Downtown Grand Rapids Getting New Building Mural by World Famous Graffiti Artist

We have so many amazing murals on downtown buildings here in Grand Rapids like this one on Monroe Center across from Rosa Parks Circle, that in many ways make our city a unique art destination. (ArtPrize, Festival of the Arts for example.) As a matter of fact, I'll bet you've seen some of them, and yet, you haven't. Know what I mean. We get so used to it that we don't really notice how wonderful they are.

MURAL ON DIVISION AVENUE BY ST. MARKS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

And now another is being added to our collection of eclectic art by a world renowned artist.

Chris Chanyang Shim - ROYYAL DOG

South Korean artist, Royyal Dog, is in the midst of finishing his new mural on the Hopson Flats building in downtown Grand Rapids at 220 Cesar Chavez Ave., SW, also known at Grandville Ave., across from Founders Brewery.

Chris Chanyang Shim - ROYYAL DOG SPRAY PAINTING HIS ART

The big unveiling and street party will be this Friday, June 10 at 4 p.m. And then the fun begins as a street party and community celebration will break out after the unveiling until 10 p.m.

Royyal Dogg, also known as Chris Canyang Shim, is a graffiti writer and graffiti artist from Seoul, Korea. For those who don't know, he is best known for his photorealistic murals of African American women in traditional Korean hanbok dresses and iconic rappers. His work can be seen around the world.

Chris Chanyang Shim - ROYYAL DOG AMAZING SRAY PAINT ART

For instance, he has created work in the Netherlands, Israel, Sydney, South Korea, and across the United States. His other work includes a portrait of Michelle Obama in Chicago, Rihana in Los Angeles, and a mural with Los Angeles Lakers players Russell Westbrook, Lebron James, and Anthony Davis in Los Angeles.

GRAND RAPIDS WORK NEARLY FINISHED

For our, Grand Rapids, mural, he began working on the mural on May 25. It's such a big creation, he is working on a scaffolding that is attached to the side of the Hopson Flats building.

HOPSON FLATS BUILDING

All of the fun, street party and community celebration, will include a Founders Beer Tent, which will have a Royyal Dog custom draft that Founders created especially for the event. It will also have food trucks such as B.D.’s BBQ, The Falafel Truck, Ice Box Brand Ice Cream, Around Baking Company, and A & L Tacos. There will also be a lot of music as David Strumfeld and the Great Scott Band will be there, too.