What does muralist mean?
A muralist is an artist who creates murals, large works of art made directly on walls and other architectural surfaces. The term is especially common in discussions of public art, where a muralist may collaborate with communities, designers, and property owners on work for a building's exterior or interior. It is more specific than painter: calling someone a muralist identifies both the scale and setting of their practice, although it does not imply any particular style, medium, or level of skill. An artist who works mainly on canvas would normally be called a painter rather than a muralist. The word also appears in cultural and critical writing, where a mural may express a collective vision and become a focus of discussion about place, identity, and public space. Overall, muralist is useful when the architectural surface on which the artwork appears is central to its meaning.
nounAn artist who creates murals, especially large works of art painted or otherwise applied directly to a wall or other architectural surface.
- An artist who paints or creates murals on walls or other architectural surfaces.
"The acclaimed muralist transformed the blank side of the building into a celebration of the neighborhood's history."
"The museum commissioned a muralist to design a colorful installation for its entrance hall."
"Her work as a muralist has brought her commissions across Europe and North America."
The regular plural takes -s and refers to more than one artist who creates murals.
"Several muralists contributed designs to the new arts district."
A muralist doesn't confine art to a frame—the wall itself becomes the canvas.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does muralist come from?
Muralist was formed in English by adding the specialist suffix -ist to mural. The suffix comes ultimately from Greek and denotes a person who practices or specializes in something, while mural was borrowed through French from Latin muralis, derived from murus, meaning “wall.” Latin compounds related to the same root include murein and muriform.
How muralist is actually used
The term is neutral and especially common in art criticism, cultural reporting, and biographies. It identifies an artist whose work is applied directly to a wall or architectural surface, without implying a particular style, medium, or skill level.
Easily confused with muralist
A muralist creates art on walls, whereas a moralist teaches, writes, or speaks about matters of moral conduct.