Larger Than Life
University Place Neighborhood is the perfect summer destination for the whole family – lined with local businesses, coffee, and delicious food within walking distance, and the twinkling LUX Art Alley, which is open to the public for painting. This neighborhood is now home to a collection of world class murals that liven the buildings at every turn. If you’re looking for free fun to get the kiddos or the whole family out of the house, then look no further!
The seven “Emerge LNK” murals were created back in September 2021 by local and national artists, and even one international artist, as part of the Emerge LNK Mural + Street Art Festival. This project, hosted by LUX Center for the Arts, was intended to bring joy to the community and uplift small businesses as they emerged from the pandemic together.
Through their murals, the seven artists — Shawn Dunwoody, Oria Simonini, Ana Marietta, Eder Muniz, Nolan Tredway, Focus Smith, and Watie White — depict portraits of local activists, display the beauty and healing power of nature, and celebrate the spirit of the neighborhood. There is truly something for everyone to enjoy! The murals make perfect backdrops for family portraits, TikTok videos, or inspiration for your sketchbook.
Murals are known to have an overwhelmingly positive impact on communities – they beautify otherwise overlooked walls, create neighborhood pride, increase economic opportunities for local businesses, inspire passersby, and much more. By making the streets more walkable and drawing positive attention to the neighborhood, University Place has since become a destination within Lincoln. Through this collection of murals, people of all ages and walks of life can enjoy an engaging art experience for years to come.
Ways to Engage with the Emerge LNK Murals
Enjoy a FREE walking tour every second Saturday of the month. Tours begin at 10:30 a.m. at Mo Java Café, 2649 N 48th Street, and last approximately 45 minutes. Registration is encouraged but not required: www.luxcenter.org/emergelnktour.
Pick up an Emerge LNK Mural Map next time you stop by the LUX and explore the murals on your own time with friends and family.
Use one or multiple murals as a backdrop for a social media video or portrait session.
Share and tag @emergelnk for a chance to be featured on social media.
We invite you to come experience this hidden gem in Lincoln!
