Tag: urban art

Cool street art memories for a rainy day.

Cool mechanical shark on parking lot wall behind Undisputed Fitness Center in East Village.
Cool mechanical shark on parking lot wall behind Undisputed Fitness Center in East Village.

It’s going to be a rainy day in San Diego . . . with even more heavy rain coming later in the week.

Instead of walking about in the cold, I plan to stay warm and dry under a roof!

Meanwhile, for your viewing pleasure, I’ve assembled the following links. They will take you to photos of awesome street art that I’ve spotted over the years! Unfortunately, some of these works, including truly amazing murals, have been damaged, defaced or no longer exist. Time marches on…

Cool San Diego Sights is now over five years old, so these links represent just a fraction of all the street art I’ve photographed. But I think you might like these!

Click away!

Imperial Beach

Welcome to Earth and Imperial Beach!

Chula Vista

Cool art along Third Avenue in Chula Vista!

National City

Cool–and funny–Star Wars street art!

Japanese video game characters in fun street art!

Downtown San Diego

Cool mechanical shark street mural in East Village!

Weird, bizarre animal discovered at old warehouse!

Bart Club street art on a San Diego corner.

More cool murals in San Diego’s Little Italy!

Even more cool street art at SILO in East Village!

Golden Hill

A walk up Broadway, from downtown to Golden Hill.

Sherman Heights

Bold, colorful street art in Sherman Heights.

Barrio Logan

Mind-blowing Ancestors mural near Chicano Park.

Cool street art: The Nest Murals near Chicano Park.

Logan Heights

Cool comic book and superhero street art!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles street art!

City Heights

Super cool street art in City Heights!

San Diego’s outdoor, drive-through art gallery!

El Cerrito/College Area

Cool street mural celebrates human imagination.

Ocean Beach

Cool faces encountered on the streets of Ocean Beach.

History of Electricity on a cool OB mural!

Pacific Beach

Colorful (and funny) street art in Pacific Beach!

Mission Beach

Lots of cool street art in Mission Beach!

Mission Valley

San Diego River wildlife in a Mission Valley mural.

Fun street art along Fenton Parkway!

Lemon Grove

Art and history at Lemon Grove Trolley Depot!

La Mesa

Fun street art found around La Mesa.

University Heights

Art along Park Boulevard in University Heights.

Normal Heights

Street art along Adams Avenue in Normal Heights.

North Park

Sexy space warriors and aliens in North Park!

Cool mural in North Park remembers good old days!

More fun photos of street murals in North Park.

Hillcrest

Photos of street art on University Avenue in Hillcrest.

Creative trashcan art adds fun to Hillcrest streets.

Point Loma

Carefree street art on Shelter Island Drive!

La Jolla

Photos of cool urban art in the Village of La Jolla.

Street art on Torrey Pines Road near UCSD.

Mira Mesa

Happy street art in Mira Mesa!

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This blog now features tens of thousands of photos around San Diego! Are you curious? There’s lots of cool stuff to check out!

Here’s the Cool San Diego Sights main page, where you can read the most current blog posts.  If you’re using a phone or small mobile device, click those three parallel lines up at the top–that opens up my website’s sidebar, where you’ll see the most popular posts, a search box, and more!

To enjoy future posts, you can also “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.

More fun artwork discovered in Little Italy!

Cool sunglasses reflect images from Little Italy.
Cool sunglasses reflect images from Little Italy.

Early yesterday morning I enjoyed a long walk through the streets of Little Italy. I discovered some fun artwork that I hadn’t previously photographed!

An owl watches over India Street.
An owl watches over India Street.
Devils roll some very tempting donuts.
Devils roll some very tempting donuts.
A sculpted cherub balances a potted plant atop its head.
A sculpted cherub balances a potted plant atop its head.
A half-painted dumpster.
A spray painted dumpster.
Awesome street art on one corner of a Little Italy building.
Awesome street art on one corner of a Little Italy building.
The San Diego Trolley has arrived in dynamic Lil Italy!
It appears the San Diego Trolley has arrived in dynamic Lil Italy!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Art at Chicano Park Herb Garden and Alchemy.

