The City as Canvas
In Highland City, public art is everywhere — if you know where to look. Tucked into alleyways, spread across the sides of buildings, woven into underpasses and park walls, murals have become one of the most visible and democratic forms of artistic expression the city has.
But murals are rarely just decoration. Each one has a story: about who commissioned it, who painted it, what community it was meant to speak to, and what it reflects about the neighborhood it inhabits. This guide takes a closer look at some of the murals that define Highland City's visual identity — and explains what makes public mural art worth paying attention to.
Why Murals Matter in Public Space
Unlike gallery art, murals require no ticket, no dress code, and no art world fluency to encounter. They exist in public space as part of everyday life — seen by commuters, schoolchildren, shoppers, and residents going about their routines. This accessibility is both their strength and their complexity.
When a mural is well-conceived, it can:
- Honor the history or culture of a neighborhood
- Give visibility to communities that are often overlooked
- Transform a neglected space into a point of pride
- Spark conversation about identity, belonging, and change
- Create a lasting record of who lived and worked in a place at a particular time
When poorly conceived — particularly when they're imposed on communities without their input — murals can feel like a form of erasure or gentrification. Context matters enormously.
Notable Murals in Highland City
The River Heritage Wall (Dockside District)
One of the oldest surviving murals in Highland City, the River Heritage Wall stretches nearly 40 meters along a former warehouse building near the old docks. Painted in the early 1990s by a collective of local artists working with longtime residents, it depicts the layered history of the area — from its Indigenous past to its industrial era and the immigrant communities who settled along the river.
The mural has been carefully restored twice, with community consultation guiding each restoration to ensure its original intent was preserved.
Resonance (Eastbridge Underpass)
Commissioned through the city's public art program five years ago, Resonance covers the concrete columns and ceiling of the Eastbridge pedestrian underpass in a sweeping abstract composition by artist Daniel Ferreira. The design was developed through workshops with local youth, who contributed visual symbols and color choices that were woven into the final piece.
What could have been a dark and unwelcoming passageway is now one of the most photographed spots in Highland City.
Portraits of the Market (Northside)
A series of large-scale portrait murals on the buildings surrounding the historic Northside Market depict vendors who have worked there for decades. The project — initiated by photographer-turned-muralist Tara Nguyen — is ongoing, with new portraits added each year.
The series is a living document of a community that has faced significant pressure from commercial development, and the murals have become a focal point in broader discussions about preserving the market's character.
How Murals Are Commissioned in Highland City
Public murals in Highland City come through several pathways:
- City public art program: The municipality funds murals through a competitive application process open to local artists. Projects must include a community engagement component.
- Business-initiated commissions: Property owners and businesses hire artists directly, sometimes in partnership with the arts community.
- Community-led projects: Neighborhood groups and cultural organizations sometimes fund and organize murals independently, with support from local sponsors.
- Festival commissions: The Summer Arts Festival commissions a new mural each year as part of its programming.
How to Explore Highland City's Murals
The Highland City Arts organization maintains a public art map on its website, listing known murals with artist credits, dates, and brief histories. Self-guided mural walks are a great way to explore the city on foot — particularly in the Dockside District, Northside, and the Arts Quarter, which have the highest concentrations of work.
Guided tours run seasonally and are open to all skill levels. They offer deeper context about individual works and the broader story of public art in the city.
Next time you pass a mural, slow down. There's almost certainly more to it than you think.