7 Eye-Popping Murals in The City Beautiful: Why Street Art Lovers Should Flock to Orlando
Got an extra day to top off your crazy theme park binge, or need a break from the gut-twisting rides and popcorn whiff?
What if I told you there’s a lot more to Orlando than Walt Disney envisioned for it? Come and check out the perks of the real Orlando, the street Orlando, the one the locals live. ‘What does it have to offer?’, you may ask. ‘I don’t care about walking down grey city streets.’ Well – art, my friends, street art. Some of the best street art you’ve ever seen yet!
In the past few years, Orlando has grown in reputation as the street art jewel of the south. Wanna check out mind-blowing, eye-goggling murals which will leave you crying for more? Look no further and delve into the city’s vibrant streets.
Most Orlando street art is located within the two beating cultural and creative hearts of the city: the Milk and Mills 50 districts.
Downtown Orlando Street Art
‘Greetings From Orlando, FL’ Mural
Blast your day off with the mural where it all started, or save this icon for the end of the day. What am I talking about? It’s the ‘Greetings From ORLANDO, Florida’ masterpiece!
Aerosol artist Victor Ving went over the top here. Inside the letters of the world ‘ORLANDO,’ which seem to pop out into the street to greet you, there are seven different detailed drawings, one for – guess what? – each letter in the name. Every drawing represents one of the attributes that make Orlando the unique city it is. Have fun thinking about the meaning of the picture inside each letter, or, if you’re left scratching your head, don’t hesitate to ask a passer-by! What better way to discover the city’s history than to ask the locals?
Location: Uncle Tony’s Donut Shoppe, 703 North Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida
Milk District Street Art
‘Jim Jacksons’ Mural
Discover the Milk District through its street art! As you might imagine, much of it has to do with that animal that goes moo. The ground on which much of the neighborhood is built used to be a dairy farm. Accordingly, the ‘Jim Jacksons’ mural, sponsored by Pabst-Blue Ribbon, features a huge spotty cow drinking… BEER!
Insane, I know, and it’s not over. Just take the painting to new levels of crazy twin UFOs shine their eerie lights on the Pabst beer symbol, sprayed on an empty street. There is also a shed where we assume our beer-drinking cow lives, and she doesn’t have a bad time either: a pool table peeks out. The navy-blue background sky is set with gooey green clouds, which coronate this mural’s eerie magic. An American flag hangs out on a pillar behind the shed to remind us where we’re at!
Location: 2414 East Robinson Street, Orlando, Florida
‘Wings’ Mural
Artist Dela Cruz shows us a different, innovative style with this splendid creation. Huge feathered wings in soothing pink hues rimmed with drips of neon green stretch the whole length of the wall. They are set on a blue background which imitates a hole in the brick wall, so it looks like the wings have just flown out of the starred blue background behind them.
This incredible mural is right across the street from The Milk Bar, where you can fuel up on plenty of alcoholic beverages – besides milk! Deceiving names aside, this splendid address boast video and board games to complement the wide range of local tap beers.
Location: 2424 East Robinson Street, Orlando, Florida
Eating & Activities in the Milk District
Give your eyes a break by checking out the quality vintage boutique Le Etoile. Need a lasting memento from your fantastic trip to the city? Why not get some ink done at the excellent Primrose Tattoo shop! Say you’re a vinyl fan, or just like checking out classic records? Milk District has got it covered. Check out the guys at Retro Stores and browse through aisles and aisles of quality old-school sound. If you need to take a bite throughout the day, you can check out la crème of the city’s Vietnamese restaurants. From Saigon Noodle and Grill to Pho Hoa and Pho Vihn, your taste buds are going to be begging you Pho more!
Mills 50 District Street Art
‘Red Bull’ Mural
The best of a mad bunch in this vibrant neighborhood is a mural sponsored by the brand that gives you the wiiiings.
No, there are no more feathers involved with this one. The mural represents a DJ mixing vinyl with the famous red bulls on it. The DJ is drawn at an angle, so it looks like he is coming at you. In front of him is a huge sparkling silver disco ball, and past it, a voluptuous blonde woman in a swimsuit dances to the beats, her friends dancing behind her. The whole wall is a mind-boggling medley of blues and yellows and reds, with dashes of silver here and there.
This piece’s style revisits pop art, the characters looking like they’ve just come out of some graphic novel. Shadows are well-defined rather than blended, giving the whole mural a stylized quality. Nevertheless, the fluid postures and vivid colors make the entire thing POP out of the wall. Seriously, this mural is something you won’t forget. I’m not sure Red Bull gives you the wings, but this mural sure makes you flutter away.
