Wynwood Walls in Miami

A brief history of Wynwood Walls

Wynwood’s graffiti-covered streets stretch for miles north of downtown Miami – cruising along them is a feast for the eyes. The hip neighbourhood has attracted aspiring painters, graffiti artists, and creatives over the years, with Wynwood Walls becoming its eventual beacon.

It all started in 2009 with the late American real estate developer Tony Goldman. He had the passion and vision to revitalise the Wynwood warehouse district (which dates back to the Roaring Twenties) into an artistic hub. This was achieved by simply building upon the preexisting scenes of run-down streets and warehouse walls laden with sparse graffiti.

As a side note, Goldman was also responsible for reviving Miami’s South Beach area, turning it into one of the country’s most luxurious districts. His dream for Wynwood gradually became a reality, using a series of big, ageing, blank, and windowless warehouse building walls, particularly on the NW 25th and 26th Street complex, as giant canvases.

The spot later came to be known as Wynwood Walls. It opened with Art Basel Miami, one of the biggest contemporary art fairs in the United States, back in 2009. It successfully sparked the interest of the artistic community and the mural craze then spread throughout the whole neighbourhood, further turning Wynwood into an extremely colourful scene.

What are the highlights of the Wynwood Walls?

Among the notable murals at Wynwood Walls are those by renowned Japanese stencil artist Aiko. Also noteworthy is the vibrant and fragmented imagery and labyrinth installation by the artistic duo Eli Sudbrack and Christophe Hamaide-Pierson, as well as the bright and comic-like strokes by New York-based Crash.

A year after its opening, Wynwood Walls' collection expanded to include Wynwood Doors and Garden. This extended the splashes and colours of the former open-air gallery to a variety of roll-up storefront gates. There’s the iconic, photorealistic spray-painted work depicting a series of ‘walking’ hands by German artist Case. The mandala-inspired works by Los Angeles-based Cryptik are also hard to miss.

Inside Wynwood Walls, you’ll find the GGA Gallery, overseen by the Goldman Global Arts creative collective. There’s also Joey’s Italian Café, where you can dine alfresco against mosaic murals. The Wynwood Walls Shop is great for stocking up on curated gifts, prints, and souvenirs inspired by Wynwood Walls’ artists.

Good to know about Wynwood Walls

There's a variety of tour options available, including an official guided tour by Wynwood Walls. General admission applies for entering and enjoying the wondrous outdoor art space and garden.

Wynwood Walls also offers a wide range of events, from family yoga sessions in the garden to movie screenings set against the cool backdrop of massive murals. Note that the doors to Wynwood Walls close 30 minutes before closing time.

Parts of the lawn feature fantastical animal sculptures by Puerto Rican artist Alexis Diaz, such as an unmissable black kelpie-like horse-fish creature. Note that you should walk along the pathways and avoid walking on any grassy areas. You’re also not allowed to touch or lean on the walls. Other ‘nos’ include smoking and bringing strollers into the galleries.