Canvas-ing the Neighborhood: A Tour of 12 South's Murals

UPDATE AS OF 3/21/2021: Some of the businesses/addresses/murals have changed since this post was written.  For the most-up-to-date info on public art in the neighborhood,
please visit our new 12 South Murals "Public Art Crawl" page!

One of our favorite parts of 12 South are the many murals that have popped up over the last few years.  Whether you're looking for the perfect content to post on your Instagram Feed, or just wanting to see the sights as you stroll around (undoubtably with a las Paletas or Jeni's in your hand!), you can find many incredible murals within just a few blocks of The Carriage House! We've listed the address and location (as well as website if there is one) at the top of each listing and the instagram handles and tags at the bottom because as the kids say, "pics or it didn't happen." 

I BELIEVE IN NASHVILLE
www.ibelieveinnashville.com
2702 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(on the side of the 12 South Dental Studio)

We'll kick off the tour with the most iconic of all the 12 South Murals - the "I Believe In Nashville" painting.  A second painting also exists at Marathon Music works, but this is the ORIGINAL mural.  :)  Originally painted as a tribute to the resiliency of Nashville and Nashvillians, it's ironically been defaced on two different occasions (both sets of vandals were caught and arrested.)  The mural was repainted and stands strong! 
 @ibelieveinnashville 
#ibelieveinnashville 
​@howellsalley  #howellsalley 

DRAPER JAMES "POSTCARD" & STRIPES
www.draperjames.com
2608 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(on the side of the Draper James Flagship Store)

While we're hanging out in Howell's Alley, might as well just turn around and check out the happy stripes that Reese Witherspoon's Draper James has brought to town.  The awning, mural and bench make any photo as pretty as a postcard, and we're pretty much in love with the blue and white stripes that decorate the rest of the space.  The perfect background for a cute group pic!
@draperjames #draperjames ​@howellsalley  #howellsalley 

MAKE MUSIC NOT WAR
2902 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(on the side of the Epice restaurant building)

Tucked away on the side of Epice - a seriously delicious Lebanese Restaurant that makes you feel like you've been transported somewhere exotic by simply walking to the end of the block - is this modern piece that sums up Nashville well. Snap a photo and then head inside for a seriously delicious meal.
​
@relaxmaxapparel #relaxmaxapparel
#makemusicnotwar

GARDEN FLORAL
2900 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(on the side of Green Pea Salon)

Sadly, I couldn't find the title or painter of this incredible mural (if anyone knows any more info, please message me and let me know) but it's stunning and worth seeing.  Fortunately it faces the "Make Music Not War" mural, so you can hit them both in one stop.

RIVIVE! NASHVILLE FOX
2814 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(on the side of the Iyengar Yoga Center of Nashville building)

This mural isn't just another pretty picture!  Painted in conjunction with the water conservation focused non-profit  Rivive!Nashville, this mural raises awareness about the importance of protecting Nashville's River systems.  If you want to see this mural in person, we recommend visiting sooner rather than later as the building is slated for re-development and we can't promise that the painting will survive the renovation. 
@rivivenashville #rivivenash ​@mobeoner

LOOKING PRETTY, MUSIC CITY
2709 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(on the side of the Madewell Denim Edit Store)

Not only does this whimsical design bring a cheery vibe to the neighborhood, we LOVE that it was "Created in support of music and art programs in Metro Nashville's Public Schools."  As strong believers in the importance of music and arts education, this is the cherry on top of an already awesome mural.  Note: If you're looking for the "Peace, Love, Good Deeds" mural, know that it was painted over by this new "Looking Pretty, Music City" mural, so unfortunately it's not a neighborhood fixture anymore.
​@emily.eisenhart  #lookingprettymusiccity @eastsidemurals  #eastsidemurals  

HALCYON BIKE SHOP - DRINK WATER
www.halcyonbikeshop.com
2802 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(on the side of Halycon Bike Shop)

