Where can you find the most spectacular murals in the world?

Major cities around the world bear claim to the title of mural capital. Here moments presents the most impressive murals, found in places you wouldn’t necessarily expect.

A concert violinist embraces a street musician with a harmonica: an image that radiates harmony and unity – and what’s more, it’s presented on a 20-metre-high wall. No-one in the centre of the Dutch city of Eindhoven could miss it. And that’s a good thing, because ​‘Echoes of Harmony’ is the ​‘best mural of 2024’, as nominated by curators from the ​‘Street Art Cities’ platform and chosen by the public. The artists are Niels van Swaemen and Kaspar van Leek, who make up ​‘Studio Giftig’ and have been pimping up the streets with their photorealistic murals since 2007. What distinguishes this art form from graffiti? First of all, there’s the sheer size, as murals go large rather than small; in some cases they even come in the form of colossal portraits looking down at you. Which brings us to the second aspect: they are not illegal, but are usually commissioned – for example by city councils or property developers. It’s also kind of obvious: if you paint or spray a 20-metre painting on the wall of a building, it’s going to be hard to keep it from being noticed. The advantage of going large is that murals make an immediate impact as they evoke emotion from the very first moment you set eyes on them.

Graffiti or mural – what’s the difference?

Therefore, it’s no wonder they often convey a real message, as Kaspar van Leek emphasises: ​‘For us, art in public spaces should address relevant issues and promote dialogue.’ Van Leek talks about a connection between murals and their surroundings: the neighbourhood, passers-by, the world. In contrast to careless scribbles (we must be clear that we are not talking about graffiti here), high-quality murals increase the value of buildings. Studio Giftig focuses on a photorealistic style. The team develops a concept and stages a photo shoot with ​‘everyday people’, foregoing the use of models. These photos form the template for a digital design that is adapted to the size, surface, and context of the project. Van Leek sums it up: ​‘The quality and diversity of street art has increased significantly over the last ten years.’

Arousing curiosity and conveying meaning

There is plenty of inspiration out there. In Houston (USA), murals have been created that interpret the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. In Singapore, food murals help people struggling with dementia find their way home. In Cairo, artist eL Seed united an entire – impoverished – neighbourhood by merging the exterior areas of all the apartments into a single work of art. To mark the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the Saint-Denis district was transformed into a colourful canvas; athletes with disabilities were naturally included among those portrayed. However, a grand, comprehensive vision not a must – not even for van Leek. Murals can ​‘arouse curiosity and bring people together’ – even without a deeper meaning. What works well – and is increasingly common – is a technical component as an add-on. Specifically: QR codes.

The Dutchman compares it to a museum guide. Making-of videos, interviews – the pixelated squares make all this possible. Augmented reality and 3D glasses can also be effective, but should never be the main focus.

From Lisbon to Belgium to Wuppertal

If you want to see the crème de la cool, your mind might first leap to London, L.A. or Paris – that goes without saying. Several cities see themselves as the capital of murals; Melbourne, for example, also claims this unofficial title. Van Leek votes for Grenoble and particularly recommends the Street Art Fest. However he also speaks favourably of Lisbon (Portugal), Maaseik (Belgium), Morlaix (France), Wuppertal, and Belfast (Northern Ireland). Further inspiration can be found in the updated version of the book, ​‘Street Art’. In the foreword, author Alessandra Mattanza talks about her Wonder Walls – spoiler alert: Austria is not included. Instead, there are the perhaps predictable destinations such as Wynwood (Miami) and Williamsburg (New York City), but also surprises such as the side streets of the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik and the John Lennon Wall in Prague. The Italian knows what makes street art so fascinating: ‘… the aura of mystery, the chance discovery on the street, on a building wall, or in a subway tunnel.’ That’s why she likes to lose herself in the streets, for example in Venice Beach or downtown Los Angeles. And the mural moral of the story? Please have a go yourself!

More inspiring street art

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