Downtown Worcester has long served as a creative destination for theatergoers and art aficionados alike. Public art installations delight the community at every turn, free of charge. The neighborhood has exploded with even more public art in recent years, thanks (in part) to an abundance of new murals painted by local and international artists. You’ll now find gorgeous murals adorning many buildings Downtown, making art available to all.
Worldwide Walls (formerly known as POW! WOW!) is an international mural festival that celebrates the importance of culture and art around the globe. The local outpost of the festival, known as Worcester Walls (formerly POW! WOW! Worcester), has helped bring even more art to the city; as part of the festival, many talented artists have created some of the stunning murals you’ll see all around Downtown.
Below you’ll find a handy guide to some of the many murals in the Downtown area. Check out these works of art for the perfect photo opportunity in Downtown Worcester!
Muralist: Christina Angelina
Mural Location: Federal Plaza Garage, 570 Main St, Worcester, MA 01608
Muralist Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Organizers of the POW! WOW! Worcester mural festival tracked Angelina down at Coachella and gifted her an original Worcester Wares t-shirt before approaching her about making the trip to Massachusetts. Angelina was happy to oblige. Her massive portrait on the Federal Plaza garage depicts both strength and vulnerability.
Muralist: Marka27
Mural Location: Federal Plaza Garage, 570 Main St, Worcester, MA 01608
Muralist Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Alongside Angelina’s sweeping portrait of femininity, you will find the three most important women in Marka27’s life: his two daughters and his wife. The mural came as a surprise to Marka27’s family who did not know they had served as his models until the project’s completion. Read more in our blog here.
Muralist: Insane51
Mural Location: The Hanover Theater, Federal St, Worcester, MA 01608
Muralist Hometown: Athens Greece
Insane51’s red-blue mural has received more press than any other wall in the city. The mural offers three distinct experiences for viewers wearing anaglyph 3D glasses. (Don’t worry, if you don’t have your own pair, a giant one was fabricated on site precisely for this reason.) The couple depicted on Insane51’s wall can be seen in both flesh and bone depending on your perspective. This project took much longer than anticipated because of a paint shortage. Insane51 made two visits to Worcester in 2018 to see the mural through.
Muralist: Greg Mike
Mural Location: 15 Salem St, Worcester, MA 01608
Muralist Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia (by way of Connecticut)
Greg Mike’s work is a mischievous mix of cartoon characters and photo realistic wildlife. His mural in Downtown Worcester contrasts “Tom,” the cat of “Tom and Jerry” fame, with a snarling tiger poised to leap off the wall and straight into the Worcester Public Library.
Muralist: WRDSMTH
Mural Location: Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem St, Worcester, MA 01608
Muralist Hometown: Los Angeles, CA (by way of the Midwest)
WRDSMTH uses murals as opportunities to share his love of literature with the public. His Downtown typewriter is the first of its kind, showcasing all 26 letters. For WRDSMTH, each letter can be a weapon or a tool, depending on how it is used. He was inspired by Worcester resident Charles Thurber, who patented the first modern-day typewriter in 1843.
Muralist: Sydney James
Mural Location: YWCA, 1 Salem St, Worcester, MA 01608
Muralist Hometown: Detroit, MI
Sydney James’ work aims to explore the marginalization of black women in American society. The YWCA was a perfect fit for her Downtown mural because of its mission to eliminate racism and empower women.
Muralist: Askew One
Mural Location: YWCA, 1 Salem St, Worcester, MA 01608
Muralist Hometown: New Zealand
Askew One is a fixture in both the street art and graffiti worlds. A YWCA employee brought her four-year-old daughter and her daughter’s teacher outside to meet the artist, and he was so inspired by their presence that he decided to paint them. Askew One met the teacher and student on a Monday and was finished painting them by Wednesday night.
Muralist: Tavar Zawacki
Mural Location: DCU Center, 1 Exchange St, Worcester, MA 01608
Muralist Hometown: California
Tavar Zawacki had made a name for himself as ‘Above’ up until POW! WOW! Worcester in 2016. His 208-foot Downtown mural is the first work painted under his legal name. His “I LOVE YOU, MARRY ME” wall is a popular destination for engagement photos, proposals, and even vow exchanges.
Muralist: Arlin Graff
Mural Location: Palladium, 261 Main St, Worcester, MA 01608
Muralist Hometown: Brazil
Arlin Graff’s bird represents hope and freedom; it is the sixth bird in a series. Graff hides two hearts in all of his murals. On his wall Downtown, you can find one by the neckline and one where the heart of the bird would be. The first heart is for his love of Brazil, his home country, and the other for the love of his wife.
Muralist: OG Slick
Mural Location: Palladium, 261 Main St, Worcester, MA 01608
Muralist Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Downtown regulars were shaken when OG Slick repainted this wall as a reminder that murals are meant to be temporary, ever-evolving works of art. OG Slick’s first smiley mural was painted for POW! WOW! Japan. When local organizers informed him that Worcester is the birthplace of the smiley face, he agreed to paint a smiley design on the biggest wall in Worcester the city could provide.
