“All the world’s a stage,” but it’s also a canvas, and Pittsburgh is a gallery of public art. We’re a city filled with murals detailing the rich histories of 90 neighborhoods, telling of our storied past and gleaming present.Those itching to get out into a crisp autumn afternoon have plenty of options when it comes to viewing public art — Pittsburgh is home to more than 200 murals. Many, like “The Bride on Penn Ave.,” are so famous, many Pittsburghers know the piece’s haunting scene by name. Others are lesser known, but no less beautiful.But where to begin? Some of these murals are fun surprises when driving over or under a bridge; others are destinations in themselves. Map out a self-guided art tour with this handy list courtesy the Pittsburgh Murals and Public Art blog.This mural by renowned artist Richard Haas was commissioned in 1993 and features the Byham Theater’s windows and doors. Photo by Katherine Mansfield.Haas Mural by Richard Haas Fort Duquesne Boulevard, DowntownThe Haas Mural, better known as “Mural of a Steel Mill Stage,” by renowned American muralist Richard Haas, is done in Trompe l’oeil style. It gives the illusion of a three-dimensional scene of a theater stage ready for actors to perform a play about the steel industry. The mural was commissioned by EverGreene Studios in 1993 — with funding from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust — to commemorate the city’s steel roots. It includes a nod to the Byham Theater, formerly Fulton Theatre. The piece is just one block away from another mural, “Love Carries,” part of a 2022 Auberle PR campaign.Marc Runco’s “Tribute to Veterans” mural is a “thank you” to those who have served. Photo by Katherine Mansfield.A detail of the “Tribute to Veterans” mural in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood. The mural, faded but still beautiful, includes likenesses of famous war scenes, including this, the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima. Photo by Katherine Mansfield.“Tribute to Veterans” by Marc Runco Liberty Avenue, BloomfieldThere’s no denying Alfred EIsenstaedt’s VJ Day in Times Square is one of the most iconic war photographs. That image — a Navy soldier passionately embracing a young woman upon his arrival home — is one of many famous scenes depicted in “Tribute to Veterans” by Pittsburgh artist Marc Runco, who also brought to life the Jesus mural in Lawrenceville and the Highland Park mural at the park’s entrance. Grab a seasonal drink (Yinz Coffee is nearby) and head to the former Bloomfield Veterans of Foreign Wars across from the old Bloomfield Bridge Tavern (beside Veteran’s Way alley) to view it. The mural is a little graffitied over, but many scenes still appear boldly depicting some of American history’s most impactful war images, including the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima.One half of the “Tribute to Immigrants” mural, situated at the corner of Broadway and Wenzell avenues in Beechview, depicts the various peoples who built this city. The mural is located in a residential neighborhood, and makes for a colorful view at the stop sign for those passing through. Photo by Katherine Mansfield.One half of the “Tribute to Immigrants” mural in Beechview showcases Pittsburgh’s melting pot history, which makes the city so strong, diverse, interesting and liveable today. Photo by Katherine Mansfield.“A Tribute to Immigrants” by Jeffrey Katrencik and multiple artists Broadway Avenue, BeechviewLike the communities it celebrates, this mural is resilient. “A Tribute to Immigrants” pays homage to Pittsburgh’s diverse heritage (still reflected in names like “Polish Hill”) in colorful imagery. Immigrant populations pop against a teal background. Look closer, though, and you’ll notice the background isn’t just a backdrop — it features symbols like farmsteads and Mayflower-esque sailboats etched in orange. The blending of background into artwork feels symbolic of this melting pot city. The mural, completed by Jeffrey Katrencik as part of the MLK Community Mural Project, is located in a residential area at the corner of Broadway and Wenzell avenues. Plan to drive slowly beneath the Carnahan Bridge in order to take in the decades-old mural that serves as a reminder of Pittsburgh’s makeup.Visible from the Homestead Grays Bridge, this public artwork sits above East Eighth Avenue