Whenever I drive off the San Diego–Coronado Bridge into Barrio Logan, I notice two enormous eyes painted on a building below the curving bridge offramp.

During a recent walk, I directed my feet through Chicano Park to the place on Logan Avenue where I’ve seen those eyes. It turns out some very cool art adorns the front of Alchemy Motorcycles, including the face of legendary musician Prince. I believe the two bright sections on the left were painted recently.

The first four photographs you see, however, are of the Chicano Park Herb Garden and its mural, which are located immediately to the left of Alchemy. The very colorful mural is painted on the Coronado Bay Bridge’s ramp to south Interstate 5. A sign among the native plants describes: a collective community herbal garden for healing, restoring, learning, praying, meditating and grounding.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

Even more cool street art in Logan Heights!

Juggernaut street art in Logan Heights.
Juggernaut street art in Logan Heights.

During my walk about Logan Heights today I met a few friendly members of the San Diego Art Team. They were creating even more cool street art just north of the intersection of 31st Street and Commercial Street.

Some of their recently spray painted art features popular Marvel Comics characters, particularly those related to the X-Men!

If the style of their work seems familiar, I blogged their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle mural (which has since been painted over) here and some of their other graffiti-style artwork here.

The San Diego Art Team is composed of Logan Heights community members who enjoy being creative and energizing their neighborhood with bold, colorful public art!

Very cool!

Spiderman faces off against a member of the X-Men in street art in Logan Heights.
Spiderman faces off against a member of the X-Men in street art in Logan Heights.
Cyclops, Nightcrawler and Sentinel street art in Logan Heights.
Cyclops, Nightcrawler and a Sentinel street art in Logan Heights.
I believe that's Wolverine.
I believe that’s Wolverine.
I'm certain that's Wolverine!
I’m certain that’s Wolverine!
Cyclops in action street art in Logan Heights.
Cyclops in action street art in Logan Heights.
Jean Grey as Phoenix street art in Logan Heights.
Jean Grey as Phoenix street art in Logan Heights.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

Cool comic book and superhero street art!

Cool comic book superheroes, villains and other characters are spray painted on a long wall in Logan Heights!
Cool comic book superheroes, villains and other characters are spray painted on a long wall in Logan Heights!

Check out this awesome spray paint street art on a wall south of the intersection of 31st Street and Commercial Street in Logan Heights! It’s loaded with comic book superheroes, villains and other cool characters!

The mural is a work currently in progress. Today I was fortunate to meet the primary artist, who goes by the name Fizix. I learned that most of the characters in the large, colorful mural are his artwork. I also learned that additional work on this very cool mural is by the artist ABSO.

Does the name Fizix ring a bell? Perhaps you’ve seen his work here and here. Because I photograph so much street art all around San Diego, it’s possible his work appears elsewhere on Cool San Diego Sights and I simply don’t realize it.

Fizix is actually Alex Julian, a talented artist in San Diego who can be found @alexfizix. His blog, which features some really good graphic novel art and his bio, can be enjoyed here.

His expertise is illustration, book covers, digital art, murals, horror caricatures and comic book coloring. His artwork has a distinctive style that I really like.

Check out the following photos!

