Street Art at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront

On a recent trip to Virginia Beach, we were delighted to discover that the street art there is plentiful, vibrant, and engaging!

Though we visited Virginia Beach frequently when I was a child, it’s been years since I’ve been. Back then we went during the same week each summer and we always stayed in the same resort. I learned our end of the oceanfront well and was able to navigate it by foot, bike, or trolley, a luxury I didn’t have in rural southwestern Virginia.

One of the biggest changes I noticed on this visit was that the amount of art in the city had increased significantly, particularly around the oceanfront. We saw several street performers and art exhibits during our stay. Unlike the fire breathers and violinists, the street sculptures and murals that we found were permanent fixtures. We love that they celebrate ocean life and the city of Virginia Beach.

King Neptune

Neptune is an icon of Virginia Beach. The statue features a bronze god emerging from the surf with a trident in hand. The surf, made of rock, is dotted with various sea creatures. We were surprised to discover this 34-foot statue in the sand of the oceanfront at 31st Street. (Yes, in the actual sand at the beach!)

While we aren’t big on selfies, we did love taking selfies with the king! We visited him while attending a concert at 24th Street Park. (I think this is sometimes also called Neptune’s Park.) We also had a good time identifying the animals in his surf.

The Seahorse Cathedral

We found an extensive mural called the Seahorse Cathedral painted underneath an overpass near Rudee Inlet. This mural features sea creatures painted in the style of stained glass. Clearly this one wowed me! I took tons of photos, trying to capture all of the angles.

The Seahorse Cathedral spoke to us because our family has a long-standing love of seahorses! Even in an oceanfront city with a strong tourism industry, it’s difficult to find the seahorse represented. It tickled us to find an entire underpass dedicated to our favorite sea swimmers!

Grommet Island Statue

JT’s Grommet Island Park is an accessible playground on the oceanfront at 2nd Street. I think its most notable piece is a statue of two surfers scoping out the waves. The surfboards and crashing waves around the entrance are also works of art in their own right!

My kids think this statue represents a father and son. I see two brothers. What do you see?

A Dolphin’s Promise

It didn’t take us long to spot one of the dolphins for A Dolphin’s Promise, then two, then three! These guys are all over Virginia Beach. During our stay, I learned that each dolphin is adopted by an individual or organization and they are all unique! The funds from the “adoption” support Operation Smile, an organization that provides surgeries and medical care to children with cleft conditions. There are more than 50 dolphins, all unique, throughout the Virginia Beach area.

I’d love to take a trip back to Virginia Beach to go dolphin (statue) hunting!

Loveworks

Loveworks are L-O-V-E signs are designed by individual Virginia communities to reflect their values and culture. Virginia Beach has its own, right on Atlantic Avenue near 24th Street.

We’ve visited tons of Loveworks in Virginia and this is one of our favorites. We were lucky to have stumbled upon it. This one has beautiful, beachy palette and plenty of room for growth. We aren’t sure if it will be repainted with a different theme later; we will return to see!

See More Street Art in Virginia Beach

To plan a tour of Virginia Beach street art, visit Virginia Beach Public Art. Many Virginia Beach murals and statues can be found online here, too.

Which of these street art installations is your favorite?