Freak Alley Gallery

When my journey to downtown Boise started early Sunday morning over Memorial Day weekend, I had no idea where my day would lead. Had I guessed, it certainly wouldn’t have been able to dream up Freak Alley Gallery. It was 7am, and I was the only vehicle on the freeway as I headed to get my Bowl of Soul at Java downtown. I chose that location because of its proximity to the Capitol and wanting to explore the grounds with Tank. If Google let iPhones upload video I would show you what a city looks like when everyone collectively decides to leave or stay in. It was as though I had the entire city to myself. After getting some great pictures of Tank at the Capitol, security reminded me I was indeed not alone in the city and that I needed a leash for Tank, for which I obliged. This was also my cue to head out, so when I looked over and saw a building covered in painted flowers, I knew I needed a closer look. Upon further inspection of the beautifully-done mural I turned to my left and spotted Freak Alley Gallery across the street. I originally thought the first murals by the restaurants were the extent of it, because wow, but to my surprise, and true to the name, it is an entire alleyway dedicated to the artwork of locally-commissioned artists. What an absolute treat to be able to spend a drizzly, chilly, morning walking through the minds of such talented individuals. I love places that allow you to go and feel, and Freak Alley Gallery does exactly that. Thank you to the artists and commission for making such a welcoming place. If you are a fan of the arts, or need a spot to get some great photos, do yourself a favor and stop by Freak Alley Gallery in downtown Boise.

Amazing place! I love how the city allowed people to express thier art on an entire city block alley! All the artwork shown here is amazing and totally worth the visit so I highly recommend you visit this amazing place! Parking can definitely be a pain though so I suggest parking close to the Capital building and walking the few blocks to this amazing place filled with the beautiful works from local artists!

Freak Alley is a lovely excursion. We ended up going to it twice. Once in the early morning and then again in the evening when we were waiting for a table at Fork. The alley contains artwork from various artists. All of which are exceptionally talented. Th kids had a great time trying to interact with the artwork. Beware, it can get busy on a Saturday night. So, if you are looking to have space, get great photos without people walking through them, go earlier or on a weekday.

⭐️𝔽ℝ𝔼𝔸𝕂 𝔸𝕃𝕃𝔼𝕐 𝔾𝔸𝕃𝕃𝔼ℝ𝕐⭐️ •••𝙱𝚘𝚒𝚜𝚎,𝙸𝙳•••June 2022 PARKING : Limited. You need to find parking in the nearby streets. Usually you have a 2 hour limit (you have to pay) and 20 min free. 》Freak Alley Gallery, the largest outdoor art gallery in the Northwest United States. The ever-changing space is known for its impressive street art that features local artists from Boise in Idaho. A VISIT TO DOWNTOWN BOISE is not complete without exploring the Freak Alley Gallery. In 2002, local artist Colby Akers painted the back alley doorway of Moon’s Cafe in downtown Boise, Idaho. When businesses next door saw his work, many were so impressed that they to wanted the artist to paint their buildings. So, it began Freak Alley. Go check it out, take pictures and tag me and let me know which mural you like the most.《 °

Very cool place. I've driven past several times but never stopped before last night. Definitely going to go back and check out more of the artwork.

Excellent artwork, took my teenage Grandson who was in town visiting and he enjoyed exploring the alley and checking out the unique artistry! Highly recommend if you are open to various forms of art

Fun alleyway with energetic murals across the walls. There are times where it appears to be less crowded if you are looking to take photos (around 3pm), but it can get quickly crowded.

This was an awesome place! Easy to access alley filled with unique and diverse artwork. It was truly fun to see and I highly recommend checking it out.

Freak Alley is a must for anyone visiting Boise for the first time. Freak Alley is a completely free to the public, dedicated art mural collage which covers a whole section of the downtown with very wide walkways. Once a year they have new and old artists come in to paint brand new murals. Keep an eye out for the list they keep which shows the dates they've repainted on a year to year basis. It is worth noting there are a few special main stay pieces like the shattered glass pieces of Jimmy Hendrix and MLK Jr. I hope they keep the MF Doom tribute piece permanently. During my college years, I would look for excuses to swing by here whenever I was downtown. With Boise being so walkable, there was almost always an opportunity to slip by. If you're in the heart of downtown and have a little bit of time to kill, I recommend stopping by to appreciate the artwork.