Judge Dredd street art by Fizix.
Judge Dredd street art by Fizix.
Fizix at work on a new commissioned mural featuring superheroes, supervillains and a few other characters.
Fizix at work on a commissioned mural featuring superheroes, supervillains and a few other characters.
A neighbor in Logan Heights loves old school Jazz, so Fizix included this cool musician in the large mural.
A neighbor in Logan Heights loves old school Jazz, so Fizix included this cool musician in the large mural.
Another neighbor in Logan Heights has a dog that resembles this cool spray paint artwork by Fizix!
Another neighbor in Logan Heights has a dog that resembles this cool spray paint artwork by Fizix!
This very awesome sunset portion of the mural is by the artist ABSO. It looks like street art one might find in Ocean Beach.
This very awesome sunset portion of the mural is by the artist ABSO. It looks like the sort of street art one might find in Ocean Beach.
Carnage street art by Fizix.
Carnage street art by Fizix.
I don't recognize this character. Leave a comment if you do!
Rose of Black Dog and Rebel Rose street art by Fizix.
Spawn street art by Fizix.
Spawn street art by Fizix.
Leave a comment if you know this character. I'm clueless.
The Maxx street art by Fizix.
Hela street art by Fizix.
Hela street art by Fizix.
Ghost Rider street art by Fizix.
Ghost Rider street art by Fizix.
Iron Man street art by Fizix.
Iron Man street art by Fizix.
Wonder Woman street art by Fizix.
Wonder Woman street art by Fizix.
Miles Morales street art by Fizix.
Miles Morales version of Spiderman street art by Fizix.
Hellboy street art by Fizix.
Hellboy street art by Fizix.
Rocket Raccoon street art by Fizix.
Rocket Raccoon street art by the artist ABSO.
Cool characters from pop culture can be enjoyed by anyone who drives down Commercial Street in San Diego!
Cool characters from pop culture can be enjoyed by anyone who drives down Commercial Street in San Diego!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

Art along Park Boulevard in University Heights.

A small sign with ostrich welcomes those walking up Park Boulevard to University Heights.
A small sign with an ostrich welcomes those walking up Park Boulevard in University Heights.

Last weekend I walked along Park Boulevard in University Heights. I headed north from El Cajon Boulevard to Adams Avenue, then back south on the opposite sidewalk. I saw all sorts of fun art during my journey!

Why so many ostriches? University Heights has adopted the ostrich as a unique and memorable symbol. Back in 1903 this neighborhood was the home of Harvey Bentley’s ostrich farm, where visitors could ride the large birds!

Artistic mural painted on south wall of Park Blvd Artworks.
Artistic mural painted on south wall of Park Blvd Artworks.
Wall painted by New Zealand artist Cinzah for the PangeaSeed Foundation informs passersby that each year 100,000,000 sharks are killed for their fins.
Wall painted by New Zealand artist Cinzah for the PangeaSeed Foundation informs passersby that each year 100,000,000 sharks are killed for their fins.
Electrical box street art near the Diversionary Theatre.
Electrical box floral street art near the Diversionary Theatre.
People walk up the Park Boulevard sidewalk toward the University Heights landmark sign.
People walk up Park Boulevard’s sidewalk toward the University Heights landmark sign.
Some small colorful tiles in a stucco wall.
Some small colorful tiles in a stucco wall.
Transformer box painted with an image of The Pavilion at Mission Cliff Gardens.
Transformer box painted with an image of The Pavilion at Mission Cliff Gardens.
Street lamp banner with ostrich proclaims University Heights - Founded in 1888.
Streetlamp banner with ostrich proclaims University Heights – Founded in 1888.
Faded flowery street art on a utility box.
Faded flowery street art on a utility box.
A small, peaceful sculpture in front of Buddha's Light Bookstore.
A small, peaceful sculpture in front of Buddha’s Light Bookstore.
Spiritual image above front entrance of San Diego Buddhist Association's Hsi Fang Temple.
Spiritual image above front entrance of San Diego Buddhist Association’s Hsi Fang Temple.
Part of a cool mural painted on store wall at the corner of Park Boulevard and Monroe Avenue.
Part of the cool mural painted on a store wall at the corner of Park Boulevard and Monroe Avenue.

I photographed the above mural four years ago. See more images of this street art here!

Some more cool but faded street art.
Some beautiful but faded street art.
Silly faces!
Silly faces!
Love Your H2O, a mural painted by local artist Gloria Muriel for the Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans project.
Love Your H2O, a mural painted by local artist Gloria Muriel for the Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans project.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

A breezy bird begins a new box!

Brise Birdsong poses for a photo by a utility box in downtown San Diego. She had just finished putting on a base coat of paint.
Brise Birdsong poses for a photo by a utility box in downtown San Diego. She had just finished putting on a base coat of paint.

