LA Art Run: Venice Beach Photos, Recap and Artists

It was a great turnout for the first LA Art Run, in colorful Venice Beach, California. Photo by Marques Jackson Photography.

By Marnie Kunz

Recently, Runstreet hit the West Coast for our first-ever LA Art Run, in partnership with Athleta LA and Hotel Erwin. What an incredible event! The Runstreet LA Art Run, hosted by The Waterfront Venice Beach, took runners on a stunning 5K running tour of iconic Venice Beach murals, landmarks, Venice Canals and more.

Thanks to our local Art Run Guide, Christopher Quiroga.

Thanks to our wonderful hotel hosts, Hotel Erwin (check out there delicious new Venice Way Pizza next door!), and to Athleta LA for helping make the first LA Art Run possible. We had such wonderful support from our sponsors and the LA Art Runners, who came out in droves bringing all the good vibes. Thanks also to our awesome local Art Run Guide Christopher Quiroga, and the beautiful LA weather for making it an incredible event.

Learn about some of the iconic murals and street artists on the run:

The LA Art Run featured an impressive array of local Venice Beach street artists, including Jules Muck aka "Muck Rock,” Jonas Never, and Rip Cronk.

Local artist Jules “Muck Rock” paints her imaginative murals all over Venice Beach and the world.

Internationally known street artist Muck Rock, who has her art studio located in Venice Beach, has left her subversive murals all over Venice Beach and paints around the world. From her one-eyed dog on the Venice Beach Boardwalk to her green and blue people lining the streets, Muck Rock leaves her mark in LA, with her Jules Muck signature easy to spot on her murals. The artist grew up practicing graffiti in the streets of Europe and NYC, and now graces LA with her colorful, imaginative murals.

Artist Rip Cronk, the “Muralist of Venice,” has been painting murals in Venice Beach for over 30 years, and his rendition of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” graces the Venice Beach boardwalk, as well as his blue “Venice Kinesis” mural, which towers above the boardwalk at Windward Ave, giving a visual depiction of the city’s history. Rip also painted the iconic Jim Morrison mural that we saw on the run. Morrison is a local legend, as he started his iconic rock band The Doors in Venice Beach.

Jonas Never is another prolific street artist who paints in Venice Beach, and his black and white Venice mural, located a few steps down Windward Avenue from the boardwalk, also depicts the history of the area, in his signature vintage Hollywood style. Never also painted the colorful Muscle Beach mural that we ran by, complete with muscle-bound characters, palm trees and a Muscle Beach sign.

Other notable murals on the run included LA artist J. Goldcrown’s Heart Wall, and a Kobe Bryant tribute mural collaboration by designer Jio, LA artist Angie Guzman and lettering artist Alfonso Garcia.

What was your favorite mural on the run? Comment below.

Thanks to Venice Paparazzi’s Edizen Stowell for coming out, and for the awesome review, check it out on their website!

Did you go on the LA Art Run? Leave us a review on Google and TripAdvisor, we’d love your feedback!

Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach and the creator of Runstreet Art Runs, which bring together communities through running and street art. She is a Brooklyn resident, running coach and writer. She enjoys traveling, her dog Kiyoshi, art, and eating messily. You can follow her running and events at @Runstreet Instagram and Runstreet Facebook.

Resources: Runstreet events, @Runstreet, Athleta Santa Monica, @athelta_la, Hotel Erwin, @hotelerwin

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