Healthcare Consortium to produce this mural commemorating the fight for AIDS-related health care and the impact the virus has had on Grand Rapids. The mural is on an exterior wall of a building that once housed the AIDS Resource Center, opened in 1998. This Heartside Historic Mural is on the southeast corner of the intersection.
Head south on Division about 100 feet to a glass-walled building recessed between two brick structures. Look up to the left of the glass front.
"Heartside Historic Mural" by Kim Nguyen
Photo by Shafi Subhan, Courtesy of DGRI. Artwork: Kim Nguyen
“Tea Carden and Sun Sai Gai”
60 South Division Ave.
This piece pays homage to two Chinese American restaurants from Heartside’s past: Tea Garden Café, established here in 1924, and Sun Gai Gai, opened in 1949. Artist Kim Nguyen referenced old photos, postcards and newspaper articles to depict food and decorations from the eateries. The Chinese characters read “Sun Gai Gai,” which translates to “New Prosperity.” A Heartside Historic Mural.
Continue south on Division past the next intersection (Oakes St.). There is a small parking lot on the east side of the street just past Oakes.
“The Beverly Sisters”
106 South Division Ave.
Ethel Beverly Burgess was instrumental in establishing the Urban League of West Michigan. Hattie Beverly was the first African American teacher at Grand Rapids Public Schools. Grand Rapids artist Jamari Taylor painted this artistic tribute to the groundbreaking sisters on an outside wall facing the parking lot. A Heartside Historic Mural.
“Grand Rapids Black Baseball League”
106 South Division Ave.
Painted on a wall adjacent to The Beverly Sisters mural, this artwork honors the legacy of athletes who competed on Grand Rapids Negro League baseball teams in the 1940s-50s. Artists George Eberhardt and Donnie Destro created this piece for the Heartside Historic Mural Project.
Continue south on Division to the next intersection, Cherry St.
“Grand Rapids Furniture City”
2 Cherry St.
Acclaimed American muralist Richard Haas, whose work has been featured in such museums as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, painted this three-dimensional trompe l’oeil mural in Pekich Park. It is a stylized depiction of the lumber industry that spurred Grand Rapids development in the early 20th century. It’s on the northwest corner of the intersection.
Continue south on Division past the next intersection (Williams St.).
“Black People’s Free Store”
235 South Division Ave.
This mural by Detroit artist Ijania Cortez depicts three Grand Rapids activists – Bernard Ware, Carl Smith and Richard Martell Gilbert – who founded The Black People’s Free Store in Grand Rapids. The store was only open from 1967-68, but it was an important resource and gathering space for neighbors and activists. This Heartside Historic Mural is on the south side of the renovated historic building at 235 S. Division.
Continue south on Division past Bartlett St. and Goodrich St. to Wealthy St.
“Black Entertainment Venues”
359 North Division Ave.
Around the southwest corner, on Wealthy St., is a tribute to two historic entertainment venues that catered to the Black community in Heartside. The Horseshoe Bar, first opened in 1891, featured musicians performing for mixed audiences on weekends. It closed in 1971. American Legion Crispus Attucks Club was built in 1989 by an American Legion Post that primarily served Black veterans. Entertainers like John Lee Hooker and Alberta Adams performed there until the venue closed in 2006. This Heartside Historic Mural was created by Grand Rapids artist Edwin Anderson.
Retrace your steps north on Division to Goodrich St.
"Chinese, Hispanic and Syrian Immigrants" by Arturo Morales Romero.
Photo by Nick Irwin for Experience GR. Artwork: Chinese, Hispanic and Syrian Immigrants by Arturo Morales Romero
“Chinese, Hispanic and Syrian Immigrants”
333 South Division Ave.
The exterior wall on the southwest corner of this building tells a visual tale of these three immigrant groups from the 18th century through the present day. Grand Rapids artist Arturo Morales Romero, who was born in a Mexican town called Tepetixtla, created this image to convey that we make a stronger community together, no matter where we came from. Romero has painted a number of other murals around town – take our Arturo tour to see them. A Heartside Historic Mural.
Head west on Goodrich past the parking lot adjacent to the Romero mural.
“Heartside Through The Geologic Ages”
18 Goodrich St.
Grand Rapids artist Nick Nortier painted a sort of timeline on the east side of this building. From left to right, it depicts the Paleozoic Epoch (541-252 million years ago), the Pleistocene Epoch (2.6 million to 11,700 years ago) and the Holocene Epoch (11,700 years ago to today). The epochs are represented by a trilobite, coral and seaweed (Paleozoic), a musk ox and woolly mammoth (Pleistocene) and a flowering tree (Holocene). This is another Heartside Historic Mural.
