Columbus doesn’t just put art in museums—it splashes it across brick walls, alleyways, parking garages, and riverfront neighborhoods. From the arch-lit blocks of the Short North to the industrial grit of Franklinton, the city’s murals turn an ordinary stroll into a gallery walk. This self-guided route hits five dependable crowd-pleasers: the Short North Arts District mural corridor, a sideways “Mona Lisa” hidden just off High Street, the skyscraper-scale canvases at Franklinton’s Gravity campus, the selfie-famous “Live Well” wings at Luxe23, and the history-rich Gateway Murals in Clintonville. Each stop below includes what to look for, how to capture great photos, what visitors are saying (with clickable quotes), and a precise Google Map embed so you can tap and go.
Choose one neighborhood or make a day of it—coffee in the Short North, a river crossing into Franklinton for big walls and brewery patios, then a northbound hop to Clintonville for a dose of local history under the tracks. However you line it up, you’ll leave with a camera roll full of color and a better sense of how public art shapes Columbus’s identity.
Short North Arts District Mural Corridor (High Street)
If Columbus has a single “main gallery wall,” it’s High Street through the Short North. The district is known for commissioning and refreshing public art along the corridor—so what you see in spring may be different by fall. The official district page highlights a robust public art program and a tradition of rotating mural series that keep the streetscape lively and ultra-photogenic (Short North public art overview). The Short North’s mural efforts also extend to series like the Unconventional Mural Series, which has long invited audiences to “navigate the murals” with in-person guides and galleries (Unconventional Mural Series). For first-timers, the city’s official tourism team also nudges you to start your art exploration right here on the Short North Art Trail, which links public art with galleries and creative spaces.
What do visitors say when they wander these blocks? Reviews often focus on the murals and the district’s city-within-a-city vibe. One TripAdvisor reviewer wrote that it felt “like we were in NYC’s Soho,” noting the “large attractive murals on the sides of buildings both high & low” amid indie shops and cafés (read the review). That comparison captures the essence: plenty of storefronts to browse between walls, and new pieces popping up often enough that locals come back just to see what changed.
How to do it: Start at Goodale Park and walk north along High Street, crossing side streets to catch facades from different angles. Early mornings offer fewer parked cars for clean shots, while late afternoon light gives warm tones on west-facing walls. If you want a ready-made route, use the Art Trail as a checklist and build in coffee/brunch stops along the way (Art Trail).
The Sideways “Mona Lisa” (28 Bollinger Pl.) — Short North’s Hide-and-Seek Classic
Just off High Street on a narrow spur, you’ll find a beloved local secret: a sideways Mona Lisa by artist Brian Clemons. It’s a favorite precisely because you have to know where to look. The arts listing notes it as “an important symbol of the neighborhood” and also points out that it’s the only major Short North mural not visible from High Street—which is why finally spotting it feels like winning a scavenger hunt (ColumbusMakesArt: Mona Lisa). Street-art guides consistently include the exact location—28 Bollinger Pl., Columbus, OH 43215—so you can plug it straight into your map (Columbus Navigator street art guide).
Cultural references go back decades: a WOSU/PBS feature documented the buzz around the mural’s unveiling back in 1990, showing how it quickly became part of Short North lore (WOSU: Mona Lisa Mural). The piece’s enduring popularity comes from its clever twist—turning a globally famous image on its side and tucking it down a low-traffic lane.
Photo tip: Step back toward High Street to frame the tilted portrait without distortion. Because the lane is tight, a wider lens (or stepping back a few car lengths) helps. Early daylight reduces harsh shadows from surrounding structures.
Gravity Campus Murals (500 W Broad St., Franklinton) — Big Walls, Bigger Statements
Cross the river into Franklinton and you’ll find one of the city’s densest clusters of monumental murals centered on the Gravity campus. From its debut, local coverage emphasized the sheer scale and ambition of the project, with more than two dozen artists installing large works across multiple buildings (Columbus Underground: Gravity murals). The campus also anchors an official public art tour that starts and ends at 500 W Broad St., encouraging visitors to loop through the neighborhood and discover additional pieces nearby.
One of Gravity’s most recognizable works is “Self-Portrait” by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra—a five-story, kaleidoscopic mural that blends bright triangles with the artist’s own visage, looking out over Broad Street. You can verify the exact address and listing on the arts database (ColumbusMakesArt: Self-Portrait at Gravity) and on Arts in Ohio (Arts in Ohio: Self-Portrait). Need a quick primer on the piece? MapQuest’s entry sums it up and notes the 2018 creation date, the scale, and Kobra’s signature geometric style (MapQuest: Self-Portrait Mural).
