On the drive to school, outside of my local mall, or while walking downtown, my eyes are treated to the beauty of Tucson. I’m not talking about the cacti and wildlife or the architecture and decor—I’m talking about the art.
I experience so much joy when I see a mural because I know an artist took their time to decorate our city and make it prettier. Most murals can be found downtown, giving you something to look at on every corner, but I’ve found that if you look hard enough, they’re all around us. When I’m in the car, I like to look out the window and see what art I can find, and I always remember to keep an eye out for my favorite pieces.
Tucson recently became home to the largest outdoor mural in Arizona, spanning 26,000 square feet. The Sonoran Skylines Mural was painted by local artist Jessica Gonzales. Her art can be seen throughout Tucson, but it is 100% worth stopping at the Park Place Mall to see just how big this vibrant mural is. It’s located at 5870 E. Broadway, on the west side of the movie theater.
When this mural first popped up, I was so excited. I frequent the mall often, so I got to see the process behind the art and watch it come to life. This gigantic mural brought so much happiness into my life, and it made me look forward to going to the mall. I don’t always go to that side of the building, but I make sure to visit the mural every now and then just to take in even more of the details because I notice something new every time.
At 7:30 in the morning, during the gloomy car ride to school, I always take a second to look out the window when I’m going down 22nd. Erixaart, another local muralist, painted the mural on Agave at Twenty Two Apartments. This was another mural that I got to see the process of since I frequently drove down that road to get to school and other places. I also used to live at that apartment complex many years ago, so it’s special to see something so beautiful at a place where I have many memories. This colorful art piece brings joy to what would’ve been moody mornings.
My mom is also a big fan of the mural and follows the artist on Instagram. She told me about the mural Erixaart also did at Park Place Mall. I was unaware that the artwork was done by her, but it just reminded me of how much art is around us, and it also gave me a new appreciation for the artist. This mural is by the bathroom area in the food court. The next time you visit the mall, it’ll be worth it to take a look at all of the murals around the mall because there are plenty more to see.
One of my favorite local artists, who you might have already heard of because of their fun sticker designs and art on one of the street cars downtown, is Turtle’s Soup. They’ve painted an incredible mural outside of a local toy shop, Mildred and Dildred. I love going to this store to buy all kinds of fun trinkets and collectibles, but seeing the art right outside the store makes the shopping experience even better. The mural is perfect for a toy store and captures the vibes quite well.
Downtown is a hodge-podge of murals from an abundance of artists. Downtown is now also home to the tallest mural in Arizona, called “Desert Colossus.” Joe Pagac painted this 153-foot-tall mural of a saguaro cactus on the side of an 11-story building at 177 N. Church Ave. This mural was just finished in March, and although I haven’t gotten the chance to see it yet, I’m eagerly anticipating the day I can lay my eyes on the stunning saguaro.
The best part about this art form is that you don’t just have to be downtown to see it. Four of the five murals that I listed above can all be seen on the East side of Tucson, and there are plenty more to see on this side of town. Take a minute to look around the city you live in because you’ll find that we’re constantly surrounded by art!
