Black Cat Alley

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Black Cat Alley

The Black Cat Alley is a world-class street art destination comprised of over a dozen murals by a va
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The Black Cat Alley will be a new arts destination comprised of outdoor large-scale murals, all in one two-block alley which will serve as an open gallery walkway. It will be located between Kenilworth Blvd and Ivanhoe, in the alley between the Oriental Theatre on Farwell Avenue and Colectivo Coffee on Prospect Avenue in the historic East Side neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A dark and quiet

space, it is in urgent need of a makeover; in our vision, it will be a beautiful, cultural destination for the public. The alley will become an outdoor gallery, enhancing the local business community by drawing local visitors and tourists. A seven-day installation is planned for September 11-17, 2016, and it will be an exciting media event for the community to enjoy. Artists from around the world will join local Milwaukee professionals and students to create an amazing street art space.

05/28/2026

POV: your camera roll after Summer Soulstice. 🎥☀️

Ready to make some new memories? Join us for Summer Soulstice on Saturday, June 13th! 🎶✨

05/26/2026

Black Cat Alley artist Jeremy Novy (Jeremy Novy Stencils) stopped by the East Side this week bearing gifts, including fresh stickers for the Alley and a little extra surprise for Milwaukee art lovers. 🖤🐟

As part of his Free Art Friday Milwaukee, Wisconsin edition, Jeremy hid mini original art pieces throughout the city, including one tucked beside The Backdrop Project in Black Cat Alley. 👀✨

If you were lucky enough to find one, you took home a piece of one of Milwaukee’s most iconic street artists. Thanks for spreading a little extra art around the city, Jeremy!

🎨: “Backdrop Project” by Naomi Dable (), Ashley Tulpa (.tulp), and Eileen Nelson ()

05/21/2026

Summer Soulstice is back in just a few weeks, and the The East Side is about to turn all the way up. 🔥🎶

From noon to midnight on Saturday, June 13th, we’re taking over the neighborhood with live music, local eats, cold drinks, and that can’t-miss first-festival-of-summer energy.

This year, we’ve got 5 stages and zero dull moments. Returning fan favorites? Of course. New artists to obsess over? Plenty.

And yes, the Black Cat Alley DJ takeover is back and ready to keep the party going. ☀️🎧✨

Bounce from stage to stage, follow the sound, grab something delicious, and stay out way later than you planned. It’s free, and it only happens once a year.

05/20/2026

Crowd packed, music up, and Don Black on deck. Catch him back in the alley for Summer Soulstice at 4:30 PM and get ready to move. 🎧🔥

Club Ritual () just keeps leveling up every year, bringing a full spectrum of underground dance music to the alley.

June 13. Be there. ☀️🎶

05/14/2026

When your outfit, your drink, and the mural all understood the assignment. 🌈🖤🥤

🎨: “Everything” by Ian McGibbon ()

05/12/2026

One month out and the Alley is calling. 🎧✨

Get ready for the Black Cat Alley DJ takeover at Summer Soulstice on Saturday, June 13th!

05/05/2026

The first Black Cat Alley After Dark of the season brought the East Side to life in the best way with music up, lights glowing, and the plaza full of energy. 🖤🎶

On April 25, Ivanhoe Plaza transformed into an open-air celebration of art, sound, and community. With projection mapping lighting up the surroundings and a steady flow of people browsing, dancing, and connecting, the night captured the creative spirit that defines the East Side.

Live sets from Jayden Wells, DJ Abilities, Kelly MAC, and B2B Philia kept the music going all evening, while collaborators like Milwaukee Airwaves and House Circuit brought the sound, lighting, and house music vibes to life.

From vintage finds to late-night dancing under the lights, it was a strong start to the After Dark season, and a reminder of how special the East Side feels when it all comes together.

Let’s bring the same energy back to the East Side in a few weeks for the Summer Soulstice Music Festival on Saturday, June 13th! 🌙✨

05/04/2026

The East Side came together in the best way this Earth Day, rolling up sleeves and showing some love to the neighborhood we all share. 🌎

On April 22, neighbors, volunteers, and local business owners gathered at Ivanhoe Plaza for a community-wide clean up in partnership with New Land Enterprises. Whether participants stayed for the full afternoon or stopped by to lend a quick hand, every effort added up to a big impact.

From sidewalks to green spaces, bags of trash were collected, and the East Side got a well-deserved refresh just in time for spring. Beyond the physical clean up, the day was a reminder of what makes this neighborhood special: people who care, show up, and take pride in where they live and work.

A big thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the East Side shine a little brighter.

Here’s to keeping that momentum going all season long. 🌱✨

🎨: “Heart on a Platter” by Bigshot Robot

04/30/2026

As the weather warms up, we are so happy to see Black Cat Alley start to blossom both with plants in our garden and with an increase in visitors. 🌱🌸

When visiting, we’d like to gently remind you to treat the alley as you would any other art gallery.
• Please NO tagging, the alley is not an open art space
• Please do not litter or destroy lighting, signs, or structures
• Animals are welcome, but please clean up after them
• Please do not walk on top of any plants in the garden

Thank you for helping to keep Black Cat Alley a welcoming community space for all!

📸: Kristen Roessler ()
🎨: "Milwaukee Gaia Buddha" by Tia Richardson ()

04/28/2026

A big thank you to Visit Milwaukee for showcasing the East Side and highlighting all the reasons this neighborhood is such a special place to explore. 💙

As they put it, “Milwaukee’s East Side has a vibe all its own, one borne from a combination of chic community, trendy dining and a love of all things artistic…it’s one of the city’s most walkable neighborhoods and an easy place to spend the day taking in everything on offer.” ✨

From murals in Black Cat Alley to games at Nine Below, cozy cafés, local shops, and lakefront views, there’s no shortage of ways to experience it for yourself.

✨ Even better? You can turn your visit into a game with our East Side Bingo! Explore local businesses, try something new, and check off squares as you go!

Take a look at the feature, plan your visit, and start your Bingo board while you’re at it. 👀

👉 See the full page at visitmilwaukee.org/plan-a-visit/areas-to-explore/east-side/

🎨: “Heart on a Platter” by Bigshot Robot

Address

Milwaukee, WI
53202

Website

http://blackcatMKE.com/

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