Charlotte, North Carolina has several options for art lowers – museums, galleries, theaters, and public art like murals and sculptures. Below are some of my favorite public works of the dozens available in Uptown Charlotte.
Luminous Lane
Luminous Lane is a block-long alley between 3rd Street and 4th Street which began as part of the 2023 Charlotte SHOUT! with the theme “Bringing Light to Dark Places.” Its purpose is to transform unappealing, dark spaces with vibrant local art. By the end of the festival, 42 artists contributed.
Each mural has a placard with the artist’s name, background on the piece, and a QR code for more information.
CHEEKS painted a multi-story portrait of his sister-in-law to let her know you can live your life as large as possible. The mural greets visitors at the 4th Street entrance. We started from this side, and it was a fantastic introduction to the level of talent we encountered.
The northern crested caracara (Mexican eagle) by Carlito Quartz represents good luck and protection in South America. I love birds and this was beautiful!
Jason “JBIRD” Parker created Kiki the cat to bring light, love, and rainbows. This was the first image I saw when researching Luminous Lane – I knew I had to visit for this work alone.
John Hairston Jr. designed a piece to capture the essence of our inner child. I think we all have days where we miss the simple joy of acting out our imaginations.
DeNeer Davis shares positive messages to the reader to let them know they are enough. Sometimes we all need a reminder to be kind to ourselves.
Here is a shot down the alley showing three murals:
- Angler fish by NONY – I love how they used a Charlotte crown in place of the bioluminescent light!
- Cityscape crosswalk by Esther Moorehead
- Bioluminescent jellyfish by Erin Svitko (ESTKO)
Other Murals
Outside Luminous Lane, there are several other murals within walking distance.
Abel Jackson’s take on Queen Charlotte, the city’s namesake. Jackson explores ideas of the Queen’s mixed-race heritage. Queen Charlotte is in the alley behind Tupelo Honey.
Fly Girl is a portrait by Sloane Siobhan. In the work’s description, Siobhan stated “because despite the cards dealt you can rise.” Fly Girl is at the First Citizens Parking Garage.
Sculptures
Sculptures on the Square
Four bronze sculptures, one on each corner of the intersection of Trade and Tryon (known as Independence Square). They represent the forces that shaped the Queen City – commerce, future, industry, and transportation. For most visitors, these are the introduction to Charlotte’s art scene.
The Firebird
This sculpture is covered in mirrored and colored glass. The bird is perched in front of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.
II Grande Disco
The massive bronze wheel spans 15 feet and features a map of the city in its center. It is located near the Independence Square sculptures at Bank of America Plaza.
The Writer’s Desk
As a tribute to the longtime publisher of the Charlotte Observer, this sculpture is a combination of typewriter keys, ink pens, and his own words carved in stone.
I love to check out murals and sculptures while exploring cities. I highly recommend others do it as well. You can learn so much about an area’s history, outlook, and sense of humor.