Tulsa walls come alive with colorful murals: Get your guide here
More and more, sides of buildings and businesses around town are being adorned with all manner of multicolored murals that range from homages to hometown heroes to images that reflect the highs and lows of the city’s history, from images designed to raise a laugh to abstractions aimed to dazzle the eye.
Here are some of the newest, most eye-catching murals to be found around town.
The Majestic
“The Majestic” mural is 15,000 square feet and incorporates imagery that evokes Tulsa and Oklahoma.
410 S. Main St.
Artists: Ryan “Yanoe” Sarfati and Eric “Zoueh” Skotnes
One of the city’s newest murals is going to be the largest “augmented reality” mural in the world. Artists Sarfati and Skotnes, who have created murals in Los Angeles and Columbus, Ohio, as well as New Zealand, Switzerland and elsewhere, designed the 15,000-square foot mural to incorporate imagery that evokes Tulsa and Oklahoma, as well as honoring the city’s history of art deco architecture. And, once it is live, when viewed through a camera phone, the augmented reality portion of the mural will “bring to life” the flora and fauna of the mural.
The Majestic
"The Majestic" mural is an "ode to Tulsa," according to artists Ryan "Yanoe" Sarfati and Eric "Zoueh" Skotnes.
The Mural of Space and Time
This detail of “The Mural of Space and Time” at 304 S. Trenton Ave. is part of eight large-scale paintings.
304 S. Trenton Ave.
Artists: Patrick (P.S.) Gordon, Brian Lewis
An epic undertaking. Tulsa artist Patrick (P.S.) Gordon created eight large-scale paintings that evoke the spirit of Tulsa music legend Leon Russell, which were then transferred onto the wall of a building across from the Church Studio, which was Russell’s headquarters in the 1970s and ‘80s, by mural artist Brian Lewis.
The Mural of Space and Time
“The Mural of Space and Time” by artists Patrick (P.S.) Gordon and Brian Lewis is across from the Church Studio.
The Mural of Space and Time
An up-close look at “The Mural of Space and Time.”
The Mural of Space and Time
“The Mural of Space and Time” by artists Patrick (P.S.) Gordon and Brian Lewis was an epic undertaking.
African-American Music
The African-American Music mural features portraits of Tulsa’s Gap Band, Wayman Tisdale and Aretha Franklin.
415 E. Third St.
Artist: Jeks
The North Carolina artist known as Jeks is known for his almost photo-realistic murals, three of which can be seen here. The most recent is a triptych in which portraits of Tulsa’s Gap Band and basketball star-turned-smooth jazz master Wayman Tisdale flank an image of Aretha Franklin. These expansive images join Jeks’ two existing images — a portrait of Leon Russell and a painting of an astronaut, whose suit bears a “Tulsa Remote” patch and whose visor reflects the Tulsa skyline.
Leon Russell
The “Leon Russell Mural” is by the artist Jeks.
415 E. Third St.
Artist: Jeks
The artist Jeks is known for his almost photo-realistic murals.
Take Me Back to Oklahoma
“Take Me Back to Oklahoma” is a Bob Wills-themed mural.
514 E. Second St.
Artists: Aaron Whisner and Justin Baney of Clean Hands
Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys called Tulsa and the Cain’s Ballroom home during the heyday of Western swing. They would perform weekly radio shows at Cain’s when they weren’t touring the country in their special bus, which is a feature of this mural.
1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
A woman views the “1921 Tulsa Race Massacre” mural.
322 N. Greenwood Ave.
Artist: Michael Rosato
Created to mark the centennial of this horrific moment in Tulsa’s history, this mural captures the violent destruction of the area known as “Black Wall Street,” centered on an image that evokes Michaelangelo’s “Pieta.”
Jackie Robinson
A Jackie Robinson mural was commissioned by the Tulsa Drillers baseball team.
120 N. Greenwood Ave.
Artists: Chris Sker & Thomas “Detour” Evans
The Tulsa Drillers, mindful of the fact that their ONEOK Field home is located in the heart of the Greenwood District, commissioned Chris Sker of Sker Creative and Denver-based artist Thomas “Detour” Evans to create a portrait of baseball legend Jackie Robinson. While Robinson has no ties to Tulsa, his legacy of courage and talent have made him a icon for fans and players.
Meadow Gold District
The Meadow Gold District mural is by Josh Butts.
1306 E. 11th St.
Artist: Josh Butts
Butts is a prolific muralist, with several of his works currently on display around town. This image is a bit prescient — while the title and imagery celebrate the building in 1904 of a bridge across the Arkansas River, the slogan associated with that feat, “You Said We Couldn’t Do It, But We Did,” might also serve as the rallying cry for the revitalization of this classic Tulsa neighborhood through the arts.
Arts District Map
Isaac Hanson and Scott Taylor of Colorpop Art Lab stand in front of the “Arts District Map" mural.
18 E. Reconciliation Way
Artists: Colorpop Art Lab
Arts Alliance Tulsa commissioned this fanciful depiction of the Tulsa Arts District, which features such landmarks as the Tulsa Theater, the Vanguard, Hunt Club, Cain’s Ballroom, the forthcoming OKPOP Museum, TAC Gallery, Ida Red, Caz’s Chowhouse, Arts Alliance Tulsa, 108 Contemporary and ahha Tulsa, as well as a shoutout to the “Tulsa Sound” impact on the music world.
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James D. Watts Jr.
Tulsa World Scene Writer
Tulsa attorney Joe Bohannon was 52 when he got out of law school and started with the pro bono program the next year. "It’s the reward of helping people. That’s what lawyering is all about.”
The $230,000 project, which adorns two sides of the Main Park Plaza parking garage at 410 S. Main St., was commissioned by the Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity and created by Los Angeles-based artists Ryan "Yanoe" Sarfati and Eric "Zoueh" Skotnes.