Find beauty in unexpected places with these “permission walls” in Pittsburgh where graffiti writers and muralists let their talents shine.
Whether graffiti is “art” is a hotly debated topic, but there’s no doubt that however you categorize it, it’s everywhere, and it isn’t going away. To you, Sappho, Bleacher, Au Jus, Gems, or Kue NSF JYK might be nonsense words scrawled on mailboxes, but to insiders they’re the comrades and friends who keep the fighting spirit of style writing alive. Graffiti and street art are public works that are free to view that, like public libraries, are one of the few things that isn’t soliciting money from you when you go to look at it. And Pittsburgh has many legal spaces to view it, if you stop and look.
Henry Chalfant, director of Style Wars, a 1983 film credited with showing the public the lives and urban adventures of graffiti writers, is a native son of Pittsburgh. You might recognize the Chalfant name from local industrial plants, and Chalfant still has family in the area — in fact, he returned in 2024 for a screening of Style Wars on 35mm film at the Carnegie. Next time you see the curlicues or jagged lines of tags, take a moment to appreciate the artistry that goes into it. Here are some places where graffiti writers have legal permission to fully develop their craft and create large-scale works.
Graffiti in Pittsburgh to Add Some Color to Your Day
Color Park
1 South 6th Street
This open lot on the banks on the Monongahela River has colorful graffiti as far as the eye can see. It’s a sort of palimpsest of Pittsburgh’s tagging, with everyone from seasoned muralists to curious teenagers writing on the concrete. In 2024, it hosted its first official graffiti jam, where local artists came together to add even more color to the already colorful stone structure. It’s a perfect place for an outdoor picnic by the river on a sunny day, accessible via the GAP trail and the Southside Riverfront.
Trace Brewing Permission Wall
4312 Main Street, Garfield
Behind Garfield’s Trace Brewing, graffiti writers and community advocates Max Gonzales and Shane Pilster worked with the community to set up a memorial space to Danny Devine. It’s one of the most visible spots in Pittsburgh for public art, and when newcomers come to town, Pilster and Gonzales often invite them to paint there. It’s fun to pass by it frequently and watch how it changes with time, with new additions. Also, if you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at spray painting, this is a good place to start.
Penn Avenue Walls
4823 Penn Avenue, Garfield
This mural on the exterior of artist Carolyn Wenning’s home is a project of HCUAP (Hemispheric Conversations Urban Art Project), one of the only artist residencies in the world for graffiti writers and street artists. Resident artists Paula Tikay, Melon James, and Dak Pak de la Selva (along with Pilster and Gonzales) contributed to this whimsical mural across from the arts education classroom on Penn Avenue. The artists found inspiration in local wildlife and the name of the neighborhood, as evidenced by the giant Garfield looking out over the street.
Homewood Walls and Warehouse
6815 Hamilton Avenue, Homewood
This wall, also produced by HCUAP, proclaims “WELCOME TO HOMEWOOD,” surrounded by images of steelworkers and evocative abstract graffiti works. Part of the goal was to use public art to make people in the neighborhood feel proud of something on their streets, and the result is indeed pride-inspiring. Once you step inside the warehouse (soon to be home to a pickleball court), you’ll see the true beauty of what graffiti can be. The swirls, and “wildstyle” lines cover every available surface and undulate like patterns on snakeskin. This out of the ordinary pickleball court and comes from organizing Pittsburgh’s biggest graffiti gatherings in 2024, inviting anyone who wanted to from the community to come paint. It’s a testament to the beauty of what people can create when they come together.
Story by Emma Riva
Photography Courtesy of Caitlin Bruce
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