I love Freak Alley in downtown Boise. It's an artistic treasure of provoking thoughts, biodiversity, whimsy, culture, and emotion. I revisit often so I don't miss the changing artwork. The huge murals are some of my favorites! And let's not forget that it outdoors, so a huge, free gallery of local art!!! And, bonus? You can bring your dogs, and anyone else who wants to tag along. The art makes for beautiful photo backdrops too, so don't forget your phone or camera. Enjoy!

Cool spot! Takes a quick minute to walk through but there's some neat stuff to look at. Doesn't even smell like pee, amazing! Beware that cars are using this alley - can be active.

When planning a weekend getaway to Boise, we noticed Freak Alley mentioned as a must-see point of interest in downtown. But since graffiti isn't really a priority during our travels, we dismissed the stellar ratings and made other plans. And then, while walking in Boise, we accidentally stumbled into Freak Alley. And we are so glad that we did! This isn't just graffiti. It's stunning artwork and you're completely immersed in it! The thoroughly covered bricks down the alley and around the corner on every square inch wall space is simply incredible. And while most works of graffiti are tarnished by even more graffiti on top of that, this artwork remains pristine and unblemished. Definitely add this to your list.

I really love how the city of Boise provides this designated area for graffiti expression. It's essentially a living gallery, as the pieces are often changing throughout the year. Each piece of art is so unique and really showcase the artists personality and creativity. As an artist myself, it's pretty special seeing all of the artwork flowing seamlessly from one to the next. The art really helps the industrial feel of the alley come to life, and vice versa. A really cool and fun experience, that's for sure!

Freak Alley is the Northwest's largest open-air, multi-artist mural gallery. It was started by a man painting an alleyway door in 2002. The murals change twice yearly & are done by local artists from 7 to 35 yrs old. We walked through the alley and you're sure to be amazed by the creativity & talent displayed.

Loved the murals in the alley. I wish there was less graffiti, but it doesn't ruin the art. I've attached a few of my favorites. There are a few different art styles and something for all ages. The toads and squirrel art can be found closer to the east end, closer to the street with restaurants. The breaking Boise can found closer to the west end in a parking lot.

Freak Alley Gallery is a must when in the area. This area of Boise is definitely where it's at and a walk through the alley is a sight to see. Once you think you've seen it all, there's another piece of art you haven't seen. There's so many great photo opportunities as well. The Freak Alley Gallery is fun for all!

Looking for something to do while visiting Boise, ID? Check out the incredible art at the Freak Alley Gallery. You can walk blocks viewing this art. These artists are quite talented and this is family friendly as well. We truly enjoyed this experience.

I love that Boise has done this. It allows the street artists to really showcase their work in a positive way. The alley is about 2 blocks long and it includes a parking lot as well. There are larger art pieces and then some very tiny ones. Make sure to check out every inch of the walls otherwise you might miss something.

This spot in the heart of downtown Boise is dynamic with constantly changing art from Idaho's incredibly talented artists! I always make a point to stop by when visiting Boise. I recommend grabbing a coffee, entering from 8th street, and strolling this fun alley. It goes for about one city block. Definitely worth stopping by the northwest's largest open-air, multi-artist mural gallery!

So please just hear me out. Yes I gave only 3 stars. Yes the area is super cool to see. It's legit a long stretch of alleys (the backs of buildings) where people have freedom to do artwork on the buildings. I'm really not sure if there's some sort of selection process as to who gets to take part in contributing their craft, but I'm sure there must be because everything is respectfully in its own section and not overlapping. It's a good mix of various types of imagery and art or graffiti style, which is really, really cool to see. The reason for the three stars? Well, just beware that if you choose to take a stroll down this back alley stretch of buildings to look at the artwork, pay attention where you step. There's a large section that is around the corner from or directly behind bars that get pretty crowded downtown and apparently it's where everybody goes to throw up when they're drunk. There's a huge section of a good mix of fresh/wet puke and old dry piles of puke literally everywhere. Just a little friendly heads up. Other than that, it's cool. I hope this is helpful for someone reading who also maybe would hate to walk through puke, so now you know what to expect and can be on the lookout, lol.

We stumbled upon this quite by accident and the story behind that was rather funny. What a pure delight and fantastic alley of art to discover! I want to bring this idea back to my home city. The fact that the artists work changes every year or so and the money raised goes to local charities is oh so wonderful. Kudos to the planners, developers, and artists.

