Open-air artwork to peek at and take pics in Lisbon

American artist Shepard Fairey is best-known for his project Obey Giant, which includes the “Hope” poster used in Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. In the summer of 2017, he brought his iconic style to the neighbourhood of Graça. On the side of a building on Rua Natália Correia, he painted a woman wearing a revolutionary beret and holding a rifle with a carnation in its muzzle. In the same area, he collaborated with Vhils (Portuguese artist Alexandre Farto) to create a mural representing a woman’s face, on Rua da Senhora da Glória, Graça.

At the end of last year, Bordalo II (Artur Bordalo, the grandchild of painter Real Bordalo), drew 27,000 visitors to his solo exhibition, Attero,in an abandoned warehouse in Marvila. But before that, he had already grabbed the attention of Lisbon residents with the giant animals he makes from the rubbish he picks up in bins or on the street. One of his most amazing works is the raccoon in the Cultural Centre of Belém’s parking lot, which was made in 2015. Let’s hope it never runs away.

Street artist and illustrator Tamara Alves, the only woman on this list, painted one of her best murals in Cais do Sodré, on the building that holds the Café da Ordem dos Arquitectos, at the end of last year. It is called “Disquiet Heart” and was created as part of the Dias do Desassossego arts festival. It is inspired by a quote by José Saramago: “If you have an iron heart, good for you. Mine is made of flesh, and it bleeds every day.” Don’t miss the 25th of April tribute mural by the same artist, at Fórum Lisboa, on Avenida de Roma.

He’s one of the most well- known Portuguese artists, with the most international exposure. On top of having an art gallery in Marvila called Underdogs, curating exhibitions from various national and international street artists, Vhils (Alexandre Farto) has his own artworks sprinkled all around the city. The one that gets the most praise from tourists is the tribute to fado singer Amália Rodrigues, made in mosaic- style Portuguese pavement. It’s in Alfama, on Rua de São Tomé, and results from a collaboration with Lisbon’s official pavement craftsmen.

Marvila’s industrial streets are full of secrets, especially since the start of the Wall Festival, which held its second edition in the area in May 2017. Lisbon’s Urban Art Gallery has even started training local residents to give guided tours of the murals. Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra’s portrait of Amazon indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire is one of the most impressive ones, on Rua Alberto José Pessoa.

She’s the most popular lady in Olaias, painted in 2015
by Polish artist Sainer on an 11-floor building – the city’s largest mural. The artist is famous for his large-scale works and this one on Avenida Afonso Costa is no exception. When he arrived in Lisbon, Sainer already had a sketch of the woman. He added the dog and the duck as he was painting.

Painted in 2010 by the famous Brazilian duo Os Gémeos, this mural initiated a new era for urban art in the city. Painted on an abandoned building on the corner of Fontes Pereira de Melo Avenue, it’s is a joy for anyone stuck in traffic there. It was created as part of the Crono project, which also includes works by artists Blu from Italy and Sam3 from Spain.

The neighbourhood of Quinta do Mocho used to be known as one of the most problematic inSacavém,butitacquireda different reputation from 2013, when its buildings started being painted by street artists. Nomen’s mural, which represents a woman removing a mask, has almost become the trademark of this neighbourhood turned art gallery. It was made during the O Bairro i o Mundo festival.