Plaza Hotel & Casino

Cities gain cultural, social, and economic value through public art embedded in urban environments. In addition to being freely accessible, public art celebrates a community’s identity and provides an intersection between the past, present, and future. In recent years, Las Vegas has become a destination for street art—a type of public art involving graffiti and murals—with the streets of downtown serving as a blank canvas for both local talent and internationally recognized street artists alike.

The Plaza Hotel & Casino, originally opened in 1971, was built on the site of the first train depot in Las Vegas and has recently embraced the growth of street art in the city. In 2017 alone, three massive 21-story tall murals were unveiled at the property, immediately becoming landmarks for both visitors and locals. Located on three separate walls of the Plaza’s North Tower, these murals include “Cultivate Harmony” by Shepard Fairey, “Behind Closed Doors” by D*Face, and “Tribute to Cassius Marcellus” by Faile, which pays tribute to the Dogs Playing Poker paintings by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge.

In 2009, The Neon Museum, in partnership with the City of Las Vegas and YESCO (Young Electric Sign Company) made a highly visible contribution to the public art landscape of Las Vegas, establishing the Las Vegas Boulevard Scenic Byway Project, a showcase of restored neon signs creating an illuminated streetscape. The Scenic Byway stretches from the gateway arches and showgirl signage located near The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower to The Neon Museum on the north end of Las Vegas Boulevard. Additionally, the 101-foot long wall of The Neon Museum’s North Gallery displays “Las Vegas Luminaries,” a mural conceptualized by Stephen Siwinski and painted by Las Vegas residents Nanda Sharif-pour and Ali Fathollahi. Both of these projects are part of the city’s urbanscape and reflect The Neon Museum’s commitment to the communities we serve and the arts community beyond the Neon Boneyard.