Five Eye-Popping Des Moines Murals (and Food and Drink Nearby)

Let’s face it: This Socially Distanced Summer™ looks different from other summers. But just because you can’t enjoy music festivals and art museums doesn’t mean you can’t find culture on a quiet stroll downtown.

Des Moines is renowned for its sculpture park, just one sampling of this city’s great public art. But if you look past the Keith Haring and Claes Oldenburg sculptures, you’ll see walls coated in fine art on every corner.

Here’s a look at some of the best Des Moines murals, along with places to grab a refreshment nearby. Take ‘em in. Grab a treat. It’s still summer, after all.

Expansion & Dango

Artist: Jun Kaneko | Location: Court Avenue & Water Street

Nearly 40,000 LED lights illuminate “Expansion,” a glass mural adorning the outer wall of a pump station on the Des Moines River downtown. Blown glass glows with bright blues, yellows, and reds on the 2013 work, which stretches 21 feet wide and 15 feet high. Located just across from a series of Kaneko’s iconic “dango” sculptures, the two works serve as an unofficial gateway to the Court Avenue District. Kaneko’s mural looks best after dark, so you might pick up some late night snacks at the throwback The High Life Lounge nearby, where the Bacon Tots (bacon-wrapped, fried with ranch) just might offer an expansion to your waistline. Well worth it.

Murals at 2nd and Court

Artists: (Various) | Location: 208 Court Avenue

Eight murals tile the side of RoCA, a posh small plates spot in the Court Avenue District. Commissioned by the restaurant around 2015, they include “Untitled Wall #1” by Jennifer Leatherby (think geometric minimalism); “Cosmic Waltz” by Jack Heintz (two dancers, pulsing and alive); and “Ancient Minds of Modern Scribes” by Asphate and Leter91 (an almost cyberpunk depiction of Nefertiti). RoCA has fantastic cocktails indoors, but if you’re looking for a sure to-go bet, pick up a growler of beer from Court Avenue Brewing Company just down the street. Try the Judicial Wig White, a Belgian Wit with hints of Banana and Clove.