Kansas City's Art Alley Showcases Local Street Art, and It's Perfect for Senior Pictures

Are you tired of senior portraits set against tree lines and wildflowers? Are you looking for a location with explosive color and Instagram appeal?

Try Art Alley.

Placed in the Crossroads District, Kansas City's Art Alley is a visual poem to its viewer, with surfaces that burst with magenta and turquoise tags, fanciful action figures and cartoons, and thought-provoking ideas painted in custom fonts. 

Tucked between 17th and 18th streets near Locust and Cherry, the corridor's walls, garage doors, pavement, and electrical boxes provide a blank canvas to local graffiti and street artists.

Like JR said, "The city's the best gallery I could imagine."

Some of the world's best-known artists, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, JR, Banksy, and Shepard Fairey, gained their notoriety on the streets — so consider Art Alley an open-air museum packed with Kansas City's artists. 

But what about graffiti and street art makes it a good spot for your senior photos?

1. All about the aesthetic appeal: With their vibrant colors and bold designs, graffiti and street art add an edgy element to your senior session and will make an eye-catching backdrop for photos. 

2. An ode to urban culture: Graffiti can be found anywhere, from trains, silos, and barns. But just like Basquiat's SAMO tags, street art is prevalent in urban areas, and there's a visual association between it and urban culture. 

3. A connection to the arts: Despite graffiti's roots in vandalism, graffiti is art. If you gravitate towards design and culture but want something other than the formality of an actual museum, Art Alley is an optimal spot. 

4. Looking for an Insta-worthy location: Some spots get better love on social media than others. With more than 52 million tags, #graffiti has more posts than the populations of California and Georgia combined. Senior snaps here could get a lot of likes.

5. Antipathy for the status quo/natural settings: Think nature is ho-hum and would rather remove your right arm than pose in a field of flowers? I get it. Wild black-eyed Susans aren't for everyone. Graffiti represents a form of rebellion or nonconformity and allows you to express your individuality. 

Get Ready for Your Senior Session:

Art Alley is a striking scene for a senior portrait session, but there are a few things you should know:

• Graffiti and street art evolve, so be prepared that the piece you fell in love with might be gone.

• Because of this location's extensive array of colors, I prefer seniors wear a neutral color or an outfit that fits the neighborhood's vibe. Check out these blog posts for more styling tips: What Should Boys Wear to Nail Their Senior Portraits? and What Should Girls Wear for Senior Pictures?

• The word "alley" should give you a clue, but remember, this location will have trash and other debris. I've never been when it's offensive but be prepared that you won't be walking on a clean sidewalk. 

 Art Alley explodes with color and artistry, making it an excellent spot for senior photos. 

**For those worried about supporting vandalism, most artwork in the alley has received consent from the buildings' owners. 

Liz Davenport of Sunshine and Shadows Photography is a high school senior photographer based in Kansas City, MO. She offers senior portrait sessions throughout the Kansas City-metro, including Leawood, Overland Park, Shawnee, Lenexa, Mission, Belton, and Raymore. Her sessions are fun and relaxed, using primarily natural light and a lot of movement. She loves to work in rural and urban environments and looks to her seniors for location inspiration, which means she wants to hear your crazy ideas.