Street Art & Graffiti in Bogota is Simply Amazing
Indigenous culture is the focus of this street art in Bogota.
Large street art, murals and graffiti in Bogota are created with the permission of building owners.
An eye-catching mural breaks the visual monotony in Bogota.
Modern pop culture and art combine in Bogota's street art scene.
Not quite street art, but this pop of color works nicely with the Bogota bus system.
"El Beso" is a work of art based on a famous photo taken in Bogota.
Animals and nature are the focus for some street art and graffiti in Bogota.
Animals indigenous to Bogota appear in several works of street art.
Colorful street art and graffiti in Bogota, Colombia.
This work addresses the plight of workers and big business's effect on the environment.
Look closely and you'll see a number of strong statements about the oil industry.
Wildlife provide color to the street art along this highway in Bogota.
Political statements are common in Bogota's street art and graffiti.
Vibrant colors line the Santa Fe district in Bogota.
Self-referential street art celebrates graffiti in Bogota.
Walking down the street can be like visiting an art museum in Bogota.
Each work of street art and graffiti in Bogota is open to interpretation.
Fantastical wildlife resides on the side of this building in Bogota.
Black-and-white street art isn't common in Bogota, but here's one example.
"Mad dogs" provide a colorful facade for this building.
Bogota street art and graffiti covers a variety of artistic styles.
Art lovers should be sure to join a guided street art and graffiti tour in Bogota.
Vibrant street art reveals multiple visual treats when you look closely.
Giant birds bring new life to an abandoned building in Bogota.
Daily life is reflected in the street art and graffiti in Bogota.
Colombia’s capital city has emerged as one of the world’s best places to view street art and graffiti. And guided tours are one of the best ways for foreigners to appreciate the creative side of Bogota.
Last year while visiting Colombia, I took one of the free walking tours offered by Bogota Graffiti Tour, a company run by a group of artists and art lovers. That tour, which costs nothing other than what you’d care to donate, features an interesting guided stroll around the historic downtown neighborhood called La Candelaria (click to see some of the impressive artwork that graces the walls downtown).
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This time around, on a press trip organized by ProColombia (the organization that promotes international tourism to Colombia), I took a fascinating street art and graffiti tour led by Federico Ruiz, a local art dealer. By riding around rather than walking, we were able to view original public art in a variety of neighborhoods, and Ruiz’s insight provides details about how the city of Bogota came to allow graffiti and street art to flourish, and the meaning of several of the most important street murals, which range from political and anti-government to social and artistic expression.
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One of the most visually stunning stops on this Bogota tour is in Santa Fe, a once-upscale neighborhood that has in recent decades become a place to avoid at night. Artists have graced countless buildings here with vibrant and beautiful murals, bringing new life to a downtrodden neighborhood. A walk down Calle 24 (24th Street), in particular, is like a visit to an open-air art gallery. You can also stop for some legendary Colombian coffee at Cafe del Fondo, a popular refueling point on street art tours.
With artists from around Colombia and around the world now contributing to the city’s street art scene, a guided tour should be on the itinerary of any art lover looking for enriching things to do in Bogota.
About the Author
Mark Chesnut The founder and editor of LatinFlyer.com, Mark has more than 15 years of experience as a writer, editor and manager. He's worked with some of the biggest consumer, in-flight and travel trade publishers that cover Latin America.
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