The streets of edgy Oakland are always in a deep expressive flux. Yes, Oakland street art has some amazingly eye-catching murals. But look more closely as you trek its urban streets. It is also densely layered with some amazing graffiti, stickers, and stencils.
@artistmrblack
Chalkupy in front of City Hall
@deadeyes_ptv
The volume of in-your-face expression can result in sensory overload to the point that many passersby may simply relegate the visceral spew to vandalism. But look more carefully at each individual work and the magnitude of creativity in Oakland becomes clear. Walking the streets of Oakland is like a treasure hunt, and you’ll be rewarded with greater insight into the city and its artists.
@ernestdoty and- Facade of Lost & Found Beer Hall on First Fridays
Sticker art on a lamp post or graff on a deserted building may just as likely have been created by one of the artists whose work you just admired as a full scale mural or a fine art piece in a local gallery. You can’t pigeonhole Oakland street art. And that’s what makes it so exciting. It’s raw, organic, creative, and political.
@reggiewarlock – Love Monsters
@lil_oddo
@omaelmacasa
This photo essay shows Oakland’s ever-changing streets that I’ve documented over the last several years. Some pieces are new and some don’t exist anymore. That is the ephemeral nature of street art. I never get tired of traversing the downtown streets because there is always something new and inspiring.
@irotism
These images largely come from three swaths of downtown Oakland: the center around Uptown and City Center, Chinatown, and North Uptown/Kono. Grab your camera and take an urban hike across downtown, using my Oakland map below to take a break at some of my fave bars and restaurants.
@illuminaries – Uptown
@dragonschool99 – Chinatown
@dragonschool99 – Chinatown
@gatsptv at Telegraph Beer Garden
@_the_kal on Marriott Facade
@123456789bang
Love Oakland Group Mural – @bintybint, @sarahthockmorton, @bjae143, @sufficientnature
@ernestdoty
Unknown Artist – Paste-up
@debug__ Pervasive Fly Slap with @reggiewarlock in Background
@cannondill behind Make Westing
@zioziegler – UN Anniversary Mural on Cathedral Building
Unknown Artist – Paste-up
Psyke
Secret Lock – Prolific around Oakland
@dragonschool99 – Chinatown
@nychos – Behind Flax Art
Store
Graffiti Facade of New Parkway Movie Theater
Classic Cars West patio with Hella Vegan cafe covered with murals including three massive collab murals from Emma Webster; David Polka, Ernest Doty, Thomas Christopher Haag
Rainy day at ever-changing construction site – here includes @reggiewarlock and @originalbonehead
Layover Bar with Keith Sklar Jewish tribute mural in background, which is now largely covered with graffiti
@jetmartinez painting on former I. Magnin building with Psyke graffiti character in foreground
@originalbonehead
Changing Graffiti on Giant Burger
@originalbonehead
Dense and changing alley art near Chinese Temple
Stinkfish – @stinkfishstink
@math_never – Recurring Portraiture around Town
Free Pussy Riot mural by @chrisgranilloart, @irotism, @girlmobb
Irot’s iconic bird is known to pop up around the city – this one was buffed quickly – @irotism
Unknown Artist
Jade tribute Mural on Hutch Restaurant
@zioziegler – Howden Building
@bruno_pes and #lukedragon for @dragonschool99 – Chinatown
This is just a small sampling to whet your appetite and is by no means exhaustive of Oakland street art and artists. It was really difficult to narrow down to just some of the compelling works. If you’d like to delve deeper into the current Oakland street art scene, here are suggestions of some good resources and who to follow on Instagram.
@artistmrblack
Chalkupy in front of City Hall
@deadeyes_ptv
The volume of in-your-face expression can result in sensory overload to the point that many passersby may simply relegate the visceral spew to vandalism. But look more carefully at each individual work and the magnitude of creativity in Oakland becomes clear. Walking the streets of Oakland is like a treasure hunt, and you’ll be rewarded with greater insight into the city and its artists.
@ernestdoty and- Facade of Lost & Found Beer Hall on First Fridays
Sticker art on a lamp post or graff on a deserted building may just as likely have been created by one of the artists whose work you just admired as a full scale mural or a fine art piece in a local gallery. You can’t pigeonhole Oakland street art. And that’s what makes it so exciting. It’s raw, organic, creative, and political.
@reggiewarlock – Love Monsters
@lil_oddo
@omaelmacasa
This photo essay shows Oakland’s ever-changing streets that I’ve documented over the last several years. Some pieces are new and some don’t exist anymore. That is the ephemeral nature of street art. I never get tired of traversing the downtown streets because there is always something new and inspiring.
@irotism
These images largely come from three swaths of downtown Oakland: the center around Uptown and City Center, Chinatown, and North Uptown/Kono. Grab your camera and take an urban hike across downtown, using my Oakland map below to take a break at some of my fave bars and restaurants.
@illuminaries – Uptown
@dragonschool99 – Chinatown
@dragonschool99 – Chinatown
@gatsptv at Telegraph Beer Garden
@_the_kal on Marriott Facade
@123456789bang
Love Oakland Group Mural – @bintybint, @sarahthockmorton, @bjae143, @sufficientnature
@ernestdoty
Unknown Artist – Paste-up
@debug__ Pervasive Fly Slap with @reggiewarlock in Background
@cannondill behind Make Westing
@zioziegler – UN Anniversary Mural on Cathedral Building
Unknown Artist – Paste-up
Psyke
Secret Lock – Prolific around Oakland
@dragonschool99 – Chinatown
@nychos – Behind Flax Art
Store
Graffiti Facade of New Parkway Movie Theater
Classic Cars West patio with Hella Vegan cafe covered with murals including three massive collab murals from Emma Webster; David Polka, Ernest Doty, Thomas Christopher Haag
Rainy day at ever-changing construction site – here includes @reggiewarlock and @originalbonehead
Layover Bar with Keith Sklar Jewish tribute mural in background, which is now largely covered with graffiti
@jetmartinez painting on former I. Magnin building with Psyke graffiti character in foreground
@originalbonehead
Changing Graffiti on Giant Burger
@originalbonehead
Dense and changing alley art near Chinese Temple
Stinkfish – @stinkfishstink
@math_never – Recurring Portraiture around Town
Free Pussy Riot mural by @chrisgranilloart, @irotism, @girlmobb
Irot’s iconic bird is known to pop up around the city – this one was buffed quickly – @irotism
Unknown Artist
Jade tribute Mural on Hutch Restaurant
@zioziegler – Howden Building
@bruno_pes and #lukedragon for @dragonschool99 – Chinatown
This is just a small sampling to whet your appetite and is by no means exhaustive of Oakland street art and artists. It was really difficult to narrow down to just some of the compelling works. If you’d like to delve deeper into the current Oakland street art scene, here are suggestions of some good resources and who to follow on Instagram.
Oakland Wiki – Mural Map
Athen B. Gallery – Former gallery site still live with background on its curated murals around town
Dragon School – Dr. Dragon manages to sponsor murals in Chinatown to build community and control graffiti, working with schools and local artists. dragonschool99
Sorell Raini-Tsui – ABG Projects – Former partner at Athen B. Gallery responsible for many Oakland murals is continuing to curate murals in the East Bay.
