Public Murals in Kalamazoo

Decorating our streets, walls, and buildings

Since the 1970s Kalamazoo has been home to dozens of public murals that have decorated the walls of many commercial and residential buildings. Some have long since disappeared, but a walk through downtown Kalamazoo reveals just how many fantastic works of art still adorn the streets and buildings that are in plain sight. Others, however, lie hidden in out of the way locations, demanding a more thorough interrogation of the landscape. Those who take the time to seek them out will not be disappointed.

Black Lives Matter Street Mural

Rose Street between South and Lovell. Conceived and painted by volunteer local artists, businesses, community partners, and Kalamazoo Public Library staff, June 2020. It was repainted in somewhat different form in early November 2023.

Northeast Gateway mural by Conrad Kaufman

2009. East wall of Midwest Custom Embroidery, 621 East North Street, Kalamazoo.

Train mural by Paula Clayton and Jane Weir for Decovis Interiors

Commissioned by Fred Royce in 1998. The lengthy mural was located on the west wall of 427 East Michigan Avenue, a historic railroad depot built in the mid-1920s. The former Grand Trunk Western freight office and warehouse was renovated in 2016 and now houses the HopCat brew pub and Maru Sushi and Grill.

“Fireflies on a Mid-Summer’s Night” by Conrad Kaufman

2003. North wall of Sticks & Stones, 124 South Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo.

“Outstanding In Their Field” by Conrad Kaufman

Located on the south wall of the former People’s Food Co-Op, 436 South Burdick Street, Kalamazoo.

“Food For People, Not For Profit” (artist unknown)

Mural on south side of People’s Food Coop building, 436 S. Burdick, Kalamazoo, c.1983. The mural shows a farmer driving a tractor with “Food for people not for profit” written to the left of it. Later replaced by Conrad Kaufman’s “Outstanding In Their Field” (above). History Room Photograph File P-1337.

Untitled urban landscape by Kinz

1992. Retaining wall adjoining Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, 1128 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo.

Arcadia District mural (artist unknown)

South wall of 230 North Kalamazoo Mall, along Arcadia Creek.

“The Swimmer” (left) by Conrad Kaufman

Poem by Kate Samra. Gordon Water Company, 618 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo. View full resolution version

“Coffee” (center) (artist unknown)

Poem “Saxophone Man” by Grace Arnold. East wall of Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, 222 North Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo. View full resolution version. The poem in the bottom right reads:

“Each night you heard the wailing
of the Saxophone Man
Triumphant,   Low,   Longing
Each note trembling
Hanging from the awning
of the old coffee shop
But the downtown corner
Is empty now,   Lord knows
What became of the man
But if you close your eyes      And listen
Sweet, sweet music      Spills onto the street
Triumphant,      Low,      Longing
At night you’ll hear the wailing
Of the Saxophone Man”

“Little Brothers Grain and Feed” (right) (artist unknown)

Former Little Brothers Grain and Feed Store, 313 East Kalamazoo Avenue, Kalamazoo. View full resolution version

AAMCO Transmissions & Auto Service (artist unknown)

AAMCO Transmissions & Auto Service, 541 Portage Street, Kalamazoo.

“Kirbyville” by Conrad Kaufman

Former Kirby Building/Kalamazoo Creamery, Portage Street, Kalamazoo.

Ye Ole Central Laundry mural (artist unknown)

Located on the east wall of Ye Ole Central Laundry, 827 South Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo.

“Glass Jars” by Conrad Kaufman

Poem by Meredith Adams. North wall of the Park Trades Center, 326 West Kalamazoo Avenue, Kalamazoo.

Grapevine Furniture Store facade (artist unknown)

Grapevine Furniture Store, 829 Portage Street, Kalamazoo. This building was demolished about 2023.

Douglas & Son Paint Store mural (artist unknown)

Douglas & Son Paint Store, 231 West Cedar Street, Kalamazoo.

“Measure the Moon” by Conrad Kaufman

1996. Poem by Catharine Nagayda. The Heritage Building, 2300 Portage Street, Kalamazoo.

Bank Street Bingo Hall mural by Conrad Kaufman

2006. Bank Street Bingo Hall, 1157 Bank Street, Kalamazoo.

“Polar Loneliness” by Conrad Kaufman

2008. Poem by Emily Kunz of Allegan, MI. Acme Bedding Company, 440 West Kalamazoo Avenue, Kalamazoo.

Tiffany’s mural by Conrad Kaufman

West wall of Tiffany’s Wine and Spirit Shoppe, 1714 West Main Street, Kalamazoo.

Smart Shop mural by Conrad Kaufman

North wall of the Smart Shop Metal Arts Center, 516 East North Street, Kalamazoo.

Rose Street Parking Ramp mural (artist unknown)

Formerly located on the south wall of the Rose Street Parking Ramp, north of Michigan Avenue.

Bruno’s Pizza mural (artist unknown)

Bruno’s Pizza, 1528 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo.

Whiskey Alley mural by John Metheany (1935-2020)

1973. Formerly located at the west end of Whiskey Alley where it meets the Kalamazoo Mall between Water Street and Michigan Avenue. Metheany was an art instructor at Michigan State University and Western Michigan University. His mural in Whiskey Alley inspired a 1974 citywide mural competition.

The 1974 Mural Competition

In 1974 the Kalamazoo City Commission, inspired by WMU art instructor John Metheany, sponsored a mural painting competition. Officials identified nine “excellent walls” around town that were deemed appropriate for large colorful murals. Of the 150 entries received, seven were ultimately selected to be realized by the end of that year.

Winning Designs

WMU art professor John Metheany was selected to paint the wall at the northeast corner of Water and Burdick streets with a design of “interesting letters” he said was inspired by the word Kalamazoo.

WMU senior Dale LaVercombe was selected to cover the north side of the Park Building facing the alley behind the ISB (Comerica) building with a design he described as “sort of an English garden scene.”

Lona M. Walsh was selected to paint the northwest corner of South Street and the Kalamazoo Mall (Burdick Street) with an abstract design she said resembled “some type of village scene” in shades of bright fluorescent pink.

Mike Mitch’s creation entitled “Cows in the Field” was based, he said, on Egyptian wall paintings. It was reproduced on a building along the west side of South Burdick Street next to Harvey’s near the State Theatre.

Eleven-year-old ‘Jan Stella’ Metheany’s vision of “a tree growing with its roots entwined in an ‘earth-like’ orb” was to adorn an upper level wall near Exchange Place along the Kalamazoo Mall.

James Maxwell’s work entitled “Facescapes” would appear on the north side of South Street facing what was then the Gilmore parking ramp.

Colleen Rockey’s untitled abstract covered the west wall of Climb Kalamazoo facing the alley behind what is now the Comerica Building, 136 South Kalamazoo Mall. The artist refurbished the 44-year-old mural in 2018. Hers is the last remaining mural from the 1974 contest.

“Monroe Building Mural” by Patrick Hershberger

Completed in 2024 and located on the north side of the former Kalamazoo City Savings Bank Building at 151 E. Michigan Avenue.