Best Street Art in LISBON – Part II: Marvila

For years, when I travel, I have made sure to find out whether there is any street art worth seeing at my destination. And in fact, it’s very rare that I don’t find what I’m looking for. During my stay in Lisbon I not only found what I was looking for, I felt like I was overwhelmed by a tsunami of outstanding street art. Now, for cities like London and Bristol, I have divided my street art posts by area into two parts. But when it comes to Lisbon, it is actually the first time that I have to present the murals of a city into three parts so that the posts don’t become endlessly long.
Bravo, Lisbon, you’ve really made it to the top of the street art hotspots!
Drum roll, after I’ve introduced the most impressive murals in the very center of the city, here comes the best that the suburb of Marvila has to offer in terms of street art in Lisbon.

Marvila

Some voices claim Marvila is the trendy, up-and-coming London East End of Lisbon. This may be a modest wish that will perhaps be fulfilled in a few decades, but at the moment, Marvila is still a somewhat godforsaken suburb in Northern Lisbon.

Yet, Marvila tells a story of transformation and resilience. Once dotted with stately country estates and lush orchards nourished by the fertile banks of the Tagus River, this area remained largely rural until the 19th century.

However, as time passed, Marvila evolved. The orchards and fields gave way to a more industrialized environment. By the 20th century, factories sprouted across the landscape, solidifying Marvila’s reputation as a working-class hub. At the heart of this transformation, the community of Chelas witnessed the rise of the first shantytowns in the 1950s and 1960s. These makeshift neighborhoods, home to many laborers from the Beira region, soon merged into one of Lisbon’s largest settlements, the so-called Bairro Chinês, hence, Chinese Neighborhood. This nickname referred to the floating villages seen in movies of the era. By 1965, this vast shantytown housed 10,000 people in over 2,000 makeshift dwellings.

Tables Turn

To this date, a significant portion of Marvila’s residents live in public housing that arose from the old shantytowns. However, the neighborhood is slowly blossoming into a creative hub. Marvila thrives as a symbol of Lisbon’s urban art scene, with its streets pulsating with bold and authentic expressions. It has become a cradle of urban art in Portugal, where the spirit of the city is captured in its walls, telling stories of past struggles and new beginnings.

Back to the comparison with London’s East End: While in London’s gentrified and therefore now tragically hip districts such as Camden and Shoreditch, tourists move in groups through the streets decorated with murals, hardly any visitors make their way to the 13th Arrondissement of Paris, to Copenhagen’s Nordvest neighborhood or the satellite town of San Pablo in the north-east of Seville.
Or have you ever heard of these neighborhoods before?
Yet, that’s where you’d see some of the most powerful urban art.

So if you insist on comparing, I would put Marvila and the development of street art in this category.

And here is a list of those who have made their artistic contribution to the development of Marvila.

MAR

Gonçalo Mar aka MAR was born in Lisbon in 1974. At the age of twelve, he was already drawing the figures of his imagination on the asphalt with chalk. During his academic career and an intermediate degree in fashion design, he began working as a designer at the animation studio MagicToons. He came into contact with graffiti for the first time in early 98.

To this day, Gonçalo MAR’s work is not limited to graffiti or street art. He also works on canvas and creates installations made of wood, cardboard, and cement.

FLIX

Rafael Fernandez aka Flix was born and raised in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, but is currently living in Portugal. He has spent years bringing his vibrant vision to life on the city’s streets. Known for his bold use of geometric shapes and striking colors with an evident Aztec influence. His distinct style permeates everything he touches, from large-scale murals to immersive installations and street objects.

With each project, Flix transforms ordinary spaces into dynamic visual experiences, leaving an unmistakable mark on both urban landscapes and art exhibitions alike. Today, you will find his works not only in Venezuela, but also in European cities such as Barcelona, Berlin, London, Paris, and Venice.

LS

Luís Santos aka LS was born and raised in Marvila. From a young age, he had a great passion for art and dedicated countless hours to creating elaborate motifs and fantastical characters.

Like many artists, his journey began on the streets, where he tagged graffiti in his neighborhood and on trains and used spray paint to fuel his rebellious, creative spirit. However, over time, Santos has become a celebrated artist known for his versatility and ability to master various styles and techniques. His pieces are a unique blend of geometric shapes and delicate traditional Portuguese lacework in vibrant colors.

His work has been shown in both solo and group exhibitions in renowned galleries and events and he has been a key participant in prominent urban art festivals. In 2015, LS expanded his creative portfolio by crafting unique pieces from materials he collected on the streets.

Beyond his personal artistic development, it is important for LS to inspire the coming generation. He therefore offers workshops for children and adolescents in which he passes on his specialist knowledge and his passion for creativity.

