12 South has the most Instagram-specific infrastructure, murals designed to be photographed, boutiques with Instagrammable storefronts, and a concentration of photo opportunities in a walkable half-mile. But East Nashville has more interesting and less crowded photography, and The Gulch has the single most photographed individual mural in the city.
12 South: The Most Efficient Instagram Neighborhood
In less than a 20-minute walk through 12 South, you can photograph six or more murals, including several that have been widely circulated enough to be recognizable to people who follow Nashville content online. The “I Believe in Nashville” mural at 2702 12th Ave South is the most reproduced image in Nashville’s Instagram history. The blue and white “Draper James” wall across from it has its own following. The “Nashville Looks Good On You” text mural appears in multiple locations. The “Drippy Lips” mural in an alleyway between Belcourt and Acklen is an East Nashville/12 South crossover hit. The strip is designed, intentionally or organically, for walking and photographing at the same pace, which makes it efficient for content creation.
The downside is that the same murals have been photographed by every visit-Nashville content creator for the past six years. The images are distinct but not rare.
The Gulch: The Most Famous Single Mural
The “What Lifts You Wings” mural on 11th Avenue South in The Gulch is Nashville’s most photographed wall. The large angel wings by artist Kelsey Montague were designed as interactive street art, and the concept, stand between the wings to look like you have them, was reproduced across the world after The Gulch installation. Lines form for this photo on weekends. The Gulch also has a cluster of additional murals along 11th Avenue South and neighboring blocks that reward a focused walk.
East Nashville: The Best Photography, the Least Crowded
East Nashville has more total murals than any other Nashville neighborhood, spread across a wider geographic area. The concentration along Gallatin Pike and through the Five Points area includes everything from gallery-quality large-format pieces to smaller works on residential fences and commercial buildings. The NASHtoday mural guide lists East Nashville murals across multiple intersections, and the neighborhood’s art scene continues adding pieces regularly. The photography here is less curated and less crowded than 12 South or The Gulch, you’ll often have a wall entirely to yourself.
Germantown: The Architectural Instagram
Germantown is the best Nashville neighborhood for architectural photography rather than mural photography. The Victorian rowhouses, brick streetscapes, and industrial-to-residential conversions provide a visual coherence that most Nashville neighborhoods lack. If your aesthetic runs toward old buildings rather than painted walls, Germantown is the better choice.
The Practical Recommendation
For maximum photo efficiency: 12 South in the morning before the crowds. For the single most famous shot: The Gulch wings mural, early on a weekday if you want it without a line. For interesting and less replicated photography: East Nashville, any time, with a walk down Gallatin Pike and through Five Points.
Sources
- Travel by Brit, “20 Popular Nashville Murals You Can’t Miss” (May 2024): travelbybrit.com
- NASHtoday, “37 murals around Nashville” (July 2024): nashtoday.6amcity.com
- Nashville Family Photos, Nashville Murals guide: nashvillefamilyphotos.com
- Feel in Fancy, “15 Most Instagrammable Nashville Murals”: feelinfancy.com