I was walking through downtown San Diego this morning when I spied someone painting a utility box at the corner of Seventh Avenue and B Street. It turns out the artist is Brise Birdsong, whose often humorous street art has appeared in a few of my past blog posts! For example here and here!

Brise, also known as @breezy_bird, is a muralist and illustrator, whose work gives life to the children’s book The Lonely Little Bumbershoot.

She also creates pet portraits in her own unique style, and donates 10% of what she makes to animal shelters! For more info, check out her website here!

Very cool!

The same box in the afternoon, when I walked past again. Cool new street art is materializing in downtown San Diego!
The same box in the afternoon, when I walked past again. Cool new street art is materializing in downtown San Diego!
And here's the other side of Brise Birdsong's cool new street art! I can't wait to see it finished!
And here’s the other side of Brise Birdsong’s cool new street art! I can’t wait to see it finished!

UPDATE!

Here it is finished!

IMG_1103z

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

Even more colorful street art in City Heights!

Here’s even more colorful street art in City Heights!

I took these photographs before, during and after my recent walking tour of San Diego’s rapidly growing outdoor art gallery. I spotted this artwork along University Avenue, between I-80 and I-15. It’s an extremely diverse neighborhood, where many languages are spoken and many life experiences move together down shared streets.

If you’re unaware that San Diego has a drive-through art gallery, I urge you to check it out here!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

San Diego’s outdoor, drive-through art gallery!

A large, welcoming Love City Heights mural greets people along University Avenue near Interstate 15.
A large, welcoming Love City Heights mural greets people along University Avenue near Interstate 15.

There’s a surprising, rapidly expanding outdoor art gallery in San Diego that anybody can freely enjoy. The huge canvases of this unique gallery are the walls of buildings in City Heights, on the stretch of University Avenue between I-805 and I-15.

Eye-catching works of art by noted San Diego and Southern California muralists have recently been painted all along this “drive-through” gallery. And many more will be appearing soon!

I recently enjoyed a walking tour of the colorful murals, led by Carlos Quezada and Edwin Lohr, two members of Love City Heights, an association affiliated with the City Heights Town Council. Carlos and Edwin are both visionaries who are working with local residents, community leaders and businesses to bring new life to this extraordinarily diverse San Diego neighborhood.

An important part of their effort is #theavenuemuralproject. The Avenue Mural Project is using the magic of art to transform University Avenue, which contains City Heights’ Business District, into a vibrant place full of culture, creativity and community pride.

I learned that Carlos has a definite goal. He’d like to have one new street mural painted every month. His hope is that eventually three works of public art will be easily seen from any random spot along “The Avenue”.

I also learned that Love City Heights is collaborating with the City Heights Development Corporation and Mid-City CAN (Community Advocacy Network) to create even more murals east of I-15 through their youth program.

In addition to filling the streets with cool art, Love City Heights is working with business and property owners to transform their historic San Diego neighborhood into a dynamic place where people from all over will come to dine, shop and enjoy themselves. City Heights is the most diverse community in all of San Diego, and is centrally located, with many unique ethnic restaurants that can be found nowhere else. City Heights is uniquely qualified to be an authentic cultural attraction in San Diego.

Would you like to learn more about San Diego’s colorful, rapidly growing “drive-through” art gallery?

Are you an artist, resident or local business owner who’d like to participate in the revitalization of City Heights?

These are some links that you can check out:

Love City Heights on Facebook

#theavenuemuralproject tag on Instagram

TheAvenueSD.com

A video about the mural project on YouTube

Do you live in San Diego and want something fun to do? Hop in your car or put on your walking shoes, then embark on a voyage of discovery along University Avenue between I-805 and I-15, where you will enjoy an ever-growing gallery of murals!

Here are a few . . .

