Self-Guided Graffiti and Street Art Tours of Boston- Northeastern and Mission Hill

This tour focuses on two different campuses- Northeastern University and the Tobin School. The walls come fast and
furious, with the exception of the connection between Northeastern and the first wall at the Tobin which is a bit of a
walk. The tour starts at the New England Conservatory on Huntington Ave (as it’s easy to locate) and ends at the Roxbury
Crossing Orange Line station.

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New England Conservatory

The tours normally start at the Starbucks across the street, but in these times, this is the easiest landmark to use to start the tour. NEC is easily accessible from both the Green Line (Symphony) and the Orange Line (Mass Ave.)
I ❤️ Boston

With NEC at your right walk down the street, past the parking garage on your right and come to a set of stairs. On the side of the stairs you’ll see one of the most instagrammable images on the tour- I ❤️ Boston by the French artist Jef Aerosol
Jimi Hendrix

Turn around and walk back past the parking garage. Take your first left, on St. Botolph Street. On your left you’ll see Jef Aerosol’s portrait of Jimi Hendrix.
Sittin’ Kid

Continue along St. Botolph Street and the continue along the path through campus (use the Google Map to pinpoint the location.) Right before you enter an open area that abuts Huntington Ave. turn around and you’ll see one of Jef Aerosol’s “Sittin’ Kid” stencils.
Taking a Leap/Sittin’ Kid

Walk through the Krentzman Quadrangle and follow Huntington Avenue for a few minutes until you start to approach a large intersection. You’ll see a lot or obvious art directly ahead of you on the Punter’s Pub building, but hold on for a minute and look to your left. You’ll see a larger Sittin’ Kid first and then you’ll see the largest of Jef Aerosol’s installations on the Northeastern Campus, “Taking a Leap.”
Astro CBS, Kofie, Cedric Douglas and Daniel Anguilu

This corner is really great. Sadly it’s not long for the world as the whole corner is going to be developed by Northeastern. Anyway! French artist ASTRO CBS can be seen above with this customary trompe l’oeil style. Augustine Kofie can be seen on the right side of the wall (for years this was the only piece over there.) Boston’s own Cedric Douglas (black and white portrait) and Houston’s Daniel Anguilu (everything else) can be seen to the left.
Three More from Jef Aerosol

Turn around and walk back towards Taking a Leap/Sittin’ Kid. Turn to the right before you get back to the wall. Walk until you see some stairs on the left. Take in three pieces by Jef Aerosol.
John Lee Hooker + Edgar Allan Poe

With the walls you’ve just looked at at your left, walk a few steps until you come to a small opening between two buildings. turn to your left and you’ll see a remarkable example of Jef Aerosol’s work. Of all of his work at Northeastern, this one best illustrates just how remarkable stencil can be as a technique when it’s really well executed.
El Mac

Walk back towards the steps, there’s a road that goes off towards your right. Follow that road until you get to a large, open space. Once you’re roughly in the center of the Centennial Common, turn around and look back at Meserve Hall and see the massive mural “Ars et Scientia” by Los Angeles based artist, El Mac.
Cedric “Vise” Douglas

Turn around and start walking in the same direction you just came from. You don’t have to go far to see a second mural on this tour from Boston artist Cedric “Vise” Douglas.
Shepard Fairey

Walk out to Ruggles Street. Don’t cross, and just follow the street along to the left. You will see the Northeastern University International Village. Look in the lobby for the oldest piece in this tour on Northeastern’s campus by Shepard Fairey.
Sonik/Imagine876

The next piece is about a ten minute walk away. So if you’re happy here you can hop on the train at Ruggles and head home. If you want to continue and see more of the graffiti side of the ledger, follow the Southwest Corridor across Ruggles Street (The Boston Police Headquarters will be on your left) and follow it until you get to the next intersection, Prentiss St. Turn right on Prentiss and follow it until you get to Parker St. Turn to the left. Follow Parker until you get to Smith St. Turn right. Walk until you come upon the back side of a school. If this is at all confusing, remember that there’s a handy Google Map which can lead you there with GPS.

Your reward for all that walking is a collaboration between Sonik and Imagine 876.
Sonik/Katie Yamasaki

Walk along the back of the school and as soon as you can turn left into the schoolyard. Follow it up to a wide open space. Turn to your left and you’ll see a collaboration between Sonik/Katie Yamasaki

Sonik/Marka27/Don Rimx/Risk MSK

After walk up the path between the School and the church. Turn to the left. Walk until you see an opening to the left. Follow that path to a nice little community garden. Walk to the back and take in works by Caleb Neelon/Marka27, Marka27/Don RimX, Risk MSK from LA and Caleb Neelon/SONIK.

That’s the end of part one. From here You can continue on to part two (coming soon) or can hop on the T or a Blue Bike at Roxbury Crossing Orange Line Station.