Most of the time graffiti gets a bad wrap– it’s pretty synonymous with tagging and illegal activity. Places like England consider it very illegal. Not in Buenos Aires. In Buenos Aires graffiti is an art and local artists get commissioned by business owners and private homes to do bright and thought provoking art. In fact, even government campaigns commission artists to do murals!
About my tour:
All this artwork has led to tours being given all over the city that explain various works and the artists behind them. I think the biggest takeaway I got from my tour through the non-profit Graffitimundo was the various forms that graffiti art can take. For $20 USD, a local guide takes you around some of the most famous graffiti in the city, and shares artist information and background. Some are stenciled, some look like acrylic paintings, and others are more fanatical creatures. Below are a few of my favorites from the tour.
Don’t have time to do a tour?
I think that there is something to be said for learning the story of a mural. On a time crunch? Skip the tour and get lost in Palermo. Every corner has something to see which can make it an adventure.