and celebrates the bridge and the borough it leads into. Photo by Katherine Mansfield.Homestead Grays Bridge Mural East Eighth Avenue, HomesteadAs you cross the Homestead Grays Bridge from Squirrel Hill into Homestead, a bold rectangle set against a greige building comes into view. The mural, faded but still eye-catching, represents the bridge, built in 1936 — one of the last remaining Wichert Truss-style bridges. The bridge (renovated in 1979 and renamed from the Homestead High-Level Bridge to the Homestead Grays Bridge in 2002) is the heart and soul of the mural, which highlights the town’s industrial roots. The name refers to the borough’s 12-time National Title-winning Negro League baseball team, whose Hall of Fame players include Josh Gibson. The Grays, founded by steelworkers, dominated Negro League baseball from 1900 to 1950. The team is also celebrated in several murals around Pittsburgh, including “The Legends of Pittsburgh” Downtown.Images symbolizing Mac Miller’s musical works are incorporated into this mural on the side of I.D. Labs in Etna, where Miller recorded music. The mural serves as a memorial to the Pittsburgh rapper who died in 2018. Photo by Katherine Mansfield.Photo by Katherine Mansfield.Mac Miller Mural by Gustavo Zermeno Jr. and Nick Flax Butler Street, EtnaAt least three public artworks celebrate the too-short life of musician Malcolm “Mac Miller” McCormick, but perhaps the most apropos is the one emblazoned on the side of I.D. Labs in Etna, where Miller recorded much of his music. The mural depicts Miller the way Pittsburgh knew him — a young boy from Point Breeze and an enthusiastic Yinzer waving his Terrible Towel — and the way the world perceived him: a revered lyricist and musician strumming his guitar. These scenes center on one of the most well-known images of Miller, a brown eye peeking from behind his tattooed hand. Messages and signatures by those who paid their respects to Miller are part of the mural, which is worth the trip to walkable Etna. Named the “Strip District Squid,” this mural was completed in 2015 by muralist Jeremy Raymer and has been staring at passersby ever since. Photo by Katherine Mansfield.“Strip District Squid” by Jeremy Rayner Penn Avenue, Strip DistrictIt’s been nearly a decade since a giant squid appeared on the side of a building in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. Since then, the Pike Place Market of the east has been transformed and the loading docks from which vendors sold flowers is now The Terminal. Still, the solitary squid remains, a red monster swimming serenely between the old Strip and the new, its big eye taking everything in. Wholey’s commissioned the mural in 2015 from muralist Jeremy Raymer, who has created works of art on buildings throughout the greater Pittsburgh region and beyond. The mural is situated on a brick wall at 1711 Penn Ave. Depending on the time of day, there’s often ample parking nearby. Grab a meal or coffee at one of the Strip District’s many cafes and eateries, see the squid and stay a while.A detail shot of artist James Hough’s “A Gift to the Hill District” mural. The mural features a quote by Pittsburgh’s Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson, who grew up in the neighborhood. Photo by Katherine Mansfield.“A Gift to the Hill District” by James Hough Hill DistrictIn 2019, James Hough was released after 27 years in prison. During his incarceration, Hough reformed and transformed into a prolific artist. Three years after his release, Hough gave back to the Pittsburgh community that raised him through public art. “A Gift to the Hill District” is a blocky, colorful mural commissioned for the 58th Carnegie International that celebrates Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson and the city’s Black history — including history being made today. Hough hosted community meetings to determine what themes Hill District residents wanted to explore and collaborated with BOOM Concepts to hold paint days, so the public could contribute to the piece. The mural stands out against a brick and white facade. It’s just 10 minutes from Downtown with parking on either side of Centre Avenue. For those passing through: Stop, get out and properly view this uplifting piece.The post Pittsburgh murals: a self-guided tour of the city’s best public art appeared first on NEXTpittsburgh.