the streets of Lisbon They are a canvas for national and international artists who express their works on walls, facades, private areas or any corner of the city. Lisbon’s street art is one of the great attractions it has and never ceases to amaze residents and visitors.
Creativity and free expression are two fundamental pillars that support street art in Lisbon. Each of the creators intends to express ideas through their art, whether it is to tell a story, claim rights or question certain issues. It’s not just a question of “decorating” the city, but of transforming Lisbon into a cultural stage.
This artistic genre was born as something illegal and, today, it is not only protected but also promoted by the Municipality. In Lisbon there is a municipal body, the Urban Art Gallery (GAU), which takes care of hosting street artists and offering them public spaces to create their works.
One of the essential places to visit to discover true works of art in Lisbon is the “Hall of fame” of Amoreiras. It is a great wall whose walls speak, convey messages to society and try to mobilize it. Most of the works tend to have a political background, both domestically and internationally, where rulers or political leaders are caricatured.
Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo is another key point. It is one of the main avenues of the city and where there is a large abandoned building, in which the “Crono Project” was established in 2010. Artists from many countries have come to Lisbon to express their art on the walls of this building: Germans, Italians and Spaniards, among many others.
One of the most famous Portuguese artists in this field is Bordalo II. “What is rubbish for some, is treasure for others”, with this motto as a banner and with the compositions he creates using reused materials, he tries to raise awareness of respect for the environment. One of his most photographed works by him is “El raccoon”, near the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos.
There are many other protagonists of street art in Lisbon, such as the illustrious Vhils, whose works can be seen mainly in the Jardim do Tabaco; or Camila Watson, with an exhibition of 26 works in one of the busiest areas of the city, the Moreira district.
Furthermore, the MURO Festival is held in Lisbon, the aim of which is to increase the visibility of this street practice and transform the less appreciated areas of the Portuguese capital into more attractive places. There are also guided tours, workshops, shows, live concerts and other cultural activities.