Top Places For Street Art
Once upon a time, street art had a different name – graffiti. Some of the earliest graffiti was nothing more than people tagging buildings, street posts and fences with their names. Later, graffiti become incredibly creative and, in many ways, even beautiful.
Today’s graffiti has come a long way since the days when it was considered to be unsightly vandalism. Street art can add a unique and stunning look on what would otherwise be an unsightly and decrepit looking building or wall. Many cities invite street artists to submit their designs for consideration before choosing something that will add a focal point to the city.
Almost every city in the world has some form of street art, and all of it is worth taking a look at. If you love to travel, don’t just visit the usual attractions, visit these places for some of the best street art you shouldn’t miss.
1. New York, USA
New York is one of the biggest cities in the world and it is often touted as the city that never sleeps. With so many buildings, it was only a matter of time before many of them became adorned with street art. The street art can be as diverse and it is not surprising considering New York itself is a city rich in culture and history.
The street art in New York can be intricate and visually stunning with amazingly details murals, or as simple as painting piano keys on outdoor stairs. There is certainly something in this big city that will catch your eye and perhaps inspire you to add a little flare to your own home.
2. Melbourne, Australia
This capital city of the state of Victoria is a blend of dozens of nationalities and cultures. It is a city that has proven that multiculturalism can and does work.
Much of this blending of cultures can be seen on the buildings of this marvelous city and it was in the 1970’s and 1980’s that street art, inspired by graffiti in the US, became a popular way to decorate otherwise dull looking buildings. The most popular places to view street art in Melbourne are in the tiny lanes and alleys hidden within the city and the inner-city suburbs. Many also have coffee shops so you can sit down with a great brew while you enjoy the art.
3. Toronto, Canada
Another culturally diverse city is Toronto. This diversity is also reflected in this city’s street art. One street, in particular, is almost one kilometer of some of the most stunning examples of street art you will ever see in Rush Lane, which has been dubbed Graffiti Alley. This place is painted over every year to give street artists a blank canvas attracting artists from all over the world to leave the mark in this city, at least for the next 12 months.
4. Bristol, UK
Bristol is home to a large cultural fringe who specialize in not just ordinary street art, but the alternative kind. Here you will find some of the best-known street art in the world such as Banksy’s Well Hung Lover on Frogmore Street to Sickboy off Nelson Street and anything else in between. With a melding of cultures and personalities, you can be sure you’ll see street art that is every bit as unique and diverse as this great city’s inhabitants.
5. Berlin, Germany
One of the most notable groups responsible for much of Berlin’s street art is Mentalgassi. The trademark of this group is the large faces they place on the sides of buildings. That in itself may not be such a big deal, but the positions of the faces are much of the talking point of this talented and unique group of street artists. Not only will these faces catch your eye for their realistic appearances, you’ll want to bring your travel camera. take photos and have some of these works in your home or office.
6. Santiago, Chile
If you’re looking for street art that literally explodes with color, you want to visit Santiago. In this city, you will experience some of the most amazing street art with color and details that are out of this world. Santiago is so proud of its street art collection that they even have guides that will take you to the most notable ones such as that feature quite high in the URBN STGO ratings for the best street art in the city.
7. Melaka, Malaysia
Take a walk along the river in Melaka and you’ll feel like you are visiting an outdoor art museum. The murals have covered many of the buildings along the riverside turning them from drab to fab. Penang started the street art trend and it wasn’t long before Melaka adopted this to decorate their buildings in the river district and in 2012, the River Art Project was launched. If you really want to experience the best street art this city has to offer, why not take a river cruise for the perfect vantage point?
8. Bethlehem, West Bank
The famous, or infamous, security wall in the West Bank is home to some of the most thought-provoking street art in the world. In a place where speaking out publicly can get you into hot water, activists and those who simply must “speak out” have used street art to get their message across. Many other areas of the city also feature some incredible street art. Some have hidden messages, while others are purely artistic and beautiful.
9. Paris, France
If you would love to see the progression of street art from graffiti to an art form then you must make a stopover in Paris. From tagging to exquisite murals, there is much to see in this historically cultural city. While some of the street art is in notable parts of the city, don’t neglect some of the side streets and alleys for some really impressive work.
If you love travel and street art, then these places may inspire your next trip abroad, but you don’t have to go far to see some stunning displays of street art. You may have some in your town or city and if you don’t, why not getting involved and start your own outdoor gallery?