Location: Corner of North Mills Avenue and Lake Highland Drive, Orlando, Florida
‘Dolla’ Mural
‘Dolla dolla bills y’all!’ Ready for a bit of swanky old-school graffiti-style painting, something that the hip-hop generation would be proud to call their child? Head off to Will’s Pub for a game of pool and admire what your boy Dolla Bill has been able to create! This brilliant mural takes the form of a cartoon-style monster with grey skin, covered in that stuff the stars aim for…. GOLD! He’s got it all – the chain, the teeth, even the expensive-looking plaited goblet from where he’s sipping who knows what dirty mixture.
To remind you of the city’s spirit, he’s wearing a flowered pink shirt and matching hat, ready for the next VIP beach party! He’s set on a turquoise background, looked down on by an angry lion-faced sun, who seems envious of Dolla Bill’s bliss. Next to the main puppet is his mascot, a smug-looking flamingo with a huge warped beak. This pair is up to no good!
Location: 1042 North Mills Avenue, Orlando, Florida
‘Hawkers’ Mural
If you’re up for some Asian bites, this is your spot – but in any case, you can’t miss the brilliant Hawkers mural. This mural is set opposite the ethnic food spot that gives it its name for all you Pocahontas-lovers.
It shows a white face that immediately reminds me of Easter Island’s statues, but the real attraction is the hair! My oh my, flowing feathery strands depart horizontally from the head and take up several meters of the wall, decorated with a rainbow palette of colors. Blues are fading off to greens and yellows and finally purples and reds. The bleached grey background makes the colors come alive. It looks like it was done yesterday!
Location: Hawkers Asian Street Fare, 1103 North Mills Avenue, Orlando, Florida
‘Heart Cloud’ Mural
To stay on the theme of color explosions, I present you with the last mural, which is absolutely required to see on Orlando’s street art tour. This mural is best seen at night, so have a plate of Pho or fill your stomach up with locally-made Sushi before checking out this beauty. The mural style reminded me of Banksy: a stenciled black-figure holds up a can, which sprays a massive jet of tiny hearts that flow horizontally across the wall. The hearts bear the colors of the peace flag.
Why do I say to check this mural out at night? It is on the outside walls of – guess what – a lighting shop! The owners have set up illuminations that make the colored hearts stand out. The effect is evocative.
Location: 1336 North Mills Avenue, Orlando, Florida
Art Dumpsters and Drains
Throughout your stroll across Mills 50, look out for dumpsters and drains! ‘What?’ I hear you say, ‘I’ve not suddenly changed my job to sanitation officer or plumber.’ Don’t you worry. I’m not talking about just any dumpster or drain! All the trash collectors have been turned into brilliant street art installations across the neighborhood, each with a unique design! The same can be said about the drains. You would go right past them in any ordinary city without even noticing the drainage system was there. Here they have all been done up with colored patterns, giving the neighborhood that vibrant touch that makes it so unique.
This street art project aims to make people think about where the water ends up after going down a storm drain. The idea is that they will realize water goes down untreated, straight to ponds and lakes, to make them more conscious of pollutants that may go in these waters. If you’ve got an empty wrapper, stick it in your pocket!
Eating & Activities in the Mills 50 District
Tired of all the mural-observing, or still got an ache in your back from that mad rollercoaster over at the Universal Resort? Mills 50 is a hub for independent businesses that specialize in holistic living services. Acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga – anything to soothe the body. The neighborhood is also home to one of the most vibrant Asian communities in Orlando. What does that translate to? Well, for one, food! There are various excellent restaurants ready to fill you with culinary delights – from Chinese to Japanese, Thai, Korean and Vietnamese. The cafés offer a wide assortment of fine teas and fresh roasted organic coffees. They even have a winery and a brewery!
Milk district and Mills 50? You’ll know it by now. These two neighborhoods are the beating heart of the Orlando street art scene. Please don’t ask me why, but they’ve been quietly sitting undiscovered, so hurry up and give them a visit before the masses pour in.
If the mind-blowing street art isn’t enough, you’ve got the hip stores, ethnic food, yoga centers, and tattoo parlors. What are you waiting for? Get lost in the city’s colorful streets and stumble upon one masterpiece after the other!
Can I hear you packing? I bet you’re already there!
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Photo: MouseEars TV Creative Team
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