Continue south on Goodrich.
“Wong Chin Foo”
48 Goodrich St. SW
On the opposite side of the street, just before the Commerce Ave. intersection, is this mural by Grand Rapids artist Thiago Porraz. The piece honors one of the city’s first Chinese immigrants, who obtained his citizenship papers here in 1874. Wong Chin Foo founded America’s first association of Chinese voters and testified before Congress to get laws that denied them citizenship repealed. His story is told in the book, “The First Chinese American: The Remarkable Life of Wong Chin Foo.” A Heartside Historic Mural.
Head north on Commerce to the next intersection, Bartlett St.
“Madame Bell”
48 Bartlett St. SE
The north wall of this building features an homage to Martha Ann Boles, aka Madame Bell, who was a fortune teller and clairvoyant physician that lived in Grand Rapids for all of her adult life. She was one of the city’s few recorded African American herbalists in the early 1800s, treating working class ailments with spiritual workings, curses and herbal medicine. This piece by Grand Rapids artists Harmony Nguyen and Bobby Phillips celebrates Madame Bell’s life and reminds us how working class African Americans survived during a time when medical care was segregated. This is another Heartside Historic Mural.
Go east up Bartlett St. to Division Ave. Cross Division (carefully) at the crosswalk leading to the rear wall of the Cathedral of Saint Andrew. Follow the sidewalk along the south end of the Cathedral. You’ll end up at the Piazza Secchia in front of the church. Cross the piazza to the north to reach Sheldon Boulevard. Follow it north past Cherry St. to a parking lot past The Vault.
“Union Depot Station Mural”
101 Sheldon Blvd. SE
The Union Depot was the heart of the city from the 1890s through the 1950s, serving as a railroad hub for trains traveling to and from Grand Rapids. Local artist Jasmine Bruce created this mural to honor the significance of the Depot, which was located at 61 Ionia Ave in Heartside. It’s painted on a low wall at the rear of the parking lot. A Heartside Historic Mural.
“Hearts of Heartside”
101 Sheldon Blvd. SE
Local artist E’lla Webber painted this piece in 2022 for the Heartside Historic Murals Project. It showcases community members who have been influential in creating and advocating for affordable housing in Grand Rapids. It’s on the north wall bordering the parking lot.
Continue north on Sheldon Blvd. to the next intersection (Oakes St.) The building on the corner is the new, expanded home for the Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives, set to open at the end of 2025.
Head east on Oakes to LaGrave Ave. Go north on LaGrave, past the Weston St. intersection and the Grand Rapids Fire Department.
“Timeless”
18 La Grave Ave. SE
Nashville-based artist Andee Rudloff painted this vibrant mural on the exterior walls of The Cottage Bar & Restaurant as part of ArtPrize 2016. She organized and facilitated painting sessions for community members to participate in the mural’s creation.
Congratulations, you have completed the Heartside mural tour (though you can still catch the few outlying murals listed below). If you like, you can now head a half block north to Fulton St. and pick up the Monroe Loop of the Downtown mural tour on your way back to the Fulton/Ionia intersection where your journey started.
"Look About You!" by Eddie Chaffer
Photo by Bryan Esler for Experience GR Art Credit Look About You! by Eddie Chaffer
Other Must-See Murals
These murals are located south of the downtown city center, but not technically in Heartside:
“Grand Woods Lounge Postcard”
77 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. SW
Artist Andy Contreras painted this homage to Michigan’s great outdoors on an exterior wall of the Grand Woods Lounge, a hunting lodge-themed restaurant/bar with a great patio. It’s about a seven-minute walk from the Fulton/Ionia intersection.
“Look About You”
206 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. SW
Walk another three minutes south on Cesar Chavez, past Oakes St. to the Cherry St. intersection. This mural is painted on the exterior wall of the Tin Can Bar on the southeast corner of the intersection. It was painted by Grand Rapids artist Eddie Chaffer in summer 2023 as part of the Downtown Grand Rapids “Activate This Place” program.
“Hopson Flats Mural”
212 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. SW
Keep going south on Cesar Chavez to next intersection, Williams St. On the northeast corner is a photorealistic mural painted by acclaimed South Korean artist Royal Dogg (aka Chris Canyang Sim). It depicts a beautiful woman in a Korean hanbok dress and was installed during Asian American Heritage month in 2022, coinciding with the Sister Cities International Agreement Grand Rapids entered into with Gangnam-gu District, South Korea.
Founders Brewing Co., the city’s largest brewery, is on the southwest corner of the intersection, just in case you’re in need of refreshments before heading back into the city center.