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By Harold Smith-Franzen
1. Belgrade
by: Jelena Budjevac – Courtesy: Gogobot
Neighborhood to check out: Savamala
A development project is expected to drastically change historic Savamala so you’ll want to get there quickly. Savamala has long been a center for artistic expression in Belgrade. You’ll recognize TKV (a.k.a. Queen of the Fairies) by her black silhouettes and colorful portraits of female subjects and Lortek by his colorful stylized graffiti.
Artists to watch for: AID, Lortek, Sila, Soter, TKV, YCP
Rest your feet: Beton Hala (complex with many good options), Lorenzo & Kakalamba (Italian/Mediterranean)
2. Berlin
by: Nikki Singletary – Courtesy: Gogobot
Neighborhood to check out: Kreuzberg-Friedrichshain
Leftover cold war angst makes Berlin a street art lover’s dream. You will find exceptional pieces throughout the city but Kreuzberg-Friedrichshain has a more concentrated offering. Check out alternativeberlin.com for walking tours and hands-on workshops. AKIM creates three-dimensional graffiti and Aram Bartholl is well-known for mixed media work incorporating computer hardware or digital symbols.
Artists to watch for: Akim, Aram Bartholl, Martin Tibabuzo
Rest your feet: Goodies Berlin (coffee and desserts), Vögelchen Café Bar (coffee / beer), Schwarzes Café (farther afield but has great murals that will appeal to street art buffs)
3. Lisbon
by: Harold Smith-Franzen (@smithfranzen) – Courtesy: Gogobot
Neighborhood to check out: Barrio Alto
It is hard to identify just one neighborhood but the street cars and sweeping views make Barrio Alto particularly beautiful. MAISMENOS is easy to spot because of his use of ± in all of his work. Mr. Dheo creates stunning large-scale murals and usually tags them with #MRDHEO or his signature.
Artists to watch for: Akacorleone, Daniel Eime, MAISMENOS, Mr. Dheo
Rest your feet: Royale Café (Portuguese), Gelados Santini (Gelato)
4. London
by: Harold Smith-Franzen (@smithfranzen) – Courtesy: Gogobot
Neighborhood to check out: Regent’s Canal
Shoreditch gets all of the attention and has fantastic street art by the world’s top artists. The neighborhood is also starting to lose its edge and feel a bit commercial. For something refreshing, check out Regent’s Canal or explore further into Camden. Gold Peg is recognizable by her colorful vandalistic figures, often in dizzyingly high locations, and David Walker by his wispy rainbow-colored portraiture.
Artists to watch for: ATG, Banksy, Gold Peg, Jonesy, Phlegm, Robbo, David Walker, Ben Wilson
Rest your feet: The Barge House (brunch), The Book Club (drinks)
5. Los Angeles
by: Harold Smith-Franzen (@smithfranzen) – Courtesy: Gogobot
Neighborhood to check out: Downtown LA has undergone a revival and The Artist District is thriving, though you will find world-class street art throughout the city. Shepard Fairey is among the most recognizable – look for his OBEY slogan and images of Andre the Giant. El Mac produces stunning photo- realistic portraits in a style inspired by Mexican muralists.
Artists to watch for: DABS MYLA, Shepard Fairey, Kofie, El Mac, Tristan Eaton
Rest your feet: Grand Central Market (food hall), Angel City Brewery (bar), Fisherman’s Outlet Seafood Restaurant (seafood), Blacktop Coffee (coffee)
6. Mexico City
by: Mel Patterson flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
Neighborhoods to check out: Xochimilco, Cuauhtemoc, & Alvaro Obregón Boroughs
The Centro Histórico is full of art but Xochimilco, Cuauhtemoc and Alvaro Obregón are three of the best boroughs for exploring street art in the D.F. Sego y Ovbal is recognizable by the musculature of his surreal animal and humanoid figures. Neuzz exerts strong Aztec influences and often incorporates imagery from the Day of the Dead.
Artists to watch for: Dhear, Saner, Sego y Ovbal, Simbionte, Neuzz and Zime
Rest your feet: El Cardenal (breakfast), El Moro (churros), Cielito Querido Café (coffee)
For more, see our post A Tour of Street Art in Mexico City
7. New York City
by: Harold Smith-Franzen (@smithfranzen) – Courtesy: Gogobot
Neighborhood to check out: Bushwick, Brooklyn
If you stick to Times Square and Manhattan, you may think that New York City has lost its edge and is a Disneyland for tourists — think again. Bushwick is one of the world’s top destinations for street art and you will see it throughout the neighborhood. For the best art, visit the Bushwick Collective on Troutman between St. Nicholas and Knickerbocker. Swoon is best known for her multi-media installations and wheat paste stencils. You can’t miss Dasic Fernández’s massive colorful portraits which are a regular feature of the Bushwick Collective.
Artists to watch for: Buff Monster, COST, Dasic Fernández, Jerkface, LMNOPI, Swoon
Rest your feet: Roberta’s (pizza), Arepera Guacuco (Venezuelan), Ange Noir (coffee)
8. Paris
by: Rebecca Goglia (@BeccaBandit) – Courtesy: Gogobot
Neighborhood to check out: Belleville (20th Arondissement)
The French love to protest and you’ll find street art everywhere, especially around la République. The Belleville neighborhood in the 20 th has incredible hilltop views of Paris and is one of the more concentrated locations to see street art – keep an eye out for Rue Denoyez and be sure to explore the area at the top of Parc du Belleville. Butte-aux- Cailles in the 13th is also great but Belleville is easier to access and edgier. SOBR’s dancing confetti girls are visible throughout Paris. C215 creates beautiful stencils, often of cats, as well as portraits of beggars, the homeless, refugees, and other marginalized members of society.
Artists to watch for: C215, HoNeT, Invader, Jef Aérosol, MTO, SOBR, Vinie
Rest your feet: Le Galopin (modern French), Belleville Brûler (coffee)
9. Sao Paolo
by: Harold Smith-Franzen (@smithfranzen) – Courtesy: Gogobot
Neighborhood to check out: Central Zone and Major Highways
Central Sao Paolo is a feast of street art and so are the city’s highways. The best neighborhoods for street art can also be the roughest. Many would recommend leaving your camera or phone hidden as you explore. Herbert Baglione produces angst-ridden black and white existentialist subjects in spray paint. Os Gêmeos’ work explodes with color and his subjects often have bright yellow skin.
Artists to watch for: Herbert Baglione, Cripta Djan, Cranio, Nunca, Onesto, Os Gêmeos
Rest your feet: Esquina Mocoto (upscale Brazilian, great art on the highway on the way there), Mercado Municipal Paulistano (gorgeous market)
10. Valparaiso
by: Harold Smith-Franzen (@smithfranzen) – Courtesy: Gogobot
Neighborhoods to check out: Bellavista and Cerro Concepción
Maze-like streets perched above the Pacific make Bellavista and Cerro Concepción exceptionally picturesque open air museums. Basco Vazco works with mixed-media to produce magical realist images. Inti Castro produces colorful murals depicting Amerindian subjects.
Artists to watch for: Basco Vazko, Inti Castro
Rest your feet: Espiritu Santo (upscale Chilean), La Caperucita y el Lobo (fusion seafood with a view)
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Source: gogobot.com