Long Beach Walls

Murals and public art give a city character, injecting colorful elements of human expression into urban spaces while visualizing a shared cultural experience. Several movements and organizations have created public art in Long Beach, perhaps none as prolific as Long Beach Walls, a festival that celebrates street art and mural painting. In 2023, the festival returns for its eighth year with new murals, artist talks, a bike tour, and an art exhibition, all of it free to the public.

2023 FESTIVAL

This year, the Long Beach Walls and Art Renzei Festival takes place August 14 to 19, with 19 artists creating new murals across the city. The theme is “Follow Your Bliss,” with the aim of inviting people in the community to explore their passions and joy through the outdoor art installations as well as interactive events during the festival.

FESTIVAL HISTORY

Since 2015, Long Beach has added more than 100 public murals to buildings throughout the city, created by artists participating in the Long Beach Walls festival. Formerly known as POW! WOW! Long Beach, the festival is part of a global network of Worldwide Walls events that aim to enrich communities through art programs. In 2022, the festival in Long Beach featured a roster of female artists who completed 10 murals at locations including the Dana, Burnett and Bret Harte Neighborhood Libraries, Boys & Girls Club of Long Beach and Daisy Diner.

ARTISTS

More than 600 artists applied for 19 spots to participate in this year’s festival. New murals will be painted by local artists including Jason Keam and Jess Weymouth, and you can also look for installations by Balloonski (with balloons), Crystal Wagner (with recycled materials), and Ryan Griffin (who creates live projections under the name Projected Visions). Artists James Shen and Jennifer Tran will install a piece in Lincoln Park (101 Pacific Ave.) downtown.

FIND THE MURALS

Take a look at all of the murals created during past festivals on the Long Beach Walls website and find their locations on an interactive map. To take a tour of the new murals being created this year, visit our map below, or join the bike tour on August 17 hosted by Moonlight Mash and Pedal Movement.

Long Beach Walls Mural Locations

1Dina Saadi

📍Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center

2Royyal Dog

📍Civic Center Public Parking Garage

3Jason Keam

📍Civic Center Public Parking Garage

4Stevie Shao

📍Renaissance High School for the Arts

5SUPERWAXX

📍Renaissance High School for the Arts

6Jack Soren

📍Renaissance High School for the Arts

7Mister Toledo

📍Renaissance High School for the Arts

8Roshi

📍Roland Sands Design

9Nevermade

📍Roland Sands Design

10Lauren YS

📍Good Time

11Shar Tui’asoa

📍PIPPI + LOLA Plant Studio

12Jess Weymouth

📍Wild Chive

MORE EVENTS

Check out the Long Beach Walls art exhibition featuring limited edition prints, merch, music, and refreshments, August 16 at Open Gallery from 6 to 10 pm. The festival’s closing party will be held on August 19 at Mosaic DTLB (300 N Promenade) from 6 to 10 pm. The party will feature live sets from local bands and DJs including World Famous VIP Records, food, a beer garden, and a marketplace with local artists and vendors.

About the Author

Claire Atkinson

Claire Atkinson is a Southern California native who has lived in Long Beach for nearly 20 years. She spends her free time visiting local parks, farmers markets, and museums, and loves learning about Long Beach history and culture.