Reno's Mural Scene Is Becoming a Destination of Its Own

What started as a handful of scattered murals in downtown Reno has grown into something closer to an open-air gallery, with dozens of large-scale works now covering building facades across several downtown blocks.

The city's public art program, working alongside local business associations, has commissioned much of the recent expansion, pairing local artists with building owners willing to donate wall space. Organizers say the murals have become an unofficial walking tour, with visitors using informal online maps to plan routes between pieces.

Local artists credit the program with providing a rare source of paid, large-scale commission work in a city that has historically sent its most ambitious muralists elsewhere for opportunities. Several artists interviewed said the visibility has led directly to commissions outside the program.

City officials are now considering a formal self-guided tour app, citing the informal maps' popularity as evidence of demand, though funding for the project has not yet been finalized.