Los Angeles’ Street Art Neighbourhoods
Los Angeles sure knows how to party, but boy, can it also graffiti. Dive into the city’s urban creativity, with this guide to Los Angeles street-art neighbourhoods, the Arts District and Venice Beach.
The fashionably gritty Arts District in Downtown LA is where you’ll find the city’s grand slam contemporary art galleries (hello, MOCA), edgy maker studios and hip eateries; it’s also ground zero for street art with some 100 murals adorning buildings, walls and factories in the former industrial area. Japanese ice-cream factory turned fresh talent incubator The Container Yard houses artworks great and small – but it’s the bright murals covering the surrounding walls and car park that you’re here for.
A mere aerosol’s toss around the corner you’ll find the headquarters of Barcelona import Montana Colors, the first spray paint designed specifically for street artists. The LA outpost shelves a kaleidoscope of colours by the 20+ year brand, plus a blaze of eye-catching street art and gallery works, natch. Next, pad over to Seaton Street and Traction Avenue via the Container Yard car park where you’ll catch more striking wall works from the likes of whimsical Hueman and king of detail, Korean sensation Royyal Dog. Insta-feed updated, cab it over to the SB Tower on South Spring & West 6th where you’ll be greeted with giant portraits to marvel from the pavement.
Venice Beach’s street-surfer-skater culture goes hand-in-hand with street art, so it’s no surprise the area’s Street Art Walls are considered a Los Angeles landmark. Better yet, budding Banksy’s can pick up paints en route and get stuck in. The dedicated Art Walls (tucked between the basketball courts and skate park) are maintained “for the people, by the people” thanks to the STP Foundation program encouraging wannabe street artists to share their talents on a first-come basis every weekend. Afterwards, pop to neighbouring hip strip Abbot Kinney Boulevard for well-deserved sips and sups – you’ve earned it, art star!
The Container Yard / 800 E 4th St / 7am-5pm Mon, 11am-7pm Tue-Sun, food served 8am-3pm Thu-Sun / thecontaineryard.com
Montana Shop LA / Entrance on 400 Seaton St / 11am-7pm daily / +1 323 528-5441 / montanashopla.com
Venice Art Walls / Ocean Front Walk / Venice / 10am-5pm Sat-Sun / veniceartwalls.com