Beyond listings and press, locals chime in, too. In a widely shared neighborhood thread, one Columbus Redditor reacted to a wave of new walls at Gravity: “This is awesome! … adds some interest to grey walls” (r/Columbus: new Gravity murals). Another post highlighting Franklinton’s rapid changes adds context to why mural clusters here keep drawing foot traffic and cameras (r/Columbus: Franklinton changes).
If you’re lucky enough to visit during the district’s mural festival, Scrawl, you can watch new pieces come to life. The Franklinton Arts District maintains current info and dates (Scrawl official site), and the event’s socials give you a peek at live painting, vendor markets, and performances (Scrawl on Instagram).
How to do it: Pin 500 W Broad St. as your starting point, then walk a clockwise loop around the campus, peeking down side streets and parking-lot walls. Late afternoon light is flattering for west-facing facades. Many visitors pair the art walk with a drink or snack nearby and linger as the sun drops.
What people say about the vibe: Fans of the neighborhood’s live-painting spirit often praise the hands-on, in-progress feel. One Yelp reviewer for the Urban Scrawl festival (a Franklinton staple) called it “a wonderful interactive event… good for the whole family,” noting dozens of artists and a friendly atmosphere (Yelp: Urban Scrawl reviews). A Columbus Alive preview once embraced the beautiful chaos of the festival: “dirty and dusty and smelly in all the good ways,” celebrating the process as much as the finished walls (Columbus Alive: Urban Scrawl 7).
“Live Well” Wings at Luxe23 (1079 N High St.) — The Instant Classic
Back in the Short North, the “Live Well” mural on the side of Luxe23 is a rite-of-passage photo for Columbus visitors. A city blog post from Experience Columbus calls it “elegant and striking,” and it helpfully lists the precise location—1079 N. High St., 43201—so you can navigate with one tap (Experience Columbus: Live Well). The official arts listing confirms the address and keeps it pinned for easy directions (ColumbusMakesArt: Live Well).
Photo tip: Stand across the street to get the full wingspan and include a Short North arch in the frame. If there’s a line, it usually moves quickly—most people take one or two snaps and wave the next person forward. Blue-sky midday shots pop nicely here, while golden hour adds drama to the edges of the wings.
Want a twofer? After your Luxe23 photo, keep strolling High Street for additional walls and storefront art; the Short North public art page aggregates pieces and background notes (Short North public art), and the Art Trail can steer you to indoor galleries if the weather turns.
Gateway History Murals (643 E North Broadway, Clintonville) — Stories Under the Tracks
Head north to Clintonville for a change of mood and scale. At the railroad underpass on East North Broadway, a series of large panels known as the Gateway History Murals narrate neighborhood history in vivid color. The official listing includes the exact location—643 E N Broadway, Columbus, OH 43214—and notes that the murals extend beneath the overpass and along both sides of the street (ColumbusMakesArt: Gateway History Murals).
Locals discuss the murals not just as photo spots but as community touchstones. The Ohio History Connection wrote about how people “walk and take family bike rides to the murals at North Broadway,” underscoring how public art can bring history into everyday life (Ohio History Connection: Clintonville murals). Coverage over the years has tracked restoration and upkeep efforts (including community fundraising), a reminder that murals are living parts of the streetscape and benefit from local stewardship (Clintonville Spotlight: restoration need; GoFundMe: restoration).
How to do it: Approach slowly and pull onto a side street to park legally; then walk the length of the underpass to read and photograph each segment. Late morning light illuminates the east side panels best. Pair this stop with nearby coffee or a Clintonville lunch for a relaxed, neighborhood-level art stroll.
Trip Planning Tips
- Timing & light: Morning is ideal for the Short North and Luxe23 (clean sidewalks, soft light). Franklinton’s Broad Street walls glow in late afternoon. Clintonville’s underpass murals benefit from midday brightness beneath the tracks.
- Getting around: The Short North corridor is very walkable. Franklinton works well as a park-once loop starting at 500 W Broad. If you’re chaining all five stops, a rideshare between districts keeps parking simple.
- Etiquette: Don’t climb on installations or block alleys/driveways. If artists are painting, ask before approaching for close-ups.
- Pair with food & drink: The Short North and Franklinton have plenty of local cafés, breweries, and patios; festivals like Scrawl often add music and markets to the mix.
Why these five?
Together, these stops show the range of Columbus murals: curated and ever-changing (Short North), iconic and tucked-away (Mona Lisa), monumental and festival-fueled (Gravity), social-media ready (Live Well), and community-history focused (Gateway). They’re also reliable for visitors—well-documented, mapped, and supported by active arts organizations—so you can count on finding them and learning the context behind the paint.