The Best Graffiti Around The World

1. Two Children, Buenos Aires

image source: creativebloq.com

You have to move further away to get a good view of this incredible artwork from Argentinian artist Martin Ron. Painted on two buildings in a suburb of Buenos Aires, the graffiti in the background shows a boy looking at a silver heart balloon, while in the nearer artwork, a girl stands on that same silver balloon to build a tower. It's a beautiful piece exploring the innocence of childhood.

2. The Little Girl with the Balloon

image source: blog.artsper.com

This might be one of the most famous pieces of artwork in the world, never mind graffiti! Banksy's iconic 'The Little Girl with the Balloon' appeared on the streets of London in 2002, and since then has become an emblem for Banksy's artwork. It's also possible that the silver balloons in Martin Ron's Argentinian graffiti is a homage to the little girl and her red balloon.

3. The Giant of Boston

image source: thecollector.com

Sadly, you can't see this amazing piece of graffiti anymore, as it was specifically made for an exhibition at the Boston gallery the Institute of Contemporary Art. The 'Giant' took up 70 square meters across an unused wall, looking down on anyone who happened to walk past. It would be a pretty incredibly surprise if you didn't know it was there!

4. Etnias, Rio de Janeiro

image source: freewalkertours.com

You have to head to Rio de Janeiro to see one of the best works of graffiti in the world. In fact, Eduardo Kobra's work 'Etnias' (meaning 'ethnicities') achieved the status of largest piece of graffiti in the world. The faces on the graffiti are people from five different ethnic groups around the world: the Huli, Mursi, Kayin, Supi, and Tapajos.

5. We The Youth, Philadelphia

image source: wikimedia.org

Keith Haring built a reputation in the 1980s with his vibrant, youthful pop art works covering neighborhoods and subways in the US. This work really demonstrates Haring's bright and colorful style, and can still be viewed in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Philadelphia, and has become a protected artwork.

6. Marianne, Paris

image source: brooklynstreetart.com

Shepard Fairey painted this artwork in Paris in 2015, just after the devastating terrorist attacks in the city. The woman in the artwork, Marianne, is a symbol of France, with the motto of the French republic surrounding her. A large and immediately recognizable work, it sends a strong message that France stays strong even in the face of attacks.

7. The Purple Shall Govern, Johannesburg

image source: isupportstreetart.com 

If you can tell from the style, this artwork is another piece by acclaimed graffiti artist Shepard Fairey, who did the 'Marianne' artwork in Paris. This piece with Nelson Mandela was designed for the 25th anniversary of the so-called 'Purple Rain Protest' in South Africa, when police sprayed purple paint at apartheid protestors.

8. Love Won't Tear Us Apart, Paris

image source: streetartnews.net

Paris is really making a name for itself with large-scale, vibrant graffiti - and this piece is no exception. Created by the English street artist D*Face, it enlivened an apartment building in the 13th arrondissement of the city in 2017, and we love how the striking colours contrast with a typical city suburb.

9. Hands, Athens

image source: lonelyplanet.com

This is an incredible work of graffiti precisely because of its interesting style. Instead of a classic street art or pop art style, the artist Pavlos Tsakonas took inspiration from classical artists in painting this religious symbolism on a street in Athens. Today, it's a symbolic piece, and could represent Greece praying for help after the economic disaster that began in 2008.

10. One Wall, Berlin

image source: urban-nation.com

You might have seen artist Cryptik's work around the world on the sides of buildings and apartment complexes - his calligraphic style is immediately recognizable. His work in Berlin has become a pilgrimage site for graffiti lovers around the world, and this one carries a distinctive flair with its muted colours and circular script.

11. Elephant, Berlin

image source: jadore.berlin

There's no missing this massive graffiti in in a standard basketball court in the trendy suburb of Kreuzberg. The artist Jadore has brightened up the gray wall with a huge elephant holding the Earth as a balloon, signifying happiness and peace. It's definitely making a trip to Kreuzberg to see!

12. Michelangelo, Italy

image source: theflorentine.net

It makes sense that graffiti of one the most well-known sculptures in the world would also become one of the most recognizable pieces of graffiti in the world. Eduardo Kobra used Michelangelo's 'David' as the inspiration for this colourful piece, sprayed directly onto a marble quarry in Carrera, Italy, where the master sourced the marble for his famous sculptures.

13. St. Mungo, Glasgow

image source: theculturemap.com

St. Mungo is the patron saint of the Scottish city Glasgow, and graffiti artist Smug has given a twist on the religious symbolism with this piece. Smug has developed a reputation in the city for his realistic graffiti, and this one is a popular spot for street art spotters - how could you not love that fluffy little robin?

14. Blue House, Germany

image source: thisiscolossal.com 

Graffiti artist Peeta takes a completely different style to some of the other artists on this list. In fact, his 3D paintings barely look like graffiti, and you'll have to look twice if you come across one of his pieces. This one, on a house in Mannheim, Germany, dares you to think the house isn't even square, but a knot of shapes.

15. Lennon Wall, Prague

image source: wikimedia.org

This wall had been a site for graffiti since the 1960s, but it acquired a new meaning in 1980 with John Lennon's death. One artist drew a large picture of Lennon with some lyrics, and since then people haven't stopped adding to the wall. Today, it's a vibrant collection of messages of love and peace.