KOBRA

Carlos Eduardo Fernandes Léo aka KOBRA was born in the Brazilian city of São Paulo in 1975. His journey as an artist began at the age of 11 when he spray-painted the streets of his hometown. Later, Kobra became a dedicated member of São Paulo’s legendary graffiti scene. By the 1990s, Kobra had transformed São Paulo into a mecca for contemporary street art, capturing the attention of companies who commissioned his iconic murals for advertisements.

In 2016, KOBRA created a then record-breaking mural consisting of five portraits and called Ethnicity in Rio de Janeiro on the occasion of the Olympics.

Since his early beginnings, KOBRA has created more than 3,000 murals all over the world.
Now leading a dedicated team of artists, he still produces two to four murals each month, yet he remains deeply rooted in São Paulo.

I’ve introduced KOBRA’s iconic murals in my posts The Best Street Art in Amsterdam, Best Street Art in LONDON – Part I: Camden, Street Art in Rio de Janeiro: The Voice of Colors by Rita, Eduardo, and Jorge, as well as Guide to SÃO PAULO – Brazil’s Art Hub.

Kruella d’Enfer

Ângela Ferreira aka Kruella d’Enfer was born in the Portuguese city of Tondela in 1988. However, now she’s based in Lisbon. After studying at the Escola Superior de Artes e Design de Caldas da Rainha, she chose to follow her own path, leaving college to pursue a career as a freelance illustrator. Today, she also shares her passion by teaching Illustration at ETIC School of New Technologies and Creativity in Lisbon.

A self-taught mixed media artist, Kruella has been enchanting audiences since 2010 with her exhibitions and stunning murals that began in 2013. With large-scale murals, intimate works on paper and canvas, and captivating digital art, she blends vivid colors and geometric shapes to revive age-old myths and legends, creating fantastical narratives that speak to a universal sense of wonder.

STEEP

STEEP was born in Ecuador, a country said to be full of amazing murals. He creates enchanting murals full of mythical figures and fantastical characters inspired by Amazonian tribes.

While the lines of his compositions and the colors are of astonishing depth and sensitivity, the real essence in his compositions is the magic of the ancestors and the enigmatic worldview.

Cix Mugre

Antonio Triana aka Cix Mugre began painting illegally on the walls of his hometown in Mexico at just 14 years old during the 1990s. Over time, his talent propelled him from underground street art to international recognition. While he is also skilled in tattooing and graphic painting, Cix gained prominence through his striking murals. They earned him a solid reputation in the global street art community.

Cix’s work is deeply rooted in his indigenous heritage, obviously. Growing up in San Antonio Tecómitl on the outskirts of Mexico City, he was immersed in the Nahuatl language and culture. His father is Chinantec, and his mother is from the Zapotec people of Oaxaca. Both ethnic groups are tied to Mexico’s ancient Aztec civilization. Therefore, his murals often reflect the polytheistic, epic beliefs of these indigenous cultures. Cix’s vivid palette and intricate designs resonate with the admirers of his artwork.

Cix’s murals frequently explore themes such as mystical traditions, futuristic science, death, the passage of time, and the cyclical nature of life. His style is dynamic, featuring flexible lines, lively colors, and elements of urban pop culture like monsters, robots, and pin-up figures, all of which merge Mexico’s rich folkloric past with its modern identity. His work presents a dialogue between Mexico’s heritage and its future, blending traditional and contemporary elements into a vivid visual narrative.

The Caver

Born in Lisbon in 1983, Nuno Barbedo aka The Caver began painting the streets at just 15. This evolved into a remarkable artistic growth. Over the years, he has crafted a style that’s constantly maturing. Oftentimes, contrasting forms are interwoven with graphic elements which results in bold compositions. His artistic journey has led him through various jobs as a designer, illustrator, and also tattoo artist. He was also working on projects for major brands and private clients alike.

Yet, despite his success in these fields, The Caver confesses that the streets remain his true canvas. There, he finds his creative sanctuary, dedicating himself to murals that grace the walls of cities across Portugal and beyond, leaving his indelible mark on urban landscapes worldwide.

MEDIANERAS

MEDIANERAS is an artist duo from Argentina, consisting of architect Vanesa Galdeano and visual artist Aníbal Parada. The duo began working together in 2014, and since then they have specialized in creating murals, which often feature a mix of geometric shapes, bright colors, and abstract figures. Their artworks are not only visually impressive, but also often carry social and cultural messages that address themes such as identity, urbanity, and community.

A trademark of MEDIANERAS is their innovative use of perspective and space. They often adapt their work to the specific architecture and environment.

MEDIANERAS’ work can be found in various cities around the world, including Buenos Aires, Barcelona, ​​Berlin, and New York. Their art has brought them international recognition and they have been invited to various festivals and exhibitions to showcase their work.

MEDIANERAS expresses their perspective on the world through their art and invites viewers to see the urban landscape with new eyes. Her works are not only art, but also a contribution to the discourse about the relationship between people and urban space.

I introduced another one of MEDIANERAS’s murals in my post Best Street Art in BRUSSELS.

