In August 2000, the renowned street artist Shepard Fairey was in town for his solo exhibition at Anno Domini. He spent the afternoon leading up to his opening reception wheat pasting his art on numerous walls and utility boxes surrounding the hotel in which he was staying -- not that many of us in downtown San Jose ever saw it. Our city had a “zero tolerance” graffiti policy and a well-funded anti-graffiti team to back it up. By the next morning, they had completely and effectively eradicated Fairey’s art.

Street art and graffiti have often been seen as two sides of the same coin when it comes to legal interpretation and ramifications, but the simple step of an artist asking and being granted permission has resulted in an explosion of murals on privately-owned buildings all over the world. San Jose has slowly but surely begun to acknowledge the contributions artists make towards a vibrant city that attracts and retains the creative class with much of the work being accomplished by a mix of inspired individuals, artists, grass roots collectives and civic-minded nonprofits.

The murals highlighted below are just a few of the many outdoor art works that can be found in San Jose if you have the presence of mind to explore the neighborhoods and look up once in a while. These particular murals were chosen for their originality and contribution to the actual space surrounding them as well as the wonderment they inspire when you view them. It’s easy to imagine these murals as portals into other worlds where you can linger a while and give your cerebral side a rest and let your intuitive imagination side have some fun and play.

One caveat of private/permissioned murals is that its longevity is uncertain. So consider a détournement next time you’re out walking, skating or biking this summer and see what beauty awaits you in the streets of San Jose.

"Interview with an Icon” by Ian S. Young

Located at Barber’s Inc. 332 E. Santa Clara St. (downtown)

Supported by SJSU African American Task Force for Student Success and the San Jose Downtown Foundation

"Phylum of the Free” by Jeffrey Hemming

Located at Lido Nightclub 30 S. 1st St. (Fountain Alley)

Supported by the San Jose Downtown Association, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office and Phantom Galleries

“Labor of Our Love" by Galen Oback

Located at Workingman’s Emporium 260 N. 1st St. (downtown)

Supported by Exhibition District and the Knight Foundation

Front: ”Looking Back” by Jamie Friedman & Notre Dame High School students

Reverse: “The Future" by Marcos LaFarga

Located at the corner of E. San Carlos & S. 2nd streets (SoFA District)

Supported by San Jose Downtown Association and the Property-Based Improvement District funds

“Expanding Circuits – Stairs to the Moon – Rising Naturally” by LAuruS Myth

Located at TechShopSJ 300 S. 2nd St. (SoFA District)

Supported by Phantom Galleries and SubZERO Festival

Left to right: murals by Poesia, Michael Borja, and Denis Korkh

Located at The Studio Climbing Gym 396 S. 1st St. (SoFA District)

Supported by Phantom Galleries and SubZERO Festival

“Symphony of Style; Color, Light, and Sound”. by Scape Martinez

Located at the intersection of S. 1st & San Salvador streets (SoFA District)

Supported by San Jose Downtown Association & SoFA District

"Peeps and Pups" by Force 129

Located at 467 S. 1st St. (SoFA District)

Supported by The Core Companies, Phantom Galleries and SubZERO.Festival

Untitled by Aaron De La Cruz

Located at MACLA 300 S. 1st St. (SoFA District)

Supported by MACLA

“Little Moment” by Nosego

Located at Nichi Bei Bussan 140 E. Jackson St. (Japantown)

Supported by Empire Seven Studios and the Knight Foundation

“Empty Vessel” by Andrew Schoultz

Located at the corner of 6th & Empire streets (Japantown)

Supported by Empire Seven Studios and the Knight Foundation

“‘You are never strong enough where you don't need help.’~Cesar Chavez” by Thomas Talamantes

Located at The Bottle Shop 899 S. 1st St. (downtown)

Supported by Beautiful Day, Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office and the Guadalupe Washington Neighborhood Association

BONUS ArtBox Mini-Murals: Over 60 hand painted utility boxes by local artists in most San Jose neighborhoods.

Supported by the ArtBox SJ Project and individual sponsors

Pictured ArtBox by Sara Tomasello at 13th & Hedding streets