A mural is a large-format wall painting that exists in the urban space, it is supposed to convey a specific message, talk about something and encourage people to engage in dialogue. This type of art fits perfectly into the street art trend and in recent years it has re-entered the space of Polish cities, towns and even villages, giving new life to old walls of buildings, uninteresting, forgotten backyards or modern districts.
Polish street artists are among the world’s best. Their work is appreciated by the foreign press, jurors of international festivals and organizations commissioning city art. Cities such as Łódź attract the world’s greatest street-art names.
This type of art is linked to Latin American artists. Especially the ones from Mexico, who at the beginning of the 20th century, looking for their own identity, expressed themselves in this way, carrying a social message in a clear and understandable way. Mexican murals are among the most famous works in this trend. The most prominent representatives of the genre were Diego Rivera, José Orozco and Alfaro Siqueiros.
In Poland, murals gained immense popularity during the communist era. The totalitarian regime made perfect use of this art form, making it an element of propaganda to strengthen the workers’ ethos and the spirit of cooperation. With time, the form of murals was used to create advertisements for companies, factories and state institutions such as Pewex or PZU. In the 90s, the murals lost their advertising function and slowly disappeared from the urban space.
The culture of murals was revived on Polish streets at a surprising pace and with great momentum, which can be envied by the greatest capitals of art. Polish street art, recognizable all over the world, is represented by E tam Cru, M-City, Natalia Rak and gigantic works that cannot be ignored.
However, Łódź remains the clear leader of street murals in Poland, with its colorful artistic walls known all over the world. The walls of tenement houses and skyscrapers are decorated there with works by artists from around the world, including: Poland, Brazil, Chile, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, China, Germany, France and Russia.
Another city famous for its street art is Wrocław. We recommend a gallery of neon lights, city murals or unusual staircases in tenement houses in Wrocław. In the external gallery of neon signs you can see, among others sentimental neon signs from old cinema neon signs All the neon signs presented in the outdoor gallery come from the collection of the Neon Side Wrocław foundation. Finally, when it comes to the theme of murals, Wrocław Nadodrze is the most famous mural district in the city. A walk around Wrocław murals is one of the most inspiring artistic experiences. It is also great fun for those who want to explore the mysteries of Wrocław.
Recently, the authorities of other cities have recognized the potential of this type of art. In Poznań, Łódź, Katowice, Kraków and Gdańsk, mural tourism is experiencing a renaissance.
There are festivals, exhibitions and other initiatives related to the development and promotion of mural art organized in Łódź and other cities in Poland. What’s more, the mural entered the world of tourism, we will find offers for trips and alternative guides along the trail of works of art already present in urban spaces.
Local governments and non-profit organizations promoting Polish art guarantee that it is worth straying from the well-known paths and going deep into the city in search of large-format paintings, hidden in the corners of streets, bridges or housing estates, because murals are art for everyone. He knows no divisions and is not guided by categorization, he talks about important things and universal values. It awakens the need to talk, comment and express one’s opinion. Murals are sometimes controversial and it can not be considered or viewed as vandalism, it’s art taken to the streets.