The painting of murals is often thought to be a modern, urban phenomenon, but, in fact, it’s nothing of the sort. People have been painting murals for millennia and some ancient murals, preserved in tombs in Egypt and under piles of ash in Pompeii, are still visible today.
In 2009, people feel compelled to paint murals for much the same reasons as they did thousands of years ago: to make a political statement, promote a particular ideology, commemorate a historical figure or loved one, or simply get their artwork seen by hundreds, if not thousands, on a daily basis.
Below, you’ll find images of some of the most incredible murals the world has to offer. Most are hand painted, with ordinary or spray paint, while some have been printed onto plastic or paper and “stuck” onto the wall. While the painting of murals is often contentious (one man’s masterpiece is another’s act of vandalism), we’re sure people wouldn’t object to having most of these fantastic works of art on display in their towns and cities.
1. Lloydminster, Canada
Image: Lewis Lavoie
2. New York, USA
Image: Justseeds.org
3. Minneapolis, USA
Image: Jason Taellius
4. New York, USA
Image: Whiskeygonebad
5. London, UK
Image: Iridiscenti
6. New York, USA
Image: Caruba
7. Montreal, Canada
Image: Peru Dyer
8. Unknown
Image: Boohaven
9. London, UK
Image: The Greenwich Phantom
10. The Hague, Holland
Image: FaceMePLS
11. Memphis, USA
Image: Thomas R Machnitzki
12. Berlin, Germany
Image: The Scenic Sidewalk
13. Florida, USA
Image: Dunedin Daily Photo
14. Concepción, Chile
Image: Farisori
15. Toronto, Canada
Image: Bill Smith
16. Toronto, Canada
Image: Bill Wrigley
17. Detroit, USA
Image: ashleystreet
18. Berlin, Germany
Image: V1 Gallery
19. Paris, France
Image: Paul Festa
20. Ohio, USA
Image: Eric Grohe
21. Ohio, USA
Image: Eric Grohe
22. Honolulu, Hawaii
Image: John Pugh
23. California, USA
Image: John Pugh
24. Sarasota, Florida
Image: John Pugh
25. Toronto, Canada
Image: Bill Wrigley
26. Barcelona, Spain
Image: Guillem Cebollada / Jordi Casanovas
27. Barcelona, Spain
Image: Jordi Funollet
28. Atlantic City, USA
Image: iirraa
29. Berlin, Germany
Image: UrbanArtcore.eu
30. Quebec, Canada
Image: Dave Test
31. Pyongyang, North Korea
Image: Gilad Rom
32. Oslo, Norway
Image: Mahlum
33. Milan, Italy
Image: Torredibabele
34. Iowa, USA
Image: Ashton B Crew
35. Mexico City, Mexico
Image: Wolfgang Sauber
36. Mexico City, Mexico
Image: Wolfgang Sauber
37. Montreal, Canada
Image: SlamXHype
38. San Francisco, USA
Image: unknown
39. Oakland, USA
Image: Bay Hip Hop
40. Spain
Image: I Smell Paint
41. California, USA
Image: Recentering El Pueblo
42. Oakland, USA
Image: Destination Oakland
43. California, USA
Image: funkandjazz
44. California, USA
Image: View From a Loft
45. California, USA
Image: Viator
46. Indiana, USA
Image: Derek Jensen
47. Mexico City, Mexico
Image: Aceofhearts 1968
48. Swindon, UK
Image: Brian Robert Marshall
49. Iowa, USA
Image: Ashton B Crew
50. Oakland, USA
Image: Oakland Living
jump to the comment form ↓
October 13th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Disappointingly, no images from political murals in Derry, Northern Ireland, or none of the comic strip murals in Brussels, Belgium.
They are incredible!
October 15th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
What, no murals from Philadelphia, PA? The city of murals and ones that clearly belong on this list.
October 19th, 2009 at 6:00 am
How about those from Diego Rivera or even Michelangelo? Those are the most stunning murals, if you ask me.
October 19th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I’ve always loved Wyland’s murals around San Diego. Like this one: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/251/525886536_d515ce66ac.jpg?v=0
October 20th, 2009 at 12:57 am
Please take a look at the wide variety of murals in philadelphia. I just moved here but they have over 129 in the city.
