Skywalk Mural Collection
All-Weather Placemaking Reaches New Heights
To keep downtown’s active street art scene alive throughout all seasons, Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 partnered with The Avenue and ASQ Center to bring street art into the downtown skywalk system, following the precedent-setting skywalk mural, “mutopia 2,” in 310W (310 W. Wisconsin Avenue).
The collection of murals greet downtown employees and visitors alike with vibrant pastels and abstract forms, plus the pops of color are highly visible from the sidewalk at night.
“Kindred” by Jaime Brown and Karim Jabbari
In 2020, Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, and the Downtown Placemaking Task Force partnered with The Avenue to transform the 2nd Street skywalk’s exterior with a mural called “Kindred,” by Jaime Brown and Karim Jabbari.
The mural was a new focal point for a reimagined 2nd Street, connecting attractions like the Bradley Symphony Center and 3rd Street Market Hall with parking structures. Drawing inspiration from a Native American quilt, Jaime incorporated her heritage with symbols representing Milwaukee’s past, present, and future. Though subtle, you’ll notice wigwams, the Native American symbol for a dwelling, smokestack-lake shapes, reflecting Milwaukee’s role in the Industrial Age, and colors of the People’s Flag of Milwaukee, a newly adopted symbol for the city’s renaissance.
Skywalk Mural by Alex Couto
In January 2022, Milwaukee-native and Los Angeles-based artist Alex Couto of The Couto Brothers transformed the interior of the 2nd Street skywalk bridge between the Plankinton Arcade and 3rd Street Market Hall. The work was commissioned by Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, in partnership with Hempel Companies, the owner of The Avenue and Plankinton Arcade, to activate and enhance the corridor between the two bustling spaces. The mural can also be seen at street-level on Plankinton Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue, adding a brilliant pop of color to the cityscape.
“Everything in Transition” by Dave Watkins
Another skywalk mural was completed in January 2022 by Milwaukee-based artist Dave Watkins. His transformation of the Plankinton Avenue skywalk bridge, connecting the Plankinton Arcade and Enerpac Center (formerly ASQ Center), was created with a unique paint-dripping technique inspired by the urban environment around him, from graffiti on a passing boxcar to storied walls with layers of paint. The mural spans the entire length of the skywalk, ranging 75 ft. in width and 10 ft. to 12 ft. in height.
Thank You to Our Project Partners
