Best Street Art in PORTO

Some of the worldwide most recognized muralists like Mr. Dheo and Daniel Eime are based in Porto, the vibrant Northern Portuguese city on the river Douro. Hence, it’s no wonder the façades and walls of Porto serve as canvases for some of the best street art.

Street Art in Porto

Street art has become a recognized form of cultural expression in Portugal, particularly in Porto. Known for its rich history and stunning architecture, Porto also has a vibrant contemporary art scene, with street art playing a central role. The city’s walls have become canvases for international, but especially local, artists.

Porto’s street art is diverse, ranging from elaborate murals that cover entire buildings to tiny hidden pieces that reward the attentive visitor.

Porto’s street art is particularly significant in its ability to connect with the city’s unique character. Art is an aesthetic contribution and an engagement with the environment. It reflects the local culture and the daily struggles and aspirations of the residents. Whether through bold political statements or subtle nods to local legends, street art invites residents and visitors to see the city from a different perspective.

Fortunately, urban art is receiving recognition from residents and, above all, support from the city administration. This acceptance has led to street art in the city thriving and continually evolving. The most striking fact about street art in Porto is the emphasis on local artists. Unlike other cities, Porto has not taken the easy way out by commissioning acknowledged urban artists from around the globe to enhance its fame as a street art hotspot; and that’s very respectable.

The Problem With Porto

Every time I visit Porto, I am shocked at how many construction sites there are in the city. Barriers, houses behind tarpaulins, and the sky a panorama of construction cranes. I always think that on the next visit, everything will shine in new splendor, it will be just wonderful. And then I come back and the beautiful church is actually no longer hidden behind scaffolding. Yet, there is now a huge hole in the footpath right in front of it. It never ends!
The fact that a new metro line is currently being built doesn’t make things any better – at least until 2027.

Given the never-ending construction work, the number of half-dilapidated houses is particularly astonishing.

The decline in Porto and the measures that are supposed to prevent it are a nuisance, especially for us street art fans. Even more often than in other cities, it can happen that today, you no longer see a mural that you saw on Instagram just yesterday. In the worst case, even the house on whose façade it was painted is no longer there.

Unfortunately, it cannot be ruled out that some of the works I have presented here will no longer be in their place by the time you come to Porto. But don’t worry: Porto’s street artists are hard-working and ambitious people. They will quickly ensure that you can enjoy new, equally beautiful murals!

Meet the Artists

If you come to Porto by plane, the first piece of street art will greet you on the way from the airport to the city center. Between stations Ramalde and Francos, you can see a high-rise development to the right of the tracks, and one of Porto’s most talented sons has left his ironic mural Modern Religion on a façade. If you want to see it from up close, you should get off at Francos station. But at the next station, which is named after the well-known concert hall Casa de Música, behind a supermarket you will find the next mural that Mr. Dheo created together with ParizOne. You will also find some powerful murals around the Lapa station before you continue your hunt for Porto’s best street art on foot at the major hub that is Trindade.

Below I have sorted the works and their creators according to this logic. In the following part, the artists are listed in alphabetical order with their Instagram accounts.

Mr. Dheo

Diogo Machado who’s far better known by his moniker Mr. Dheo was born in the Vila Nova de Gaia district on the south banks of the river Douro. He developed his painting techniques already as a child. Remaining an autodidact, the first came in touch with graffiti at the age of fifteen. Not much later he created his first street painting. 

From the beginning, Mr. Dheo liked to collaborate with other artists. Today, he mostly creates in a hyper photorealistic style by adding some graphic components.

Apart from some iconic works that he created in his hometown, Mr. Dheo left his amazing traces also in metropoles such as Miami, São Paulo, and Johannesburg, to name just a few. In total, you can admire his pieces in more than 50 cities around the world! And indeed, the first time I saw his work was in San Nicolas on the Caribbean island of Aruba where he participated in the annual Art Fair.

Although Mr. Dheo has worked for well-known international brands and companies, he still enjoys working on the streets the most.

I’ve introduced Mr. Dheo’s work already in my post ARUBA: The Powerful Murals of San Nicolas.

ParizOne

ParizOne has a degree in audiovisual media and is a recognized creative director, art curator, and last but not least graffiti artist. He started to paint murals in 1999 and has since carried out graffiti work for individuals and companies in many different countries. He has beautified more than 60 cities around the globe.

His work is characterized by bright colors, bold lines, and a mix of graffiti with pop culture elements. He often deals with topics of urban life and social issues.

ParizOne remains an influential figure in the Portuguese street art community.

YouthOne 

Adalberto da Costa Brito aka YouthOne was born in Angola and is now naturalized Portuguese. He is the oldest active Portuguese graffiti artist and, as part of hip-hop culture, has inspired many graffiti artists in the 90s. To this day, he is considered one of the most important contributors to the street art scene in Portugal.

