Alley of the Arts - Downtown Phoenix
The Alley of the Arts is a hidden treasure tucked away in the heart of the city, offering a unique and immersive artistic experience. This enchanting passageway is a celebration of creativity and urban transformation, where drab and overlooked alley walls have been transformed into vibrant canvases for artists to tell their stories. As you navigate this alley, you'll find a mesmerizing display of murals, graffiti, and street art that spans the spectrum of artistic styles and themes. Each mural seems to come alive, telling tales of culture, identity, and imagination. The Alley of the Arts is a testament to the power of public art, inviting both locals and visitors to explore its ever-changing landscape and discover the profound impact that art can have on a community's spirit.
Location: Alleyway is just south of
147 E Adams St Phoenix, AZ 85004
Upon the entrance from the 1st street end of the alley, you’ll find this beautiful Phoenix with the Arizona flag background motif by Thomas "Breeze" Marcus
One whole side of this alleyway is filled with murals completed by ALAC (Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center). These murals pay tribute to prominent Latino figures and culture including Salena, Carlos Santana and Eduardo "Lalo" Guerrero, the “Godfather of Chicano Music”.
Of course the “Other Larry Legend” was thrown in for good measure.
On the other side of the alleyway, you have a couple of the business that began the Alley of the Arts project with Monarch Theatre and Bar Smith
The mural peeking out is the Superbowl LVII mural designed by Lucinda “La Morena“ Hinojos.
When I was visiting the city, Phoenix Fan Fusion happened to be going on at the same time as I was wandering down the famous alley and I happened upon a group of superheroes! These proficient cosplayers were having a photoshoot in the iconic alley and they were kind enough to let me crash their shoot for a few pics of my own.
The darker foreground on these photos combined with the superhero aesthetic gave me a chance to experiment with some editing styles that are a bit outside of my norm.
Majerle’s Sports Grill
At the other end of the alley, Majerle’s Sports Grill makes a vibrant contribution to the Alley of the Arts. That name might sound familiar if you were an NBA fan in the 90’s (I know I was). Nicknamed “Thunder Dan”, Dan Majerle was a fan favorite and inducted into the Phoenix Suns ring of honor after spending a total of 8 seasons with the team. Now, Thunder Dan is the proud owner of two locations of Majerle’s Sports Grill.
The Mural was painted by Jake Early and Quinn Murphy (a.k.a. Hamster Laboratories) and was voted Best Mural of 2022 by the Phoenix New Times. Hamster Laboratories is a design studio and print shop that has produced some exceptional poster art for artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Papa Roach, Murder By Death and The Getup Kids.
If you’re in the Phoenix area and happen to find yourself downtown, you might as well take a stroll down this alley way and enjoy some of the fine Phoenix art that the city has come to be known for.
