Art isn’t just for indoor spaces. Artistic creations are also found outdoors in the form of monuments, architecture, sculpture, murals and graffiti. This art is public art, free for all to enjoy at any time.
On the Outer Banks you’ll find many outdoor murals, mostly on the exterior walls of local businesses, that enliven the communities with distinctive local color and character.
Some of the murals pay homage to the local wildlife, like the sea-inspired murals at Art’s Place and Shipwreck’s Taphouse in Kitty Hawk and probably the most famous Outer Banks mural – painter Rob Snyder’s underwater creatures on the Ben Franklin building in Nags Head. There are murals for surf and skate culture, like the one at Outer Banks Boarding Co. in Nags Head, and there are eye-catching, fun-loving murals that reflect the good vibes of the island life, like at Secret Spot Surf Shop in Nags Head, Sooey’s Barbecue in Nags Head and The Spot in Kitty Hawk.
Whether you’re snapping selfies for Instagram or simply admiring the local creativity and ingenuity, here are some, but not all, of the murals to look for on the Outer Banks.
One Love Mural
Dowdy Park, Nags Head
Reflecting the Outer Banks’ deep sense of community, the One Love mural at Dowdy Park is dedicated to Ravann Horton and Sebi Lopez, a mother and son who tragically passed away in a house fire in 2020. Several local artists contributed to the project, populating it with images dear to Ravann and Sebi – music notes, a quote from The Giving Tree, hands clasped in unity, the beach and more. More than a memorial, it’s a place of inspiration and joy.
Wright Brothers Mural
Super Wings, Kitty Hawk
Manny Golasa originally hired muralist Sam Welty to paint an inspiring mural of Arnold Schwarzenegger in his gym, Outer Banks Sports Club. Sam had his headphones in while he painted, and when Manny asked what he was listening to he said, “History.” Sam said, “If you know anyone who has an open wall for a Wright brothers’ mural, I’d like to paint one.” Manny had just the place on the wall of his family business – Super Wings in Kitty Hawk. The result is a beautiful homage to local history. Sam also painted a set of angel wings for selfies. Coming soon, Manny plans to fill a whole wall of Wings with the work of local artists.
Wave Mural
Ashley’s Espresso Parlour, Kill Devil Hills
Popular Outer Banks artist Dawn Gray Moraga painted the two murals at Ashley’s. The first one she painted, on the west wall of the building, has elements that tie into the natural beauty of the Outer Banks, like jobell flowers, waves and sunrises. When the owners built a fence around the perimeter of their property, hiding the original mural from street view, they hired Dawn to do a second mural on the fence. In true artistic fashion, Dawn continued her wave mural over the Dominion Power light pole that partially blocked the view. She didn’t ask permission, but Dominion hasn’t complained.
Pirates Mural
Jolly Roger Restaurant, Kill Devil Hills
Befitting a pirate-themed restaurant, the north and sound sides of Jolly Roger Restaurant are painted with the images of scraggly pirates and Blackbeard with a backdrop of tropical waters, palm trees and ominous skies. Owner Carol Ann Angelos commis- sioned an employee, who went by the name Tsunami Dave, to create mural in the late 1990s, leaving the design up to him.
Reclaimed Wave Mural
Seagreen Gallery, Nags Head & Duck
Is it a sculpture or a mural? Technically both. Seagreen Gallery is all about making art with reclaimed elements, and in-house creator Will Morgan is a master at this. At the Nags Head location he created a wave with recycled license plates and a sun with street reflectors that were scraped up by snow plows during a storm about 10 years ago. “I just use what’s around me, what I 6find,” Will says. He created a second license plate wave for their store in Duck.
Aceweiser Mural
Fish Heads, Nags Head
Sammie Keller, an artistic employee at Fish Heads at Outer Banks Pier, intended to paint a mural with King Neptune and a mermaid. But as she started to paint, Neptune became Ace, a South Nags Head legend who is most often found unofficially welcoming customers at the pier. “He’s such a loved person and fixture at the pier,” Sammie says, noting that Ace’s beverage of choice is a Budweiser. The pier staff call them Aceweisers, and S7ammie put that on the mural.
Fish Camp Mural
Pioneer Theatre, Manteo
With a lovely age-worn patina, the mural on the brick exterior wall of the Pioneer Theater in Manteo was painted in the mid-1970s by artist Vic Gillispie. Current Pioneer owner, Buddy Creef, says Gillispie was given state grant money to paint the mural and consulted then owner, H.A. Creef Jr., on the subject matter. H.A. suggested a pound netters’ fish camp scene and boat in the marsh.
Charles Harry Whedbee Mural
Cahoon’s Market, Nags Head
The owners of Cahoon’s Market commissioned this mural many decades ago to advertise the books of author Charles Harry Whedbee, who wrote about legends and folklore of the Outer Banks. Whedbee had a second home near the market at Whalebone Junction and used to spend time at Cahoon’s talking to locals and customers and signing his books. The market still sells his popular books today.
Line-Drawn Faces
Swell Art Gallery, Buxton
The black-and-white line-art mural at Swell Art Gallery in Buxton was created by artist Andrew Samuel Harrison of Richmond. Swell owner April Trueblood hired Harrison to create the mural on her gallery after she saw one of his murals in Newport News, Va. “It stopped me in my tracks,” she says. “It’s graphic and whimsical. I like it because it represents people. People are the essence of Hatteras Island. I enjoy shining a spotlight on the fact that Hatteras is more than seascapes and sealife. Its people are fascinating subjects as well.”
About the Author Molly Harrison
Molly Harrison is managing editor at OneBoat, publisher of OuterBanksThisWeek.com. She moved to Nags Head in 1994 and since then has made her living writing articles and creating publications about the people, places and culture of the Outer Banks.