He studied painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Lisbon and has tried various techniques. For him, graffiti is much more than just paint on walls. It is a way to transform dull urban spaces into lively open-air galleries with bright colors and powerful messages. With art that transcends boundaries, YouthOne breaks down barriers and gives voice to urban culture.

RAFI die Erste

Teresa Rafael aka RAFI die Erste was born in Porto. Interestingly, her moniker translates into German to RAFI, the first. She studied classical ballet on the one hand and architecture on the other.

In 2007 she completed her master’s degree, where, among other things, she dealt with the subculture of graffiti. And then that became another passion. Her delicate ladies now adorn the streetscape of her hometown recognizably. You can see that RAFI is guided by poetry, magic, and beauty.

Jack of all trades RAFI has painted murals, illustrated and written graphic novels, and opened Porto’s first graffiti and street art shop.

MrKas

MrKas was born in Porto in 1980. Since his father was a painter, he was introduced to art at a very early age and thus developed his passion.

In 1999, MrKas started making graffiti on the streets of his hometown. The initial spark was a full spray can that he found on the street.

Since those early days on the streets of Porto, his work has appeared on murals, on canvas, and in galleries around the world. People, their feelings, their lives, and their personal stories are his main inspiration. Consequently, travelling around and getting to know people’n’places is crucial for his artistic work.

In 2010, MrKas moved to Spain and later lived and worked also in Belgium and England.

You can see another one of Mr. KAS’ powerful portraits in my post PICO – the Top of the Azores.

Colectivo RUA

Since Colectivo RUA, hence, the so-called street collective, is a merger of various street artists such as THE CAVER, FEDOR, MESK, Frederico Draw, and a few others, only the true connoisseur can often discover who was involved in the respective piece.

This bunch of highly talented gentlemen have cooperated for more than a decade, and their work can be found all over Portugal.

I’m introducing another mural by Colectivo RUA in my post Best Street Art in Lisbon – Part III: Moscavide.

Costah

Like so many street artists, Nuno Costah aka Costah is also active as a tattoo artist. He is based in Porto where he began painting murals back in 1998. Almost ten years later, he added tattooing to his portfolio.

His paintings usually include comic-like characters. They are very colorful and full of positivity.

Tamara Alves

Tamara Alves was born in the Algarve in 1983. Has a degree in art and a master’s degree in contemporary artistic practice.

From an early age, Tamara Alves was interested in artistic work that fits into the urban environment and influences the aesthetics of the street. So it made sense that she would present her works of art in public spaces.

The artist creates a universe of living beings interacting with landscapes and objects of strong symbolic power.

Tamara Alves currently lives in Lisbon and works as a visual artist and illustrator.

VIDAM and LOOK the Weird

Attila Szamosi aka VIDAM was born in Budapest. He grew up in Germany, where his youth was influenced by comic books and designs. After graduating from school, he came to Berlin to become a designer.

Lars Wunderlich aka LOOK the Weird comes from the former GDR and has been painting since he was a child. At the tender age of 15, he entered the world of graffiti. To this day, this art genre remains his artistic focus.

In Berlin, VIDAM and LOOK the Weird got to know each other and entered into a creative partnership that continues to this day. Together they create crazy characters in funny or absurd settings.

In 2011, Lars Wunderlich was a co-founder of the international graffiti crew THE WEIRD. Today, the squad consists of ten highly talented artists from Austria and Germany. They all have individual styles that they harmoniously combine in large-format, multi-layered murals.

In addition, the individual members of the crew also make a name for themselves with individual works and solo exhibitions. A unique selling point of the crew: THE WEIRD is one of the few crews that exclusively do portraits.

I introduced murals by members of THE WEIRD collective in my post Best Street Art in Vienna.

Oh Chiko

Despite extensive and careful research, I was unable to find out more about the artist Oh Chiko, whose works can be seen around the Praça de Carlos Alberto and in Rua de Cedofeita.

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.

BerriBlue

If you see BerriBlue’s painting on tiles, you immediately assume that it must be a Portuguese artist who maintains the traditions of her homeland with her work. Far from it! The artist lives in Porto, yet she is of Polish-Irish origin.

BerriBlue came to Portugal in 2015. In cities like Lisbon and Porto, her paste-ups, painted on brown paper and newspaper, quickly became a common sight.

It wasn’t until 2019 that BerriBlue started working on tiles. As a newcomer, she had the freedom to reinterpret the traditional medium and approach it from her own unique perspective. Her motifs are often very personal and deal with topics such as personal identity, mental health, sexuality, and mortality. She always includes her own experiences and feelings.

Today BerriBlue’s tile paintings can be found in many major European cities such as Athens, Lisbon, London, Paris, Porto, and Warsaw. Her works of art are also in international private collections.