The first mural painted by The Avenue Mural Project in City Heights contains joyful swirls of many colors! Endless Summer was designed by artist Erin Bowman.
The first mural painted by The Avenue Mural Project in City Heights contains joyful swirls of many colors! Endless Summer was designed by artist Erin Bowman.
A beautiful sun shines above stylized waves.
The warm San Diego sun shines above stylized waves.
The Endless Summer mural was painted by local school children, whose names appear in one corner, along with many positive messages.
The Endless Summer mural was painted by local school children, whose names appear in one corner, along with many positive messages.
Earlier this year I posted a photo of this mural on my blog. I hadn't realized at the time it's part of a cool outdoor drive-through art gallery in City Heights!
Earlier this year I posted a photo of this mural on my blog. I hadn’t realized it’s part of a cool outdoor drive-through art gallery in City Heights!
I was told this compassionate Amor mural, by @inkpaint and @fabianafoca is a work in progress.
Compassion in a City Heights alley. I was told this Amor mural, by @inkpaint and @fabianafoca, is a work in progress.
The beautiful tile mosaic A is not quite completed.
The beautiful tile mosaic “A” is not quite completed.
VISUAL painted the wall of a MetroPCS store with a cool image of kids communicating with tin cans and a string.
VISUAL painted the wall of a MetroPCS store with a cool image of kids communicating with tin cans and a string.
One business along University Avenue had their building painted with a wonderful mural with images of nature.
One business along University Avenue had their building painted with a pleasing mural containing elements of nature.
Another local store has happy, inviting murals painted on a side of their building.
Another local store now has happy, inviting murals painted on a side of their building.
This fun image depicts kids breaking open a piñata.
This fun image depicts kids breaking open a piñata.
A mural titled The Garden Party by artists Althea Rose Neff, Gilbert Cota and Alex Malone.
A mural titled The Garden Party by artists Althea Rose Neff, Gilbert Cota and Alex Malone.
A closer photo of The Garden Party mural, on the wall of popular Mexican restaurant Super Cocina.
A closer photo of The Garden Party mural, on the wall of popular Mexican restaurant Super Cocina.
Los Angeles muralist Ruben Rojas, co-founder of Beautify Earth, painted LOVE on the side of 7-Eleven in City Heights.
Los Angeles muralist Ruben Rojas, co-founder of Beautify Earth, painted LOVE on the side of 7-Eleven in City Heights.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

More colorful street art in City Heights!

A funky face spray painted on a utility box on El Cajon Boulevard in City Heights.
A funky face has been spray painted on a utility box on El Cajon Boulevard in City Heights.

I recently walked through several blocks of City Heights, along a short stretch of El Cajon Boulevard from 35th Street to Interstate 15. I remained on the south side of San Diego’s historic boulevard, where I saw many examples of colorful street art.

Enjoy these photos!

Another side of the cool box.
Another side of the cool box.
And another!
And another!
This utility box is decorated with unusual fast food street art. A lady with crossed out eyes speaks pizza.
This utility box is decorated with unusual fast food street art. A lady with crossed out eyes speaks pizza.
Drinking through a straw on the sidewalk.
Drinking through a straw on a seemingly littered sidewalk.
Bunches of odd, globular faces make for some unique street art.
Bunches of odd, globular faces make for some unique street art.
All sorts of humanish expressions.
All sorts of humanish expressions.
Now I'm walking east along El Cajon Boulevard approaching the Soda Bar.
Now I’m walking east along El Cajon Boulevard approaching the Soda Bar.
Fun emoji-like faces on the wall of the Soda Bar in City Heights.
Fun emoji-like faces on the wall of the Soda Bar in City Heights.
Cool art in a window of Allegory Tattoo.
Cool art in a window of Allegory Tattoo.
Bees in a hive on this eye-catching electrical box.
Bees in a hive on this eye-catching electrical box.
Trashcans on the sidewalk feature the Boulevard graphics.
Trashcans on the sidewalk feature iconic the Boulevard graphics.
Beautiful flowers painted on a transformer box.
Beautiful flowers painted on a transformer box.
A child reaches out to touch a bright green essence.
A child reaches out to touch a bright green essence.
Surprising street art on El Cajon Boulevard in City Heights.
Surprising street art on El Cajon Boulevard in City Heights.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!