This is a tourist attraction! Definitely a whole vibe! Great free attraction that you need to check off your bucket list when visiting Boise Idaho. This is located in downtown so parking is sparse to say the least. The entire alley is less than a mile walk. The alley is full of art on every available inch of wall space. Not sure about the name of this place as it gave me the impression it would be a scary place but actually it is quite to the contrary. Check out my photos to catch a glimpse of this tourist attraction

Stay weird Boise? On any trip to downtown Boise, especially as a tourist, you should find Freak Alley. it's a couple of blocks of extreme art work that is visually appealing and interesting. It's free, which is nice. Unfortunately, I was there on a Tuesday Night, and I've heard there is a lot more action in the way of street performers later in the week and on weekends. I also understand that the art is occasionally covered up and replaced with new. looking at some of the earlier Yelp photos, i think we missed some pretty cool ones. Located right off of the downtown restaurant and bar scene, it's a nice place for a walk before or after your meal.

I love that more and more art forms are becoming widely accepted and that street art is more common, especially in urban downtown areas. Boise is no exception, and has it's share of murals and art to enjoy. "Freak Alley" does not feel freaky to me-just creative and artistic. Various artists' work is on display covering walls and doors in the alley. It's neat to see the different styles and the bright colors all around. Regardless of the time of year or time of day, the art can be enjoyed. If you find yourself in the area, be sure to take a quick detour down this alley and take it all in.

Freak Alley Gallery is a must stop for me on any visit to Boise. I love to grab coffee at a nearby coffee shop and peruse while sipping. I've also enjoyed an evening/after dark wander on a bustling Saturday night as well (it's well lit and usually there are others wandering and taking in the art as well). Reportedly the northwest's largest open air mural gallery, I always notice/discover something new each time I wander through. My oldest son got his senior pics done here and they turned out beautifully. Such a wonderful backdrop and makes for amazing pictures! A true artistic gem in the midst of the ever lovely downtown Boise. Get to it!

Great spot in downtown Boise to come and take any kind of occasion pictures. The art is amazing.

It's a short walk down the alley, maybe a full city block or two at most. The alley is only a block or two, not that big. Some cool art pieces. My favorite is the Jimi Hendrix broken mirror installation, that's the coolest to me. Between 9th and 8th street and off Bannock street.

In my travels, I've been to a few spots where graffiti is encouraged including Ann Arbor MI, Toronto ON, Pensacola FL and St. Louis MO https://www.yelp.com/user_details_review_search?q=graffiti&userid=hWDybu_KvYLSdEFzGrniTw. This one is super awesome and located in downtown Boise. You'll find metered street parking all around and lots of cute cafes and restaurants nearby. It is indeed an alley, running two blocks or so between 9th Street and Capitol Blvd, including some of the small side parking areas back there. On a Sunday morning, it was quiet and peaceful with a couple of people checking it out and one professional photographer with a model taking headshots. The artworks are very detailed and really interesting. Constantly evolving and updating as newer art covers older art. Some really talented artists on display here. Well worth your time to check it out, especially during the daytime when the light is best. [Review 17787 overall - 57 in Idaho - 1308 of 2022.]

Very very cool gallery of mural. They have quite a few variations of the mural which I enjoyed very much. It was nice to walk around with iced coffee in hand admiring the intricate cool various murals! I think it's a must visit for art lovers!

I LOVE Freak Alley! What started twenty years ago as a single painted doorway in an alley has legitimately become one of my favorite places in the west! The outdoor art exhibit is almost always my first stop whenever I visit Boise. What excites me most about the gallery is that it is ever-changing and growing. New murals and designs are created annually, and the level of vibrancy and originality builds upon itself year after year. It's exciting to see art spilling out into the streets and fostering excitement within the community. Freak Alley is a very special place and I highly encourage a visit if you find yourself in Boise. FreakAlleyBoise.com has galleries showing installations from years past, so you can get a chance to see how the gallery has evolved over the years. There are also volunteer opportunities and public events that take place each year. Let's do what we can to support non-profit organizations like Freak Alley who are striving to make the world a better place.

We were walking by and decided to stop by. It's free. Is an ally behind buildings that connects to a parking lot. It's pretty cool since it's pretty big. Definitely recommend if you're in the area.