FEDOR, MESK, and MOTS

FEDOR is a graffiti artist from Porto who – like the other artists involved in this portrait of the Spanish legend Don Quixote – is a member of the Colectivo RUA. He is best known for combining comic-inspired elements with the urban language of wild graffiti to illustrate the streets.

Gustavo Teixeira aka MESK was also born in Porto. In 2004 he began painting his cartoon-like characters – mostly cheeky mice – on walls. He describes himself as an urban illustrator.

The artist duo MOTS consists of Diogo Ruas from Porto and Jagoda Cierniak from the Polish city of Opole. Diogo is an illustrator and painter and has been creating street art since 2000. Jagoda Cierniak, on the other hand, is a photographer and coordinates artistic and social projects. They have been working together since 2017, with their work primarily consisting of murals, paintings, and interdisciplinary projects.

MOTS’ work can now be seen in almost 30 European cities and they have been involved in the most important street art institutions and festivals such as URBAN NATION in Berlin, the STRAAT Museum in Amsterdam, and Calle Libre in Vienna.

I’m introducing another work by the duo MOTS in my posts Best Street Art in Lisbon – Part III: Moscavide.

Joana Vasconcelos

Among the artists I’m introducing in this post, Joana Vasconcelos is an absolute superstar!
She was born in 1971 in Paris to a family of immigrants who returned to Portugal following the Carnation Revolution in 1974.

Vasconcelos studied at the Centro de Arte & Comunicação Visual in Lisbon. The artist represented Portugal at the Venice Biennial in 2005 as well as in 2013.

In 2012, she participated in the major annual contemporary art exhibition at the Palace of Versailles. Here, she was not only the youngest contemporary artist, but also the first woman! And these are only some of her amazing artistic milestones.

Now, in Porto, Vasconcelos created in Praca de Guilherme Gomes Fernandes one of the largest public works, namely a mural consisting of 8,000 hand-painted tiles.

Liqen

Liqen was born in 1980 in the Spanish city of Vigo. His work is particularly characterized by unusual proportions.

He began his artistic path with watercolors on paper. And even in his large-format wall paintings, the artistic roots in watercolor can be seen.

In addition to painting, Liqen also creates unusual sculptures and art objects. He is not tied to any fixed framework, but draws inspiration from a wide range of sources.

In 2017 he created this oversized cat in a small side street of the well-known Rua da Flores. The vibrant blue is clearly a homage to the traditional blue azulejos which are paramount in Portuguese art and culture.

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 posts Best Street Art in Lisbon – Part II: Marvila.

Frederico Draw

Frederico Soares Campos aka Frederico Draw uses spray cans like pencils. His unique style is characterized by an unfinished streak that gives lyricism to the subject. He transforms any surface into a wide drawing pad on which charcoal is replaced by spray cans. The theatrical effect of his portraits derives from the protagonists’ fierce glances. He usually draws portraits of randomly selected people on a large scale.

The artist was born in Porto in 1988 and has a Master’s in architecture. No wonder, then, that his artistic work is essentially based on the transformation of empty spaces, which he gives artistic value with his iconic murals.

Since 2011, Frederico Draw has been a member of the artist collective Colectivo RUA and one of the main figures of hyperrealistic street art in Portugal.

I’m introducing another great work by Frederico Draw in my posts Best Street Art in Lisbon – Part I: Graca And Beyond.

Hua Chuen

Ivan Magalhães aka Ivan Hua Chuen Posense is an artist from Poá in Brazil. He graduated from college at the age of 18 with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. Magalhães developed a passion for urban art while still in college, however, he took his talent to the streets only in 2003. Since then, he has embellished public spaces in many places around the world.

In 2021, the local government of his hometown Poà commissioned Hua Chuen to paint the façade of the municipal theater.

Mariana Malhão

Mariana Malhão was born in 1994 and graduated in Communication Design from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Porto. An internship sparked her interest in independent publishing. So she began creating fanzines, prints, and other self-published graphic objects.

In 2018, Mariana Malhão illustrated her first book, a volume of poetry by António José Forte. Further illustration work followed. Aside from illustrations, Malhão also creates ceramics and murals.

Also in 2018, she founded Sábado-feira, a fair for independent editions and author’s objects. She is also co-founder of Senhora Presidenta, a multidisciplinary gallery in Porto.

Mariana Malhão regularly takes part in group and solo exhibitions with her work.

Daniel Eime

Even before graduating in set design, Daniel Eime ventured on an artistic journey at age 16. What began with wild graffiti, eventually evolved into a full-time passion for street art and painting.

Initially experimenting with various media such as stickers, posters, and other street elements, Eime discovered his true passion in stenciling. Since 2008, this intricate technique has defined his creations, leaving a distinct mark on every piece.

Renowned for his large-scale murals and meticulously detailed stencils, Eime brings to life mesmerizing characters, each with an enigmatic gaze that invites viewers into their world.

