#11 – Crossroads Murals
Crossroads District, Kansas City
Cost: Free
Good for: Getting your 10,000 steps in, anyone who appreciates all forms of art
Tip: Rent a Kansas City B-Cycle to make the exploring easier
The Crossroads District in Kansas City is directly south of Downtown Kansas City. As one of the most concentrated gallery districts in the U.S., the Crossroads are home to more than 400 local artists and 100 independent studios. In addition to the studios, high numbers of advertising agencies and architecture firms complement the Crossroads’ diverse, creative community.
Each first Friday of the month, the area hosts an art celebration (which will make it on the blog). Shops and galleries will be open late, and the streets are filled with vendors selling their work, food trucks and people enjoying the celebration.
Despite all the cool businesses, delicious restaurants and fun events, my favorite part of the area are the Crossroads murals hidden throughout the district. Though I’ve been familiar with the area for a little over two years, I think I could probably wander for a whole day and not see or find them all.
Some of the works are commissioned, and others are clearly not. The most impressive commissioned pieces are by local Kansas Citian artist, Scribe. He has murals throughout the Crossroads and metro, and is a full time mural artist at Children’s Mercy Hospital. See if you can spot one of his works in my Miami Ice post.
A fan favorite of the Crossroads murals is the “Kansas City, I’m so in Love” piece on the corner of 20th and Baltimore. It is located outside of Fortuity, a local clothing boutique. and across from the arcade bar, UpDown. Each time I walk by, day or night, people are taking photos.
This little beauty is right across the street from Extra Virgin, one of my favorite tapas spots.
There are large groups of Crossroads Murals further east, by Grinder’s.
You can find art in about every alley. Next time you’re out in the Crossroads, take a walk and see what you can find. xx, Libbie.
