Summer is the time to get outdoors and enjoy your surroundings, and street arts festivals around the world are helping you do just that. June and July were big months for international outdoor art, here are some highlights:
UPFEST, Europe’s largest, free, street art & graffiti festival, took place from July 25 – 29 in Bedminster & Southville, Bristol. Over 250 street artists from 25 countries across The UK painted 28 venues over the 5 day festival.
Mural by Martin Ron
Work by Rob Wass. Image courtesy of Upfest
• to see more go to Upfest.co.uk •
The Mural Festival was held on the St. Laurent Boulevard in Montreal from June 2 – 12. This year’s festival boasted artists such as Nycho, Curiot and Eric Clement. The festival featured not only street art, but also offered concerts, lectures, open exhibitions, and various food venues.
Work by Opire203 and Bonar. Image courtesy of @muralfestival.
Work by Melissa Del Pinto. Image courtesy of @susanmossphotography.
Work by Bicicleta Sem Freio. Image courtesy of @susanmossphotography.
• to learn more go to muralfestival.com •
Seawalls: Murals for Oceans was put on by Pangeaseed in Cozumel, Mexico and ran from July 17 – 26. The festival’s goal is to protect the world’s oceans via public art and activism. Every mural created over these 10 days speaks to the theme of the festival.
Work by Alexis Diaz. Image courtesy of @seawalls_.
Work by Phlegm. Image courtesy of @seawalls_.
Work by Fintan Magee. Image courtesy of @graffitiartmagazine.
• to learn more go to pangeaseed.org •
Richmond Mural Project ran from July 13 – 24. It is the brainchild of the DC based art gallery Art Whino. The goal is to create 100 works by world renown artists in the first 5 years of it’s creation in order to put Richmond, VA on the map of where to go to see internationally recognized murals.
Work by Nils Westergard. Image courtesy of @artwhino.
Work by James Bullough. Image courtesy of @jamesbullough.
Work by D*Face. Image courtesy of @artwhino
• for more history on the project go to artwhino.com •
Wall/Therapy “is an art and community intervention project, using public murals as a means to transform the urban landscape, inspire, and build community.” Rochester, New York brought together local and international artists to help transform it’s cities walls from July 17 – 26.
Work by NEVERCREW. Photo courtesy of @walltherapy.
Work by Vexta. Image courtesy of @rochesterny
Work by Onur and Wes21. Image courtesy of @walltherapyny.
• for more information go to wall-therapy.com •
After being in Sliema for the last two years, The Malta Street Arts Festival was held in Marsamxett, Valleta from July 24 -26. It hosted not only street artists but offered a variety of music stages, a market for local vendors and skatepark.
Work by Leon Keer. Image courtesy of @leonkeer.
Work by Wild Drawing. Image courtesy of @wd_wildrawing.
Work by © original. Image courtesy of © original.
Put these festivals on your map for summer destinations in 2016, or visit the murals year round.