Eime’s talents have taken him across Europe, where he has participated in numerous street art festivals and exhibitions, both solo and collective, leaving an indelible imprint on the contemporary art scene.

I’m introducing other work by Daniel Eime in my posts Best Street Art in Lisbon – Part I: Graca And Beyond and Best Things to Do in SAO MIGUEL, the Most Varied Island of the Azores.

Kilos Graffiti

Kilos started spraying in 2015. The graffiti culture around him was already in full swing, he tried it out and was carried away. He tried his hand at street walls and abandoned factory buildings. Although he had always enjoyed painting on paper, he now preferred the city walls as a base.

Kilos studied at art schools in London, Lisbon, and Porto where he currently lives.

VHILS

Alexandre Manuel Dias Farto aka VHILS who lives and works in London and Lisbon takes the opposite approach of other artists: he doesn’t add, instead he strips away. He carefully removes layers of walls using heavy tools, creating hyper-realistic portraits. As a result, he has developed an absolutely unique visual language.

VHILS drew inspiration from the urban transformations that reshaped Portugal during the 1980s and 1990s. With his unique approach to creative destruction, he carves through the layers almost like a modern urban archaeologist. In doing so, he reveals what lies hidden underneath the surface, bringing the unseen to light and unmasking the invisible stories of our cities.

VHILS has been presenting his work worldwide since 2005 not only on the street, but also in exhibitions, events, and various projects. He has worked with renowned institutions around the world as well as with communities in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro.

In addition to his iconic murals, VHILS has worked in a variety of other media such as stencil, painting, sculpture, and even videos.

I introduced VHILS’ work already in my posts Best Street Art in Berlin, Best Street Art in Brussels, as well as Best Street Art in Lisbon – Part I: Graca And Beyond, obviously.

Jaune

Since my last trip to Brussels, I have a new favorite street artist, and he stencils under his moniker Jaune.

Since 2011, Jonathan Pauwels, as his real name is, has been memorializing tiny street workers in his art projects. In doing so, he acknowledges their often overlooked and yet so important work. His miniature garbage men heroically lead the fight against oversized trash bags and overwhelming waste tsunamis.

Jaune blends humor with subtle social critique, emphasizing how sanitation workers, though essential, are often overlooked in everyday life. His working-class heroes are characterized by the bright fluorescent colors of their uniforms. This actually contrasts dashingly with their miniature size and the dull urban environments.

By creating with stencils, the self-taught artist achieves an impressive level of detail that makes his works almost a kind of hidden object picture with many charming details.

Jaune’s art can be found in cities across the world, blending seamlessly into urban settings while adding a whimsical, thoughtful layer to public spaces.

I introduced Jaune’s work for the first time in my posts Best Street Art in Brussels.

Bordalo II

Artur Bordalo aka Bordalo II was born in Lisbon and is the grandson of the painter Artur Real Chaves Bordalo. As a child, he spent hours at his grandfather’s studio.

He studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Lisbon. The basis of his works is urban waste. His motto is, that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. He denounces a consumer-oriented lifestyle and wants to inspire sustainability. He later completes his works using spray paint from discarded objects.

In addition to Portugal, his works of art can be found in many European cities and the USA.

I’m introducing another work by Bordalo II in my post Best Street Art in Lisbon – Part I: Graca And Beyond.

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

The major part of the murals that I’m introducing in this post are right in the center of Porto. As this area is relatively small, you can easily reach them by walking. Within the very center, this is often even quicker than waiting for the bus, especially since the stops are sometimes so inconveniently located that you have to walk a long way, anyway.

Yet, as short as the routes within Porto are, they can be strenuous. The city is very hilly and you are constantly climbing up and down steep streets and alleys on uneven, extremely narrow sidewalks that are covered with cobblestones. A walk through Porto is definitely more of a sporting challenge than a relaxed stroll.

And that should also answer the question of whether cycling is a valid alternative in Porto. Of course, you can ride on straight stretches along the Douro River and on some main roads. But as a means of transport to explore the city, I think riding a bike is quite adventurous.

To get to see the murals in the neighborhoods of Boavista, Francos, and Lapa, you can hop on each of the Metro lines except the yellow one C. A one-way trip only costs 1.40 €uro, however, if you’re planning on using public transport more often in one day, I’d recommend getting a so-called Andante Tour Card. There is an Andante Tour 1 for 24 hours at 7 €uro as well as an Andante Tour 3 for 72 hours at 15 €uro. 

Map

This map should help you find the murals I’m introducing in this Street Art in Porto post.
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.

Looking for urban art was only one of the awesome things I got to do during my visit to mesmerizing Porto. In my post What Not to Miss on a Long Weekend in PORTO, I take you on a comprehensive city tour. And if you happen to be in transit, check out my guide 24 hours in Porto.

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