The folks at the Halcyon Bike Shop are just as passionate about art as they are bikes and the nieghborhood is all the cooler for it.  On the side of the building is the "Drink Water" mural featuring the anatomy of a bicycle.
@halcyonbike #halcyonbikeshop​

HALCYON BIKE SHOP - JUNGLE SAFARI
www.halcyonbikeshop.com
2802 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(on the back of Halycon Bike Shop)

One of the lesser known murals in town, due to its somewhat hidden placement, also happens to be one of my favorites!  This incredible jungle safari-scape is on the back of the Halcyon Bike shop.  So once you get a pic of that "drink water" mural, just turn the corner and go on a photo-safari!  We've also posted pics below that show both murals to help you find both!
@halcyonbike #halcyonbikeshop​

FOR BECKS & FOR BECKS WITH RAINCLOUD AND GUMMY BEAR
www.forbecks.com
www.raddingtonfalls.com
(see locations below as photo captions)

These two little guys are probably our very favorites of all the 12 South murals.  Eternally happy and cheerful, who doesn't want to just go grab the hand of one of these little guys and just know that everything is awesome?  :) The little guy on the right is particularly difficult to find as it's on the back of a garage in an alleyway.  You can either go through the parking lot behind Frothy Monkey and it's on the back of the garage that "Nashville Looks Good On You" is painted on, or you can turn onto Sweetbriar from 12 South and then turn into the alleyway just past the Islamic Center of Nashville and walk a dozen yards or so.
@forbecks #forbecks ​@raddingtonfalls #raddingtonfalls

(2601 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204) (On the side of Imogene + Willie, facing Portland Brew)

(2509 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204) (on the back of the garage with the "Nashville Looks Good On You" mural painted on it, behind Frothy Monkey, in the alleyway.)

NOW PLAYING IN 12 SOUTH
2403 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(on the side of The Flipside Nashville)
We're Music City, so there's always something playing if you're listening!
​@n.gaged #nowplayingin12south @theflipsidenash #theflipsidenash 

FIVE DAUGHTERS DONUTS
1110 Caruthers Ave, Nashville, TN 37204
(on the side of Five Daughters Donuts)
Founded in Franklin, TN and family owned and operated, these 100 layer donuts are something you just have to experience on any trip to 12 South.  Watching what you eat?  No worries. Their Paleo options are so good you'll never know that you're eating something that isn't bad for you.  Take a pic with their classic mural while you're there, or be part of the picture with their donut-hole-peek-through option on the fence.  :)
@five_daughters_bakery  #fivedaughtersbakery

There is a super cute outdoor eating area and playground that kids will love running out their sugar-highs on!  The look-through donuts are on the fence that encloses the outdoor seating area/playground.

NASHVILLE LOOKS GOOD ON YOU TN
2509 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(on the front of the garage behind Frothy Monkey 12 South)
There are a couple of these murals around town, including one in the Nations, but we're partial to this one behind Frothy Monkey.  Just go down the driveway to the additional parking area (in between MODA Boutique and the Islamic Center) and you'll see the mural straight ahead!  (One of the lego men is on the back of this garage)
@thenash.tn #nashvillelooksgoodonyou

GNASH 
2607 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(on the side of White Bison Convenient Store)

Nashville is definitely a hockey town.  As I write this blog, our beloved Predators are in the Stanley Cup playoffs (and have been for the past few years) so it only seems fitting to mention this giant rendering of their mascot Nash that keeps watch over the 12 South section of "Smashville" as the locals call it. 
@PredsNHL
#Smashville

TROY DUFF GRAFFITI SKYLINE
1204 Elmwood Ave, Nashville, TN 37212
(on the side of 4 Patriots, facing the parking lot next to/behind Taqueria Del Sol)
Although the "Reserved parking" sign kills the photo shoot vibe a little bit, we think this skyline of Nashville by graffiti artist Troy Duff is really incredible and worth checking out.
@duffomatic

For other great street art all over town, be sure to check out the Nashville Walls Project!