(Image Credit: Visit Dublin)
They say the best things in life are free, and in a city as pricey as Dublin, this phrase is doubly true. One of the city’s most under-appreciated assets is its burgeoning street art scene, which is small compared to other European capitals such as Berlin and Madrid, but nonetheless is becoming a more prominent fixture of Dublin’s contemporary art scene. For frugal culture vultures, rather than spending a whole day cooped up inside the Molesworth Gallery looking for your modern art fix, you can set out onto the streets of this colourful city to seek out the most creative and inspiring graffiti on offer (before it gets painted over). Here’s our round-up of some of the best street art in Dublin.
Sink or Swim, The Bernard Shaw
A collaborative piece between Australian artist Fintan McGee and of course Dublin’s most prolific street artist, Maser, this hauntingly beautiful mural is a serious contender for of the most instagrammable spots in the entire city. You can find it emblazoned across the side of the always-popular Bernard Shaw pub down on Richmond Street South. Worth checking out before heading inside for a pint and a pizza.
BP Fallon, The Button Factory
(Image credit: Flickr)
Should you wish to catch a glimpse of what is probably the above-mentioned Maser’s most famous piece, then head over to uber-hip music venue The Button Factory on Curved Street to ogle at this vibrant portrait of the iconic Irish DJ BP Fallon. This one also happens to be a stones’ throw away from hipster haunt Busyfeet and Coco, notable for being one of the first cafes in Ireland where you can pay for your food with bitcoin. In fact, nowadays you can even gamble with bitcoins, and Dublin itself seems determined to make the most of the meteoric rise of the cryptocurrency.
Okuda and Remed, The Drury Buildings
(Image credit: Nobula)
Italian F&B heavyweight, The Drury Buildings, which we reviewed back in 2014, decided to brighten up the venue by commissioning some exterior artwork by acclaimed Spanish artists Okuda and Remed, and the result is an eye-catching blend of colourful geometrics which has given a great aesthetic boost to the city’s cultural quarter.
Stormzy mural, Smithfield
(Image Credit: Getty Images)
This tribute to one of the biggest grime artists in history made quite a splash when it was unveiled ahead of Stormzy’s European tour back in spring 2017, and has remained a beloved fixture of busy and vibrant Smithfield. The piece was created by a previously unknown street art collective known as Subset, and garnered enough attention for Stormzy himself to tweet about it.
Red Squirrel, Tara Street
(Image Credit: Twitter @willfullstop)
For something totally different, head to the side wall of the Workshop Gastro Pub on Tara Street to gaze in awe at the monumental, 3-dimensional red squirrel emblazoned on the side. The creation of Portuguese artist Artur Bordalo, the piece is made entirely of recycled scrap metal and garbage, and aims to highlight the plight of the endangered red squirrel and the impact of environmental waste. Definitely one of the most unique pieces of street art to be found anywhere in the world right now.
What’s your favourite piece of street art in Dublin? Comment below and let us know!