GLEO

Natalia Gallego Sánchez aka GLEO was born in the vibrant Colombian city of Calí in 1992. She got involved with street art at the age of 17 and soon discovered her passion for mystical beings. This topic has defined her iconic work ever since. However, her work surpasses borders. In 2018, she created the largest acrylic mural by a single artist on the occasion of the Horizontes Mural Project in Kansas.

GLEO also left a memorable mark in the Netherlands with her painting Flower Woman in the Window which became one of the country’s largest murals.

I’ve introduced another one of GLEO’s iconic murals in my post JIDAR Street Art Festival – How Rabat Celebrates International Urban Art.

Hazul

Guilherme Manter aka Hazul began painting on the streets in 1997 when he was only 16 years old. Today, he is one of the most well-known street artists in Porto where he released his so-called Mapa Hazul, a guide featuring dozens of his murals throughout the city. In terms of their form and color, his works remind me strongly of the cubist paintings of Juan Gris.

This unique style is widely recognized across Porto’s streets. Yet, while his artistic focus has remained largely in his hometown, Hazul has also gained international recognition, especially in Paris, where he has painted numerous murals and participated in both solo and group exhibitions. Some of his commissioned works have become iconic landmarks in Porto, notably the murals near Trindade metro station and Estádio do Dragão.

I’m introducing another work by Hazul in my post Best Street Art in Porto.

Guilherme Kramer

Guilherme Kramer is another great street artist who comes from São Paulo. He has a degree in social communications and studied mural art at the Massana School in Barcelona. He dedicated himself to painting, drawing, ceramics, mosaics, and stained glass. At the Lasar Segall Museum in São Paulo, he perfected his skills in lithography, woodcut, and metal techniques.

His fascination with crowds leads to studies of crowds in various contexts such as demonstrations, festivals, transportation, and other large gatherings.

Guilherme Kramer’s art has been featured in solo and group exhibitions in various cities within and outside Brazil, including Barcelona, ​​​​Bern, Bogotá, Lisbon, Paris, Rome, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.

Nowan And ASUOS

Despite extensive and careful research, I was unable to find out more about these two artists.

I would be happy to receive relevant information in the comment section – and the other readers who are passionate about street art will certainly be, too.

Caio Beltrão

Caio Beltrão is an illustrator and graphic designer based in the wonderful city of Curitiba in Southern Brazil. For eleven years now, he’s been working in the advertising, design, and publishing markets.

Nevertheless, art and illustration remained his passions ever since he was a child. Actually, he spent his childhood and adolescence drawing for hours. Judging from his mural in Marvila, it seems that practice does make perfect, after all.

On Instagram

To dig deeper into the subject and see more of the amazing art the above-featured artists have created, you can just check out their Instagram accounts:

How to Get Around

Lisbon has very well-developed public transport. There is a metro, buses, and the legendary
trams. Due to the geographical conditions, public transport in Lisbon also includes elevators and ferries. You can use public transport with your credit card or with the so-called Navegante card. The small paper card costs 50 cents once and can then be topped up with a credit or various tickets.

With so-called zapping, you load a credit of your choice from 3 to 40 €uros onto the Navegante card and can use it for all means of transport.

Which Ticket to Buy

If you travel more than four times a day, a 24-hour ticket for 6.80 €uros is worth it. You can also load several 24-hour tickets onto the card at the same time. They will then work seamlessly one after the other. Also remember that each day ticket includes the Santa Justa elevator, where just a single ride already sets you back 6 €uros, as well as the legendary Bica Funicular. There is also a version including the ferry for 9.80 €uros. Another one for 10.80 €uros includes trains for example to Sintra and Cascais.

On the subway and regional trains, you must scan the card at the entrances before boarding and after getting off while in trams and buses, you only have to hold your card up to the reader when you get on, but you don’t have to check out again.

An alternative is the Lisboa Card, which is available for 24, 48, or 72 hours. You can use public transport and also receive free entry to 40 attractions in Lisbon. You can find out more about this in my post Best of Lisbon.

To get to the Marvila neighborhood, you can take bus 759 for instance at Rossio, Praça do Comércio, or Santa Apolónia. Note that there is also a regional train station at Marvila.

Map

This map should help you find the murals I’m introducing in my posts on Street Art in Lisbon. However, I split it into three layers: One for Graça and other parts of the city center, a second one for Moscavide, and a third one for the Marvila neighborhood. This way, you can open them separately.
Clicking on the slider symbol at the top left or the full-screen icon at the top right will display the whole map including the legend.

There were far too many incredible murals in Lisbon to fit them all into one post. So make sure you don’t miss the other two parts of this series: Best Street Art in LISBON – Part I: Graça And Beyond and Best Street Art in LISBON – Part III: Moscavide

Also, looking for urban art was only one of the awesome things I got to do during my visit to mesmerizing Lisbon. In my post Best of Lisbon, I take you on a comprehensive city tour. And if you happen to be in transit, check out my guide 24 hours in Lisbon.

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