Mini Flood 91: Paint Louis 2025

Photo by Joe Rakers

The weather this year for Paint Louis 2025 was perfect. It wasn’t too hot and the humidity was tolerable for the first time in years. The 3 day event, which happens on Labor Day weekend was in full swing this year. It is the largest graffiti festival in the world and initially ran from 1997 to 2001. It was revived in 2013 and has been happening ever since. It draws artists from across not only the United States, but also internationally with participants from Canada, Mexico, Australia and Germany over the last few years.

Photo by Irene Griggs

The flood wall where the event happens is just south of the Gateway Arch. The flood wall was built by the Army Corps of Engineers after the flood of 1993 and is approximately 3 miles long. The wall soon became the one place that graffiti artists could practice their craft without being questioned by the police or encountering gang violence.

Photo by Sue Rakers

Photo by Mike Matney

Since the beginning Paint Louis has had a strained relationship with the city. Last years event was marred by people spraying graffiti on buildings in the areas adjacent to the wall. This was met by great criticism by the city and threatened the sanctioning of the event. This years festival featured more security and a call for all participants to report any unsanctioned painting outside the wall area to the event organizers and the police. By all accounts it was successful and the event went off with no problems.