October 20th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
I second that deltadawn. The Murals in Northern Ireland, esp those in Derry are fantastic pieces of art, that one: mean a lot to the community in terms of politics and civil rights and two: are superb artworks. Some of these above, are outstanding, they should be included in every city to brighten up those gray walled areas.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
I am surprised that there is not one mural from the city of Orgosolo, on the Italian island Sardinia. It is famous for its most politically paintings. Check the web for some very nice ones: http://goeurope.about.com/library/phot/bl_orgosolo_1.htm
October 20th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24112292@N00/656050806/
Not exactly a comprehensive list. This is just one in Dallas,TX. Also, isn’t the Obama mural just an advertisement or even propaganda. How is that so great?
October 20th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I too am surprised not to see any murals from Northern Ireland, especially Belfast and Derry. I’m still blown away from having seen them last year.
Philadelphia murals would also be a nice addition for the future too.
Nonetheless, these are beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this collection of important art.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Number 8 is by a group called “the London Police” they reside in Amsterdam. They’ll probably be able to tell you where number 8 is located.
October 20th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
They are fab. I like No. 4 showing the twin towers, it brings a tear to the eye. These are what I call art.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:00 am
This list is seriously lacking in the murals of Cambridge MA. especially the one in Central Square behind Mass ave in the coop paring lot, on the side of the Middle East (rock/jazz/etc music venue), on the side of Trader Joes off Memorial drive Cambridge, as well as on Mystic ave between Somerville and Medford.
These works are genius and I am not just writing this because I did them (because I didn’t).
October 21st, 2009 at 2:40 am
There are some great ones here. Being from Chicago and a beginning muralist myself, I was looking to see if some murals from my home town (there are so very many great murals here) as well as David Alfaro Siquerios (my favorite) or some graffiti-esque were gonna make it in your showcase. Its much to live up to with a title as “The 50 Most Stunning Wall Murals From Around The World”. I did learn of some new ones. Thanks.
October 24th, 2009 at 1:24 am
Cuba has some great wall murals, some planned and orchestrated, some improvised. Che in the Plaza de la Revolucion is a a major case in point, Too controversial, like the Belfast images?
November 11th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
There is also the ones at Kala Academy in Goa, India where every wall is painted into an art mural. Here’s one of the images. http://giovannidcunha.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/look-out.jpg
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:12 pm
I was glad to see the murals by Eric Grohe. As an old walldog, (signpainter that paints on buildings), I’m always checking out other artists work.
Since moving to Ohio, I’ve spent many hours marveling at his work. Check out this cast concrete parking garage he did in Canton, OH http://www.ericgrohemurals.com/projects/parkinggarage.html
It is completely flat.
Roy
November 24th, 2009 at 5:07 am
Great murals although I really think Jesse Trevino’s Spirit of Healing Mural on the Santa Hospital in San Antonio, Texas should definitely be on this list.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/madfox/380231981/
January 13th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Great list of all time murals, though it should really be 500, glad to see both my favs Diego Rivera and John Pugh next to each other– seems italian renaissance deserves a spot on here, too- Sistine Chapel or Rafael rooms in Vatican…
March 14th, 2010 at 3:22 am
Stunning really is the right word…. more art in the cities please!
April 19th, 2010 at 5:00 am
Wonderful murals. It is very difficult to find all the best murals around the world as those of Brussels, Belgium or other countries. I love the beautiful “Andruchak” brazilian murals. You can go to http://www.picasaweb.com/andruchak.artebrasil or http://www.flickr.com/andruchak. Your can find more using a search engine. But this post is still fantastic.
May 30th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Great to see some of these fantastic murals from around the world but Ireland is also known around the world for its murals especially the ones in the bogside Derry N Ireland maybe you should check them out and add them to your site. Regards Kevin Hasson.
November 4th, 2010 at 1:06 am
please see the work of Marcellous Lovelace he is amazing and one of my all time favorites … http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marcellous-Lovelace/31487559983
November 12th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Awsome!!!! Can we nominate a Favorite Mural?
November 13th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Hi. I live in the United KIngdom and visit London 2 or 3 times a month. I am interested in wall murals and have been trying to find as many as possible in the London area. I was interested to see your image no 9 which is new to me. Can you let me know the address where I can find the mural so that I can see it for myself please.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Paul Freeman.
March 18th, 2011 at 5:18 am
#45 is The Women’s Building in San Francisco, California
July 11th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
“Art imitates life”
~Aristotle
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