Murals come with two stories. The first is what you interpret, and the other is told to you by either the artist or the owner. In the decades I’ve covered the culture, I’ve learned that asking about the artwork’s details reveals some interesting facts. Some are statement pieces; others are meant to be taken literally, while some are just downright a smorgasbord of ideas that came to mind. Very similar to tattoos (but for your car), the stories behind these murals can bring about a range of emotions, and I’ve heard plenty – and let me tell you, some have made me laugh, and others have brought me to the brink of losing it. And I mean losing it – you know, that feeling when your eyelids are bulging, knowing damn well that if you were to blink, you’d open the floodgates of tears and uncontrollable whimpering.

But all jokes aside, these murals are as intriguing as they are amazing. Lowriders are rolling canvases of art and one of the only forms of car customization where the cost of a custom paint job easily surpasses the cost of all the other modifications combined. Of course, it all depends on the build, the build quality, and the artist(s) you hire. While most stick with one artist to complete any given vehicle, others choose to use a mixture of artists to deliver the message.

There’s a Cost to be the Boss

So what is the cost to get one of these custom paint jobs? Well, it’s dependent upon a variety of factors, including size, style, and the artist you contract. Generally speaking, the bigger the piece, the higher the cost. If you’re looking for a custom mural from top-tier (and highly requested artists) such as OG Abel, Fonzy Air Shot, and Mister Cartoon, they’ll command a premium with some pieces easily exceeding $20,000.