Grand Rapids Art & Mural Tour: Calder, Maya Lin & ArtPrize

Walk around downtown Grand Rapids with a local guide to see colorful street murals, Calder’s La Grande Vitesse, Maya Lin’s Ecliptic, and ArtPrize works. Spot hidden public art on walls and sidewalks.
Grand Rapids has a way of putting art where you least expect it.

A colorful mural around one corner. A sculpture in a downtown park. A piece of ArtPrize tucked somewhere you might walk right past. On the Grand Rapids Art & Mural Tour, the city itself becomes the gallery.

Join Tours Around Michigan for a walking tour through the heart of Grand Rapids and see how art has shaped the character of the city. With more than 300 murals and public artworks appearing on walls, sidewalks, electrical boxes, alleyways and even crosswalks, there is always something worth looking at.

Your local guide will take you to some of Grand Rapids’ most recognizable works, including Alexander Calder’s La Grande Vitesse and Maya Lin’s Ecliptic, while sharing the stories behind the artists, the ideas that inspired the work and the sometimes surprising controversies surrounding public art.

You’ll also hear about ArtPrize, the international art competition that transformed Grand Rapids into a major destination for public art. Some ArtPrize pieces remained in the city after the competition ended, including works that are easy to miss unless you know exactly where to look.

And that is part of the fun.

This isn't simply a walk from one artwork to another. Your guide points out the details most visitors miss and shares the local stories behind the pieces. You may even hear how one unusual work became possible because of an artist’s construction accident.

Along the way, you’ll see artwork connected to Grand Rapids history, local leaders and the evolution of the city itself. The result is a tour that blends art, murals, history, architecture and local storytelling.

During ArtPrize season in late September and mid October, the experience can include current ArtPrize entries along the route. Private tours can also be arranged around ArtPrize works for groups wanting a more focused experience.

Whether you are an art lover, a photographer, visiting Grand Rapids for the first time, or simply curious about what makes the city different, this tour offers a colorful look at Grand Rapids from street level.

Come for the murals. Stay for the stories behind them.

Per garantire la disponibilità, prenota il prima possibile. La prenotazione anticipata è consigliata soprattutto se stai pianificando il viaggio durante l'alta stagione come le festività pubbliche o i fine settimana.

Questa escursione può essere annullata senza costi fino a 24 ore prima dell'inizio del viaggio. Se la annulli dopo 24 ore o non ti presenti all'escursione, ti verrà comunque addebitato il prezzo intero dell'attività. Essere in ritardo al ritiro o alla partenza sarà considerato come non presentarsi.