3 brand-new murals in The Magic City + a few of our favorite classics [Photos]

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Is it just me, or does a new mural pop up in Birmingham almost every day? We took a ride around town in a 2020 GLC300 from Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham to see a few of the new murals in The Magic City—here’s what we found!

Check Out Our Ride

For our journey, our friends at Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham hooked us up with a Polar White 2020 GLC300. I was surprised at just how roomy the car was. There was plenty of room for our camera equipment, and for me to sit back, stretch out my legs and enjoy the drive.

Turns out, the 2020 GLC300 is way more futuristic that I expected. For example— at one point I accidentally activated the voice assistant. I later learned that the car includes the Mercedes-Benz User Experience, an assistant that allows you to ask the vehicle anything—from how to get to the nearest taco joint to even changing the air conditioning—all without taking your hands off the wheel!

First—Meet the New Kids on the Block

1. “It’s Rad to Have You in Birmingham”

One of Birmingham’s newest murals adorns the side of the recently-opened Monday Night Brewing. The creation of Sean M. Glider, the mural wraps around the exterior of Monday Night Brewing and features a spaceship, a velociraptor and an astronaut—as well as pays homage to the classic “It’s Nice to Have You in Birmingham” mural.

The “retro” theme of the entire mural fits perfectly with the 90s-era vibe of Monday Night Brewing—so be sure to check it out!

2. “Find Your Magic, Birmingham”

• Location: 1000 15th Place Southwest, Birmingham, AL 35211
• Painted by: Marcus Fetch | Website | Instagram

One of Birmingham’s most prominent artists, Marcus Fetch, has done it again, now in West Birmingham. On a wall parallel to the train tracks, his mural shows a girl playing the flute, in Fetch’s distinctive style.

“The super long wall lent itself well to the girl playing the flute and I loved the idea of capturing that special moment you can get lost in when creating, so having the flute turn into a branch blooming flowers and birds was perfect.”

Marcus Fetch

3. BHM Collaborative Mural

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A post shared by Magic City Murals (@magiccitymurals)

• Location: On the corner of 19th Street North & 2nd Avenue North
• Painted by: Bhm Artist Collective | Instagram

In April 2020, as Birmingham began settling into the era of masks and social distancing, a group of local artists decided to put their talent to work in order to spread positive vibes in The Magic City.

The mural is a collaborative effort between Fitz Hand Painted Signs, Blank Space Bham, BHM Artist Collective and more, along with REV Birmingham. The goal of the mural was to provide a message of encouragement to Birmingham’s essential workers during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each “section” of the mural showcases the individual artist’s unique style, all blending together in one unifying message of hope.

The Classics

“Vulcan Mural Project”

• Location: 19th Street North between 3rd & 4th Ave N
• Painted by: Blank Space Bham | Instagram

Working in conjunction with Vulcan Park and Museum and the Birmingham Design Review Committee, Black Space Bham debuted their artistic talent with the Andy Warhol-inspired Vulcan mural in downtown Birmingham back in 2015. Although the idea was conceived in the summer of 2015, it took the artists just a little over a week to bring the idea to life. The eye-catching mural showcases Birmingham’s beloved mascot in a colorful interpretation—and we love it!

The mural looks so good, we just had to grab a picture of the 2020 GLC300 in front of it!

“Welcome to Edgewood”

• Location: 1018 Oxmoor Rd, Birmingham, AL 35209
• Painted by: Shawn Fitzwater | Fitz Hand Painted Signs | Facebook | Instagram

“Welcome to _______” seems to be a theme in the greater Birmingham area, don’t you think? Well, local artist Shawn Fitzwater thinks so—that’s why one of his latest projects helps formally welcome guests and residents to the town of Edgewood. Painted on the side wall of the Engaged Wedding Library, the mural is pretty much impossible to miss on a ride into town to grab a bite to eat.

Shawn Fitzwater had previously restored the Color TV “ghost sign” across the street.

“It’s Nice To Have You in Birmingham”

• Location: 112 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203
• Painted by: Magic City Mural Collective | Instagram

“It’s Nice to Have You in Birmingham” might be one of the most iconic murals in The Magic City. The slogan dates all the way back to the 1950s, when various clubs in Birmingham promoted the city with the slogan on bumper stickers, buttons and other memorabilia.

In 2014, a group of artists known as the “Magic City Mural Collective” painted the now-iconic slogan on the side of John’s City Diner in downtown Birmingham. The mural is a fan favorite—who hasn’t taken an Instagram photo by the mural?

“North Avondale Rocks”

• Location: 4031 1st Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35222
• Painted by: Vincent Rizzo | Instagram

What happens when a tattoo artist meets a blank space in Avondale? A giant mural, of course! Local tattoo artist Vincent Rizzo got the chance to express his creative talent on the exterior of C&CJ’S Carwash in Avondale—and it is so expansive, you can’t capture it all in one shot! The mural wraps around the entire building and features a variety of interesting characters and scenes, from our own Sloss Furnaces to the beloved Pink Panther.

“Welcome to Birmingham, The Magic City”

• Location: 3rd Avenue North and 16th Street North
• Painted by: Blank Space Bham | Instagram

According to Blank Space Bham, Meghan McCollum organized the mural for the pilot episode of Jefferson County: Probation, a Comedy Central series by Roy Woods Jr. Instead of painting over the mural after the scene was recorded, the team decided to leave it up, with plans to elaborate in the future. We can’t wait to see what comes next!

We made it to this mural right as the sun was *chef’s kiss* just right.

Check Out The Hundreds of Murals in Birmingham

Want to go on your own mural scavenger hunt in Birmingham? Well, thanks to Viktoria Havasi of Magic City Murals, it is easier than ever. Viktoria has painstakingly marked the location of 170 murals in the greater Birmingham area, as well uploaded photos to her Instagram page, @magiccitymurals.

And if you want to ride around in style on your journey, check out the options at Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham—they have a ride for everybody!

What is your favorite mural in Birmingham? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!

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