Boston is a city where history and creativity meet on every corner. The cobblestone streets and colonial architecture may speak of the past, but the walls, parks, and waterfronts hum with present-day energy. Public art in Boston tells stories about the city’s resilience, celebrates its diversity, and reminds both locals and visitors that culture is not confined to galleries. Whether it’s a bronze duck dressed for Halloween, a mural under a highway overpass, or a towering sculpture along the waterfront, Boston’s public art scene is as layered as the city itself.
This journey highlights four very different corners of Boston’s public art identity—from contemporary rotating exhibits downtown to grassroots murals in East Boston, and from playful statues that families adore to bold street art beneath the interstate. Together, they show how art is stitched into Boston’s daily life, making it one of the most rewarding cities to explore on foot.
The Rose Kennedy Greenway: A 1.5-Mile Ribbon of Art
The Rose Kennedy Greenway is one of the clearest examples of how public art can transform urban space. What used to be the site of the hulking Central Artery elevated highway was reborn after the Big Dig as a 1.5-mile linear park weaving through downtown. Since 2009, the Greenway Conservancy has curated temporary, contemporary public art pieces that turn the strip of green into a living, rotating gallery.
The Greenway’s program is known nationally for taking risks. Instead of sticking to permanent monuments, the Conservancy commissions large-scale installations, murals, and sculptures that speak to Boston’s communities and respond to current issues. Works like Tuȟmaǧatipi by Dakota artist Erin Genia brought Indigenous perspectives to the park, while Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs’ Breathe Life Together celebrated community resilience in bold, colorful form. Chinatown often becomes the canvas for projects highlighting immigrant identity and Asian-American stories.
Visitors love the variety. One season you may find a massive, colorful mural stretching across a wall; the next, a thought-provoking sculpture encouraging you to pause in the middle of the financial district. As The Harvard Crimson observed, the program “features artworks with profound, distinct meanings” and turns a walk through downtown into “a serene oasis … with various public art installations.”
What people say: “Spanning 1.5 miles … a serene oasis … with various public art installations.”
Plan your visit: Start near the North End to pair your art walk with classic cannoli, or head south to Chinatown for bubble tea and dumplings. On summer days, food trucks line up near Dewey Square, often right beside a massive mural. Bring comfortable shoes—you’ll likely end up exploring more than you planned.
Underground at Ink Block: Murals Beneath the Highway
Where others saw a dark and unwelcoming underpass, local developers and curators saw opportunity. Underground at Ink Block, launched in 2017, transformed an 8-acre stretch under Interstate 93 into a mural park, community hub, and urban playground. Today, it’s one of Boston’s most dynamic places to see large-scale street art.
More than 20 massive murals wrap the columns and walls, painted by a mix of local and international artists. Each piece is different: some abstract, some portrait-driven, others bursting with graffiti energy. Together, they form what Boston Magazine once called the city’s “Best Outdoor Museum.” In addition to murals, the space includes a dog park, seating areas, and a skateboarding-friendly vibe. In recent years, pickleball courts have even popped up, showing that the space is as much about community activity as it is about visual art.
The official site describes it as “a space … that integrates highway infrastructure … where people can enjoy amazing street art from local and international artists.” Meanwhile, the family guide BostonCentral calls it a “successful transformation of an 8-acre underpass … into an active park, cultural attraction and parking amenity.”
What people say: “A space … that integrates highway infrastructure … where people can enjoy amazing street art.”
Plan your visit: Take the Red Line to Broadway and walk about 10 minutes. Late morning to early afternoon offers the best light under the highway. If you’re hungry, you’re a short stroll from South End bakeries and South Boston’s coffee shops. Come prepared to wander—murals are spread across multiple blocks and you’ll want to pause for photos.
HarborArts & Sea Walls at the East Boston Shipyard
Head across Boston Harbor to East Boston, and you’ll find one of the most socially conscious public art initiatives in the city. HarborArts, founded in 2009, uses art to connect people with the ocean and spark conversation about environmental sustainability. The hub is the Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina, a working waterfront that doubles as an art space.
HarborArts first became known for its floating sculpture garden, where installations bobbed on the water with the skyline as a backdrop. In recent years, the group has partnered with PangeaSeed’s global Sea Walls project, which brings muralists together to create large-scale works about marine conservation. In 2020, seven new murals appeared across the shipyard, each with themes like ocean biodiversity, climate change, and community connection. The work of Silvia López Chavez—an enormous guardian figure looking out toward the harbor—is one of the most photographed murals in East Boston.
Arts Fuse praised HarborArts for using “public art to raise public awareness … climate crisis and degradation of the sea,” while WBUR called the Sea Walls project “a series of seven new large-scale murals” emphasizing the need to protect the environment.
What people say: “Used public art to raise public awareness … climate crisis and degradation of the sea.”
Plan your visit: From downtown Boston, take the Blue Line to Maverick Station and walk 10 minutes to the shipyard. Bring a camera—the murals are huge and striking against the industrial backdrop. If you visit in summer, check if the ICA Watershed is open nearby; admission is free and pairs perfectly with the outdoor art.
“Make Way for Ducklings” in the Public Garden
Not all public art needs to be monumental. Sometimes, the most meaningful works are the most whimsical. Tucked into the northeast corner of the Public Garden, Nancy Schön’s bronze Make Way for Ducklings statue has charmed visitors since 1987. Inspired by Robert McCloskey’s beloved children’s book, the sculpture shows Mrs. Mallard leading her eight ducklings in a row, just as they do in the story’s walk through Boston.
Over the decades, the ducks have become more than art—they are mascots of the city. Community members frequently dress them in seasonal costumes: Red Sox jerseys during playoffs, tiny scarves in winter, or pink ribbons during charity walks. As Boston.com explained, “They come in after hours, and then magically, the new costumes arrive.” The tradition keeps the sculpture alive and evolving.
Families flock here for photos, and the line of ducklings has become a rite of passage for children growing up in Boston. Tourists love it because it feels like stumbling into a storybook come to life, right in the heart of the city.
Plan your visit: The statues sit along the northeast paths near the corner of Beacon and Charles Streets. Visit early on weekends if you want photos without crowds. Pair your stop with a Swan Boat ride or a stroll across the footbridge for classic Public Garden views.
Making the Most of Boston’s Public Art
Boston’s public art tells as much about the city as its historic landmarks. It reflects communities reclaiming space, artists amplifying environmental or social issues, and residents creating traditions that keep art relevant year after year. For visitors, the experience of Boston becomes more layered when you notice these works—whether it’s a mural under the highway or bronze ducks in the park.
- Transit tips: All highlights are accessible via the T. The Greenway is near Haymarket and South Station, Ink Block near Broadway (Red Line), East Boston Shipyard via Maverick (Blue Line), and the Public Garden near Arlington (Green Line).
- Best seasons: Spring and fall are ideal for walking tours. Summer is lively with food trucks and Greenway events, while winter gives the ducks their cutest outfits.
- Pairings: Each stop can be matched with food and culture nearby—North End pastries by the Greenway, South End cafés by Ink Block, East Boston seafood by HarborArts, and Beacon Hill strolls after the Public Garden.