Downtown San Jose's 11 coolest murals, ranked
SJtoday takes us on a tour through the heart of DTSJ's streets, highlighting the unique, vibrant, and culturally rich murals the Silicon Valley's Capital has to offer. Below, take a break from local news and enjoy a tasting plate of SJ's best art: celebrating cultures all over the globe, important figures like San Josean LGBTQ+ activist Billy DeFrank, and—you got it—innovation itself.
We all know that San Jose has a vibrant art scene – and we’re not just talking about the San Jose Museum of Art or the Anno Domini Gallery. One of our all-time favorite galleries? San Jose itself.
Teal Town is home to a number of meaningful murals and street art pieces. Today, we’re sharing where to find murals that really paint a picture of our city.
¡Alebrijes!, 25 W. San Fernando St., San Jose | By Francisco Franco
Brilliant and colorful, on the side of the Mezcal restaurant, this mural pays tribute to Mexican folk art, the spirituality of the Oaxacan region of Mexico, and the Zapotec people’s artistic and culinary traditions. The figure in the mural is the patron goddess of the plant from which mezcal is made, Nuestra Señora Immaculada de Juquila.
Afternoon, 323 W. Saint John St. | By Sainer
This Little Italy art piece depicts a tired elderly woman sitting in a chair and a young person playing a flute. Meant to represent a view of the Italian countryside, the mural sits at the entrance to the original settlement for Italian immigrants in downtown San Jose.
Gross/Holmes Building, 57 N. First St., San Jose | By Ricky Watts
Created as a part of the inaugural Pow! Wow! San Jose festival, the colorful looping 3D swirls of psychedelic gradients light up the side of the Gross/Holmes building.
This article originally appeared in SJtoday. Read the whole thing here.
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