Some of the most interesting art around Boston is on the way to somewhere else. A highway underpass holds a mural collection. An Allston wall honors a neighbor. In Cambridge, an alley changes as artists paint over what came before.
These seven stops give you specific places to see street art in Boston and Cambridge, with the artists identified where the work is a lasting commission. They are spread across several neighborhoods, so choose a couple for one outing. The changing walls are part of the appeal, but also a reason not to expect every photograph you have seen online to match the wall today.
Graffiti Alley in Central Square
Richard B. “Rico” Modica Way runs off Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge’s Central Square. Commonly called Graffiti Alley, the short passage has walls covered with layers of paint and lettering. Its appeal is the accumulation and replacement of work, so it is better approached as a changing space than a checklist of particular artists.
Walk through slowly enough to notice the smaller marks as well as the large pieces. The alley is a public right of way, so leave room for people passing through. Central Square’s cafes and shops make it an easy stop within a longer afternoon.
Dewey Square on the Greenway
Rixy’s The Midnight Ride is the Dewey Square mural on view from June 2026 through May 2027. A rider stands beside a blue horse on the enormous wall near South Station. The commission responds to the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The wall hosts successive commissions, rather than a permanent collection of all its past murals. Stand back to see the whole image, then move closer for the details. It is a useful first stop if you are arriving downtown by train.
Rita’s Spotlight in Allston
At 506 Cambridge Street, Rixy’s Rita’s Spotlight honors Rita Hester, the Black trans woman whose death helped inspire Transgender Day of Remembrance. The mural was installed in July 2022, with Hester’s family and community members involved in the process.
Roses and colors from the trans pride flag surround Hester, and the design includes a passage from her poetry. Knowing who she was matters here. This is a portrait of someone who lived in the neighborhood, with personal details supplied by people who knew her.
Underground at Ink Block
Underground at Ink Block puts murals beneath the highway between the South End and South Boston. The park occupies an eight-acre underpass, with art spread across walls and structural surfaces. Its mural program began after the park opened in 2017 and expanded through later installations.
Go for the collection as a whole: the change in scale and the use of the highway structure are part of what makes the setting different. Follow the pedestrian routes rather than wandering into vehicle areas. The site also includes parking, so it is not entirely a car-free gallery.
HarborArts in East Boston
HarborArts’ artwork directory identifies murals and sculptures around East Boston, including the Shipyard Gallery at Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina. Silvia López Chavez’s Rise is listed at the shipyard, while other Sea Walls works are dispersed through the neighborhood.
Use the directory to choose a route before leaving. A photograph tagged East Boston might show a school, a street wall or the shipyard; those are separate stops. At the working waterfront, stay on visitor paths and respect any access restrictions rather than treating every part of the marina as public space.
Mozart Park in Jamaica Plain
Roberto Chao worked with Hyde Square Task Force and local residents on Afro-Latin Music and Dance at Mozart Park. Installed in October 2022, the long mural includes musicians, dancers, instruments and imagery connecting Africa, the Caribbean and the United States.
Look for the individual figures as you move along the panels. The city’s account names Fela Kuti, Bob Marley and Jamaica Plain’s Fabiola Méndez among those represented. The park is at 10 Mozart Street, close to Centre Street, making this a specific stop in Boston’s Latin Quarter.
Franklin Field in Dorchester
Mel Mandel’s Youth Lead the Change mural is at 158 Stratton Street in the Franklin Field housing community. Installed in June 2022, it centers on a baobab tree, with flags and words reflecting the neighborhood’s residents.
Mandel developed the design with the Boston Housing Authority community and young people involved in Youth Lead the Change. Look at how the words and flags are incorporated into the trees rather than standing apart as labels. This is a residential setting, so keep the visit on public paths and give people their privacy.
Planning a walk to see street art in Boston
Dewey Square fits into a downtown afternoon; Mozart Park makes more sense as part of a Jamaica Plain visit. Give East Boston its own outing rather than trying to reach it on foot from Fort Point. Our unusual things to do in Boston can help you add another stop.
Photograph the artist’s credit along with the work so you can identify it later. View residential murals from public paths, keep entrances clear, and follow signs at parks and working waterfront sites.
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