Minneapolis is home to many murals scattered across the city. Here are some artworks that are important to its cultural landscape. 

Music Notes

This mural is on the wall of what was once Schmitt Music Company and is now home to the Creative Partners Group. The mural was painted in the early ‘70s and features sheet music of the piano piece “Gaspard de la Nuit” by French composer Maurice Ravel. It was the backdrop of Prince’s first professional photo shoot and has long been a staple of Minneapolis.

George Floyd

On the wall of Unity Foods (formerly Cup Foods), outside which George Floyd was murdered in 2020, there is a mural of his face along with the names of other victims of police brutality. The painting is a collaboration by artists Xena Goldman, Cadex Herrara and Greta McLain. They completed it four days after his death and it remains there to this day as a place to honor and mourn Floyd’s death. 

“The George Floyd mural is a source of community for locals who were affected by the murder of him and many other black folks over the years,” said Minneapolis resident Dave Branson.

“The Times They Are A-Changin’”

This mural in the center of downtown Minneapolis honors Minnesota-born folk singer Bob Dylan. Painted by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra, the mural depicts three different images of Dylan over the years juxtaposed with a colorful, geometric background. The Nobel Prize winner is one of the state’s most famous artists, and the giant painting is a testament to his legacy.

“Bob Dylan has always been one of my favorite artists so it is nice to see his face really big on a wall. I like the palette of colors as it contrasts with the black and white of his face,” said University alum Alfred Schomaker. 

Cedar Cultural Center Wall

Near the West Bank campus of the University in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood lies a mural featuring the standout Riverside Plaza apartment building next to a train, a boat on a pond, a globe and a black power fist. 

Around the border of the mural are many flags from around the world including South Korea, Eritrea and Russia. These images together show the diversity of the neighborhood, creating a welcoming environment for everyone.

“I often walk past the mural near Cedar-Riverside on the way to class and it makes me feel inspired by how good Minneapolis is. I can’t imagine living anywhere else,” said University student Abigail Smith.

First Avenue Stars

This iconic venue in Minneapolis has hosted concerts for many huge names over the years, including but not limited to New Order, Wu-Tang Clan and My Bloody Valentine. Here, you can also see the gold star given to Prince after his death in 2016 — the venue was an important starting point for the pop star. When driving near Target Center or around the hub of downtown, it is hard to miss this wall of stars.

While these may be some of the most recognizable murals in the Twin Cities, there are still many more to be found around the area. Next time you are in Minneapolis keep an eye out for these and many other murals that are present throughout the city.