Let’s talk about street art – the kind that grabs your attention when you least expect it. Not the “call this number for a good time” kind scribbled on bathroom doors, I mean proper, jaw-dropping murals that stop you in your tracks while you’re out exploring a city.
Whether you’re on a leisurely self-drive holiday or racing between corporate meetings, street art transforms your journey into a vibrant, open-air gallery. It’s like the streets themselves are trying to have a cheeky little chat with you.
Street art has gone from vandalism to visual victory! It’s no longer just a rebellious act of “Kilroy was here” scrawled across a wall – now, it’s high art in public spaces, courtesy of creative geniuses like Banksy, who can turn a crumbling wall into a political statement, or Keyatama, whose pieces leap off the wall and onto merchandise, because why not?
It’s like cities have become oversized galleries, where each mural is another page telling a story – some serious, some playful, all fascinating.
Take Cape Town, for instance. I remember a trip there in November with Mom and Dad—our first trip together since the 90s. We stayed across the road from a small hole in the wall (what Dad calls a magic find of an establishment that makes incredible food), a small bakery in Woodstock. Wondering for a couple of days why it was always so busy, we decided to go and check it out.
I swear, it makes the best sourdough bread you have ever had, lets not even talk about the Danish. What really took me by surprise, was what that tucked just behind the bakery – a few artisanal shops and a mural by Keyatama, a South African artist now making waves in New York.
The mural, created in 2020, caught Dad’s eye first. It was bold and arresting, with the words: “Fear Makes the Wolf Look at the Sea.” Wanting to capture every precious moment of the trip, I snapped a photo of it – not just for its beauty, but for the memory it sparked with Dad. Only recently did I discover that this stunning piece was Keyatama’s work. That’s the beauty of street art: it’s personal, it’s unexpected, and it always has a story to tell.
As for the meaning behind “Fear Makes the Wolf Look at the Sea”? I’m still figuring that out. But what struck me most at the time was that Dad, of all people, was drawn to it. Maybe that’s the real magic of art – it means something different to each of us, depending on what we need at the moment.
Street art doesn’t just sit on the walls of cities – it sticks with you long after you’ve seen it. Haven’t you ever wandered through a neighbourhood, spotted a breathtaking mural, and thought, I need this kind of vibe in my life? Street art has a way of seeping into your thoughts, influencing how you see the world, and sometimes even sneaking into your design choices. You might find yourself redecorating your lounge in the colours of a mural you saw in Mexico City or adding a quirky, hand-painted cushion to your couch.
It’s similar to how people collected pieces of the Berlin Wall when it finally fell. That iconic wall wasn’t just a cold slab of concrete separating East and West Germany – it became a living canvas, filled with art, protest messages, and defiance. People rushed to collect fragments of it, not just because it was a piece of history, but because it symbolised something far bigger – the triumph of freedom, hope, and the power of creativity. Each piece of graffiti told a story, and now, fragments of the wall hang in homes and museums worldwide, keeping those stories alive.
If you’re the type who thinks that business trips are all work and no play, think again. Entire tours are designed around discovering street art, and they can be a real breath of fresh air during an otherwise stuffy work trip. Imagine this: you’ve just nailed a presentation in Lisbon, and instead of retreating to your hotel for room service, you take a quick detour through the city’s hidden alleys and find yourself face-to-face with a massive, surreal mural that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about design. Call it a creative reawakening, or at the very least, a nice break from emails.
The best part is, that street art isn’t confined to one city or country. From the backstreets of Johannesburg to the vibrant walls of London, these urban masterpieces are everywhere, waiting to be discovered. They might challenge your perspective, make you laugh, or even inspire you to try something bold in your next project. Either way, the art of the streets invites you to slow down, take it all in, and see the world with fresh eyes – all while keeping a sense of humour, of course.
At the end of the day, travel is about connection, and street art is one of the most powerful ways to connect with a city. It’s like having a conversation with the locals – but instead of words, you get colours, shapes, and sometimes the odd bit of cheeky humour. Whether you’re exploring on holiday or dashing between meetings, take a moment to look up. The streets have something to say, and you never know – you might just find the next great story (or design idea) waiting around the corner.
Tag a few loved and local artists that you know in your area and then reach out to me to plan your next Street Art tour.
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