Street art in Barcelona:
A living gallery on every corner
22 January 2025
A Must-See Open-Air Gallery: Barcelona streets
Living in Barcelona is like being part of a constantly changing canvas. Every day, we see how the streets tell us new stories through their streets that are full of colors, doodles, messages and works that come to life on walls, and hidden corners. I invite you to walk and stroll through the Raval, the Gothic or the Born, and then you will be clear about what I am talking about: here, street art is not only an artistic expression that seeks to be aesthetic, here art is part of the cultural identity of the city.
A stroll through the artistic streets of the Raval
The Raval, loved by many and on the lips of others, is one of the epicenters of urban art in Barcelona. The first thing you see when walking through its alleys is the energy of its inhabitants. Being a neighborhood full of foreigners, tourists and students it has a lot of biodiversity, its walls are full of graffiti and murals that tell stories of struggle, diversity and community. Here, street art is a form of resistance and, at the same time, a reflection of the cultural richness of the neighborhood.
Local and international artists have left their mark on the Raval. From the colorful artwork of El Pez, with its iconic smiling fish, to the more political messages of anonymous artists, the neighborhood is a showcase of creativity that is constantly changing.}

What today is an impressive mural, tomorrow could be covered by a new work just as impressive, because the Raval, like the art that surrounds it, is never still.
The Gothic Quarter and its hidden corners

In the Gothic Quarter, street art has another aspect. Here, artistic interventions tend to be more minimal, such as small stencils, stickers or collages that blend in with the medieval architecture that make up this neighborhood. The walls have centuries of history, and the contrast between the past and these contemporary expressions makes it fascinating and attractive to the eye.
El Born: the elegance of alternative

El Born is another key point to discover Barcelona’s street art. In this neighborhood, murals are often found on the shutters of stores, transforming closed businesses into improvised galleries. At night, when the shopkeepers lower their shutters, the neighborhood comes alive with these works hidden during the day and we can categorize it as an open-air museum.
One of the things I admire most about the Born is how street art dialogues with its environment. The pieces here not only decorate, but also tell stories related to the neighborhood’s identity, such as its industrial past, its artistic spirit and its connection to the community.
An art that transforms the city
Street art in Barcelona is a way to connect with the city and with those who live there. Each mural, each graffiti, is a piece of history, a message or an emotion that artists give us.
Living here, I feel fortunate to witness this constant metamorphosis. The streets of Barcelona are a living gallery that reminds us that art does not need to be enclosed in a museum to inspire, question and excite. So, the next time you walk through the Raval, the Gótico or the Born, look up, stop, and let the walls speak to you.
My admiration for urban artists in Barcelona
Barcelona’s street art would not be what it is without the artists who make it possible. They, often working underground, dedicate their time, effort and talent to beautify the city, they are usually very creative people who give their all to capture a work in a public space, knowing that it can be erased the next day or criticized by those who do not understand its purpose.
Artists like Btoy, Konair or Tvboy have left their mark on the streets of the city, but there are also many names we will never know. Each work, signed or anonymous, contributes to Barcelona’s vibrant art scene and invites us to look at the city with different eyes.
