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Author: Barry Pickard
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Have you ever wondered how a city known for its grey granite buildings and the cold North Sea could transform into a vibrant canvas of colour? Over the past decade, Aberdeen has done just that, thanks to a series of street art initiatives led by talented local artists, famous street artists from around the world and the Aberdeen Inspired group.
Imagine walking through the city, the smell of fresh paint mingling with the salty sea air, and the sound of seagulls overhead. The Nuart Aberdeen Festival has grabbed headlines, but it’s just one of many projects that have turned Aberdeen into a world-renowned hub for street art.
In this post, I’ll share my personal journey through Aberdeen’s most captivating and thought-provoking street art. I hope you enjoy these colourful street art murals as much as I do.
Tailor-Made Itineraries delights in creating bespoke self-guided tours. So, if exploring Aberdeen’s street art appeals to you, reach out to me by email. I would be more than happy to design a self-guided tour around your requirements incorporating Aberdeen’s attractions and its colourful murals, or indeed, a tour of Scotland in general.
Aberdeen's Striking Street Art Murals
Nuart Aberdeen 2024
The Nuart Aberdeen street art festival has become a highlight of Aberdeen's cultural calendar and I am always eager to find out what masterpieces are unveiled during early June. I wasn't disappointed! With this year's theme being 'Living Heritage', the dynamic side of cultural heritage was explored, with artists from as far afield as Egypt (Bahia Shehab), Amsterdam (Niels 'Shoe' Meulman) and Israel/Palestine (Addam Yekutieli). However, I feel that it is the piece by Hera down at Aberdeen Harbour that will become Aberdeen's most famous street art mural (the first three photos below), joining the ranks of Aberdeen's iconic street art.
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How can I find the exact locations of these amazing murals, I hear you ask. Well, Nuart Aberdeen maintains a handy map of where their murals can be found. Check it out and uncover these treasures. Is there a recommended order for exploring the murals? While there’s no strict order, consider starting with the central areas and then branching out. Follow your instincts, wander down alleys, and let the murals guide you. Each discovery adds to the overall experience.
Nuart Aberdeen 2023
The theme of 2023's Nuart festival was 'Rewilding', and explored various aspects related to 'Tresspass and Transgression.' It also left Aberdeen a wonderful gift of stunning murals, especially around the Rose Street and St. Andrews Street area. There was a strong emphasis on British talent, with street art artists such as SNIK, Eloise Gillow and Aida Wilde, all of which ensured that Aberdeen continues to have arguably the best street art in the UK, if not the world.
What inspired the artists to create their murals? Well, the inspiration behind each mural varies. Some draw from local history, culture, or personal experiences, while others explore global themes. The artists infuse their work with passion, storytelling, and a desire to engage viewers. I find that sometimes half the fun is trying to work out the artists inspiration yourself.
Nuart Aberdeen 2022
Nuart Aberdeen 2022 took place from 9th to 12th June 2022. Themed as “RECONNECT,” this street art festival aimed to restore social connections and relationships within cities after a period of lockdown and distancing. The festival featured renowned artists of modern street art such as the Spanish muralist Elisa Capdevila, the Danish artist Jacoba Niepoort, and Scotland's own James Klinge, whose cool street art creation now adorns the ibis hotel.
Are there any hidden messages or symbolism in these murals? Absolutely! Many of these murals contain subtle messages, symbols, or references. These might relate to social issues, environmental concerns, or personal reflections. I must admit that I don't really have any answers, but part of the joy is deciphering these hidden layers as you explore.
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Nuart Aberdeen 2021
After the disappointing postponement of the 2020 festival, we were treated to pieces from five world-renowned artists during the summer of 2021. The festival is usually conducted over an intense couple of weeks, but this year the painting was spread over June, July and into August. There was a little bit of secrecy surrounding the exact days when the artists would be working, which was in an effort to reduce the likelihood of crowds gathering during these uncertain times. In some ways this actually led to even more excitement, at least for myself, as it was like an artistic scavenger hunt, trying to discover where the artists were and catch them mid-creation!
Nuart Aberdeen 2019
Aberdeen’s Nuart street art festival had quickly established itself as a globally acclaimed celebration of street art, and reinforced this reputation by luring many international artistic luminaries to the city in 2019. The likes of Strok from Norway, Axel Void from Spain and Evol from Germany descended on Aberdeen, along with many British or UK-based artists, such as Helen Bur and SMUG, who must count as some of the most famous street art artists in the country.
Nuart Aberdeen 2018
Aberdonians may have been unsure what to expect when the Nuart Aberdeen Festival launched in 2017, but by 2018, there was great excitement to find out what was going to be created during the second instalment of the festival. I think it is safe to say that no one was disappointed, with many of the murals becoming city centre landmarks loved by the locals. This was emphasised by the extremely successful tours held immediately following the end of the festival, with great crowds of locals and visitors alike being guided around these magnificent pieces of art. One thing which struck me most, was the great range of the artistic mediums used – Bordalo II, for example, used discarded plastics to create his unicorn, while Carrie Reichardt used mosaics to focus on inspirational women from Aberdeen and Scotland, and, for my personal favourites, Bortusk Leer painted his colourful cartoon monsters onto newspaper! Such talented street art artists.
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Nuart Aberdeen 2017
Aberdeen’s twin city of Stavanger, Norway, has held the very successful Nuart street art festival since the early 2000s, so it was fitting that their concept was copied across the North Sea in 2017. The festival aimed to provide a platform for local, national and international artists to showcase their work through a series of site-specific murals, installations, interventions, and temporary exhibitions. Eleven artists brought the city centre to life, including the German art duo Herakut, who arguably created the festival’s most iconic street art piece on the Aberdeen Market building (which, unfortunately has been lost since the demolition of the market), and Polish M-city, who painted a large mural on Harriet Street. Alongside the large art pieces, there were also smaller, complimentary art, from the likes of the Belgian artist Jaune and his stencilled garbage men! The festival had established Aberdeen as home to some of the best street art in the world.
Read on to discover Aberdeen's colourful doors, Union Terrace Garden's lost treasures, and enjoy a double take of the Look Again Festival.
Painted Doors
The Painted Doors project was initiated in July 2016 and has brought new life and colour to many of Aberdeen’s neglected city centre doors. Curated by local artist Mary Butterworth, the doors are concentrated mainly around Langstane Place, Windmill Brae and The Green. The project continued in 2017 and 2018, with around 40 doors now having been painted by local artists, with each design being unique and eye catching. A map of the doors can be found here: http://bit.ly/2hczhjb