The best part of the streets that surround Freak Alley in Downtown Boise is that the area is safe and clean and has some really great things to do all around the area. Some of the best restaurants and shops are located here. So to walk though the alleyways of Freak Alley is a part of the vibe of this part of downtown. It's thought provoking and fun.

We never thought of Boise, Idaho as a vacation destination. Idaho in general never sounded like a fun place to go. Boy, were we wrong. There is so much to see in Boise, Idaho, from the river venues, to the parks, the restaurants, and Freak Alley Freak Alley is a graphic artist's dream with so many tiny, and large surprises. I enjoyed the squirrel painting, but then, I'm always finding the squirrels in life that keep me distracted. haha! I really miss Boise! We hope to come back and visit some day.

This was a cool discovery walking around Downtown Boise! It's amazing to walk thru the area and appreciate such talented artists hard work and dedication!

awesome place to take pictures, totally worth a visit!! easy to walk, ride or drive to, just overall a really cool spot in downtown boise. if you're visiting or have never been, it's a must see!!

Freak Alley Gallery is the largest open air gallery on the Northwest. Located in downtown Boise, around numerous of restaurants. In 2002, the very first drawing was created by Colby Akers on the back alley doorway of Moon's Café. Every few years, there are new murals that are painted over and replaced so the Freak Alley Gallery may be very different the next time you visit. I came by here with my husband and our little girl dog during golden hour, a little more than an hour before sunset. It was really nice to see so many amazing murals and take photos with so many of them. A lot of them have some unique meaning and messages. Some of them are just hilarious and quite memorable. It wasn't too busy when we arrived but we did see more people coming admiring and taking photos with and of the murals later on. We were here for about 30 minutes. Although I am sure the Breaking Boise mural is a real popular one and maybe even a nod to Aaron Paul (since he lives in Idaho now). If you haven't already been to the Freak Alley, you should. If you are visiting Boise for the first time, it is definitely worth a visit. Parking around is all metered but some may be free after a certain time and on holidays.

The street art is located between 8th and 9th street and Bannock. It was a nice stroll viewing the artwork. My favorite was the "Breaking Boise" one, even though I never watched "Breaking Bad."

F A G might just be a must visit place in Boise. It's located on 8th St on the North End bar district. Thursday night was lit and had plenty of humans walking around so it felt safe and bright.

Freak Alley is a super cute spot in Boise. There are so many murals, and a few are even made with mirror mosaics, which was really cool! I love art, and this is such a great spot in downtown near all the restaurants and stores. Don't miss it!

I had seen this attraction's reviews many months ago and made a mental note to visit when I had the chance. After lunch at P.F. Chang's, I decided to act on my mental note. Sadly, I was disappointed by the artwork in Freak Alley. Yes, I should have expected a major influence from the drug and hard rock culture. However, I thought I would like at least some of the artwork. Well, there were 2, or maybe 3, paintings that I liked -- and one of those was a country scene on the east side of 8th Street, which is probably not even part of Freak Alley! I walked the whole length of the alley, still hoping to see something worthy of my attention; unfortunately, I continued to be disappointed by the overall experience.

This is a must-see every time we go to Boise. It is always fun and exciting to see the work that has been added since our last visit, and just as fun to re-visit our favorite works. Freak Alley Gallery is surrounded by restaurants, pubs and shops. It's prefect for a date night--grab a bite and stroll through the artwork under the stars. Tres romantic!

I had a lot of fun exploring all the art here. It was unexpected to find this alley at an area like this. It was a hidden gem if you will . You can find the breaking Boise art here if it is what you are searching for

What an absolutely cool spot in downtown Boise...I am not sure all the back history of the why but did a little research and got this from the non official website of Boise's historic north end neighborhood: Freak Alley is a "notable venue" for murals, graffiti and public art located in an alley in downtown Boise. It is said to be the largest outdoor gallery in the Northwest, and has been a Boise institution since 2002. It began with a painting of a single alley doorway and now extends from the alley itself to gravel parking lot. This was a blast and the artwork is OMG so talented. For those youngsters into all the Instagram photos this would be your spot but anyone visiting or living in the area who has not seen this you have to put on your bucket list for sure.

My partner and I were in Boise for a long weekend and were excited to check out the Freak Alley Gallery. I love street art and that feeling of being able to stumble upon something mysterious and interesting that you'd only see in this place, and I got that in spades here. There were so many different kinds of art, and I loved all the different types of people who were out and about enjoying it. It was a little chilly while we were there but there were plenty of other art lovers to share the experience with. From what I could tell, it gets refreshed every year, so next time I'm in Boise I'll definitely be stopping in to check out what's new!

