Columbia is a city filled with hidden gems and artistic beauty. Institutions, such as the Columbia Museum of Art, the South Carolina State Museum and Historic Columbia, display the rich history of the city's artwork, but there are plenty of masterpieces outside as well.
There are more than 40 murals painted throughout the city, each with its own special design, colors and theme. Taking a stroll through Columbia and trying to find all the murals is a fun and unique way to explore the city.
'Ra Obelisk' by Richard Lane
Painted in 1993, Lane's "Ra Obelisk" depicts the ancient Egyptian sun god Ra. The mural is painted on a piece of stone that was once a railroad trestle. The stone was supposed to be demolished in 1989 by construction workers, but it was left untouched until Lane came across it. The stone reminded Lane of an Egyptian obelisk, and the mural was painted and named to reflect that.
In the mural, Ra sits on a throne surrounded by Egyptian hieroglyphs with a green scarab beneath it. Lane gave no meaning behind the symbols on the mural and decided to leave it up to the viewer to decipher the message. In 2018, the mural was revamped by two artists to reflect the work's original style, including its colors and symbols.
The mural stands in the center of a small park on Heyward Street in Olympia. It has become a spot for some geocachers looking to find hidden treasure.
'Dream of the Earth Goddess' by Eric Finley
Located in the Congaree Vista, Finley's mural represents the emergence of the Earth Goddess. Split into two panels, it depicts a woman burning incense in a dream-like state. Crystals and nature surround the woman, creating a path through mystical woods.
Created in 2023, it is made with latex paint and acrylic spray paint. It's a great sight to check out while walking through the Vista.
'Five Points Postcard Mural' by Chad Brady
This Columbia art staple, created in 2017, sits in the heart of Five Points. The mural is a painted postcard from Five Points filled with the liveliness and color of one of Columbia’s busiest neighborhoods.
It depicts music, shopping, dining and game day celebrations that Five Points is known for. It also features pieces of history, including a large image of South Carolina blues musician Drink Small, also known as the "Blues Doctor".
The Five Points Association said the mural has become a "Selfie Spot" and is a great place for tourists and shoppers to stop and take a photo while visiting the area. Brady said he wanted the mural to be something that depicts the reasons people come to Five Points.
'The Pursuit of Opportunity: Celebrating African American Business' by Ija Charles
In Columbia’s Main Street District, this 300-by-600-foot mural is towering. It shows the rich history of Columbia’s Black business community when it was known as Columbia’s Black Wall Street.
Made in 2021, it celebrates the entrepreneurship and development of Black businesses before the Civil Rights Movement. Colorful and filled with powerful imagery, the painting shows families shopping in a bustling street next to several prominent businesses at the time.
Charles was a self-taught, smaller artist when she first started making murals in Columbia. This mural, along with several others she made in Columbia, gave Charles national attention, allowing her to spread her love of art to other states.
'Lady Vista' by Cait Maloney
This mural on Gervais Street is an eye-catcher. Using vibrant, abstract and funky colors, Maloney painted an upside-down woman wearing sunglasses, radiating color and unique lines. The mural was made in spring 2019 and represents the beauty and culture of the Vista.
Merritt McNeely, president of The Vista Guild, said the Vista is meant to be a place of unity, inspiration and excitement, and the "Lady Vista" mural showcases the talent of a local artist, while bringing people together.
As "Lady Vista" was Maloney's first mural, she said it took her several weeks to make and was her most difficult artistic challenge yet.