16. My God Help Me Survive This Deadly Love, Berlin

image source: theartnewspaper.com

If you've visited the East Side Gallery - a famous area of graffiti art on the Berlin Wall in Berlin - then you've probably seen this striking artwork. It's based off a photograph of Soviet Leader Brezhnev and the East German President Honecker in 1979, which the artist Dmitri Vrubel painted onto the Berlin Wall in 1990.

17. Crack is Wack, New York City

image source: architecturaldigest.com

You'll recognize this piece of artwork as another graffiti by acclaimed artist Keith Haring. He painted this in 1986 as a reminder to the children of East Harlem to stay away from the deadly drug. It was actually inspired by a friend of Haring's who got addicted to crack in the 1980s.

18. North West Walls, Belgium

image source: inkedone.com

Italian artists PichiAvo created this incredible artwork for the North West Walls festival in Werchter, Belgium in 2014. Created across five containers, it shows off the graffiti artists' skills in create a 3D image on an uneven surface, and is inspired by Greek sculptures. Sadly, you can no longer see this one, and we're sure a picture doesn't do it justice.

19. The Flower Thrower, West Bank

image source: wikimedia.org

We couldn't do a list of the best graffiti in the world without including a few Banksys. This one was painted in the West Bank in 2003, and shows a masked Palestinian man throwing a bundle of flowers in a rage. Banksy himself is a pacifist, and used the artwork to draw the attention to the war in Palestine and Israel.

20. Coexist, Paris

image source: observers.france24.com

French artist Combo took a risk by painting this piece of graffiti on the streets of Paris. In fact, he was actually attacked for protesting for peace between religions, which is the main theme of his work 'Coexist'. He draws the crescent of Islam, the Star of David for Judaism, and the traditional Christian cross in the same artwork, drawing these disparate religions together to promote peace.

21. Fight Against Covid, Portugal

image source: streetartutopia.com

MrDheo's graffiti artworks are typically large works of big, bright color, and this one is no exception. It was created during the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 to celebrate the unsung heroes of the pandemic: the doctors and nurses. In fact, the nurse in the painting is based off a real nurse, Sofia, who worked on Covid wards during the pandemic.

22. St. Clair West, Toronto

image source: torontolife.com

British street artist Phlegm created this colossal artwork on the side of a slightly sad-looking building in Toronto. He's known for his black and white style, which usually incorporates creepy, long-limbed creatures and fantasy elements. For this one, though, the inspiration was the city, and there are many Toronto buildings hidden in the creature.

23. Anne Frank, Berlin

image source: theclio.com

We're going back to Berlin for this beautiful piece of graffiti. Jimmy C painted this in a Berlin alley in 2012, and it's become one of the most popular pieces of graffiti in the city. The artist uses dots of color to construct a picture of young Anne Frank, and it's a beautiful ode to one of the most influential people of the 20th century.

24. King of NY, New York City

image source: laughingsquid.com

Who better to crown the King of New York than the Notorious B.I.G? This mural in Brooklyn, Biggie's neighborhood, is known as a memorial to one of the greatest hip-hop artists in the city, and it brings plenty of tourists to this neglected area of the city to pay their respects.

25. Pele and Batman, São Paulo

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Did you ever think you'd see a mural of Pele kissing Batman? Us neither. But this striking artwork is one of the best-known murals in São Paulo, and it commemorates the country's greatest footballer of all time. The image is actually based on an image of Pele hugging Muhammad Ali!

26. Kobe Bryant Memorial, Los Angeles

image source: dtlabook.com

When Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna tragically died in an accident in January 2020, memorials popped up all over the city of Los Angeles, where he spent most of his basketball career with the LA Lakers. This beautiful example shows Kobe and his daughter as angels, still looking over the city and protecting each other.

27. Julius Caesar, Spain

image source: urbaneez.art

This imposing mural doesn't exactly brighten the streets of Lugo in Spain, but it'll certainly catch your attention as you drive or walk by. The artwork is by Diego As, who took inspiration from the ancient Roman world, particularly the famous Emperor Julius Caesar, for the work.

28. Tardor Fortress Mural, Spain

image source: urbaneez.art

Not only is this piece of work incredibly eye-catching, but it's also clever as it blends into its own environment. This mural, painted on the wall of a city park in Dénia, Spain, uses the natural environment to give natural accents to the work, so that we can almost believe this woman is lying down in the park.

29. Hush, Paris

image source: zupimages.net

You're bound to come across this mural as you walk around Paris. It's located not far from the Pompidou Centre, and is one of the most famous - and best - pieces of street art in the city. Whether it's an invite to stay quiet in the city, or a reminder to pause for calm in the hustle and bustle, that's up to you.

30. Indigenous Celebration, Spain

image source: streetartcities.com

British artist Dale Grimshaw created this otherworldly piece for the Murcia Street Art Project in 2021. A celebration of indigenous heritage, it's a masterful combination of elements of photo realism and classic spray paint techniques, making for a colorful look into the world of indigenous creativity.