Super Fun! I wish it was a little bigger (but I am from Texas and everything is bigger in Texas), but had a great time looking at the art! It is not an activity to do alone, but would go great with a brunch or lunch date.

We were only in Boise for a few short hours so we decided to head downtown for a bite and to view the street art. We parked about a block away (it was a Saturday, and parking was free after 5pm) and were happy to find the road around this alley all blocked off to cars and open for summertime night walking magic. People are back, nightlife is back, and it was a hoppin'. We made our way to the alley and took a nice, slow stroll down one side and back up the other. It's one of those things that always has your eyes moving, from very large and complete murals from very talented artists to small corners from other artists who are giving it their all, you could probably spend hours here, or come back often and always notice something new each time. My guess is that the Breaking Bad spoof "Breaking Boise" is probably the hot spot for the social media snaps to happen but really, you can see people taking photos everywhere and you just know it's going on to the Yelps, the Gram, the Facebooks. Appetite hit us hard so we only spent about 15 minutes admiring the art before moving on to dinner down the road. But it was just perfect for a date night in downtown Boise.

Freak Alley Gallery celebrates local artists in a section of alleyways within a block in downtown Boise. The artwork rotates out, and you can see the various works featured, ranging in all different themes. My friend and I heard about Freak Alley Gallery, so made it a plan to visit while we were visiting. You can spend a good half an hour or so, looking at all of the artwork, as the murals are really expressive. It was pretty easy for us to find, as we weren't expecting to stumble upon it while we were killing time before brunch. There were cars parked in some of the lots where the artwork is displayed, and we didn't realize that cars can actually drive through the alley. Be careful! But it's a popular place for those in Boise to check out, all for good reason. Much of the artwork is bright, colorful, and has a message, depending on how you interpret it. This was an awesome gallery to check out!

Great collection of artists, good pieces, and surprisingly no graffiti! Sadly, not the longest alley.

Had a blast exploring the murals in Freak Alley with my sister. Plenty of fun visuals and conversation!

Awesome awesome place to see great mural art and street art! These pictures are old, so some of the art may have changed, but this is a must-see spot for anyone who loves urban art.

Such a unique experience, and it's in constant change, so no visit is like the previous one. It's an alley where terrific mural, street art, laces every inch of the walls on either side. Really fun. Incredible creativity on display. Fun for any age, every member of your party will enjoy, and it's smack dab in the middle of downtown Boise, just a couple blocks from the Capitol. I really enjoyed my visit, taking time to check everything out. Don't rush through this place, as you'll miss some brilliance.

A spectacular display of street art by a diverse collection of highly talented artists. Not much to it, just a walk down an alley, but you could lose a whole afternoon just strolling up and down the alley trying to take it all in and come back the next day, do it again, and see something new at every step. This a massive group street art project and must feature dozens of different artists. Truly a breathtaking walk and definitely worth spending some time here if you're in the area.

I'm not an artist or a creator, I'm simply an appreciator of cool and visually creative places. This is one of those places. Must see if you're in Boise and the amount of creativity and space they allowed for artists to showcase their street art... It's just dope. Go check it out...and take pics and be cool :-) That's what I did and I liked it, and then I walked down the street and ate at the underground Tiki Bar and all was good with the world.

Fun alleyway with energetic murals across the walls. There are times where it appears to be less crowded if you are looking to take photos (around 3pm), but it can get quickly crowded.

Freak alley was a must on my list of places to visit while in town. Definitely recommend... the art is super cool and it was a lot bigger than I was expecting. If you're from out of town like I am... this alleyway is located right next to a bunch of shops, restaurants and bars so you can make a whole day out of it.

Amazing art rotated periodically in a very clean and well travelled alleyway. Local artists work on display as mural work on many of the old building in downtown Boise. Bravo Boise!

This makes for a great visit at all times of year! The art that covers the walls of the nearby buildings is beautiful and awe inspiring. When we went, even on a weekend, it wasn't crowded, so it was easy to get all the pictures we wanted and enjoy the art! This is a great spot to hit if you're in downtown Boise, and there are so many wonderful shops and restaurants in the surrounding area! Enjoy!