São Paulo, a city of many creative talents, began to gain the colorful graffiti in 80′s.

Today, many of its artists with international recognition, attract visitors looking for their works and are just delighted finding new geniuses of street art. These urban interventions, by its dynamic characteristics, can be admired for a limited and unlimited time, but can be immortalized with the pictures that are displayed in galleries and other cultural venues. Explore the streets of São Paulo, pay attention to details and be surprised with the finding of an unexpected work.

Beco do Aprendiz

Main points of Graffiti:

Pinheiros / Vila Madalena – Beco do Batman and Beco do Aprendiz

In the midst of the bohemian Vila Madalena and Pinheiros, walls and shops earn the colorful graffiti. There are many points occupied, and down the Cardeal Arcoverde street there crosses streets in which the graphite is etched on overpasses staircase (which leads to Cristiano Viana Street) and walls, as at the corner of João Moura street where there is a collective panel painted in front of a furniture store, with works by Carlos Dias and Daniel Melin. It is also there that’s Beco do Batman on the Gonçalo Afonso and Medeiros Albuquerque streets.

Considered one of the most famous graffiti of São Paulo, the Beco (alley) is fully covered by the work of national and international artists. Another interesting work in the region is by Studio Kobra painted on the side of Igreja do Calvário (Calvary Church), in honor of 447 years of the neighborhood. In December 2002 at the initiative of the Cidade Escola Aprendiz revitalized the degraded area, named Beco Escola (between the Belmiro Braga and Padre João Gonçalves streets), today, can be considered an outdoor gallery with 54 panels.

Túnel da Avenida Paulista (access to Avenida Rebouças)

One of the most popular points of graffiti in São Paulo, the tunnel that leads to Paulista Avenue to Rebouças Avenue, is covered by collective panels, a mosaic that brings us the challenge of identifying the different forms of expression using the spray. In this space are promoted even special editions with themed designs. In 2008, for example, the celebration of 100 years of Japanese immigration guided the graffiti artists in their creations at the site.

Avenida 23 de Maio

In 25th January 2009, in the anniversary of the city, a group of seven graffiti artists led by Kobra, reproduced in Avenida 23 de Maio a city’s scene of the 20′s. The panel has almost one thousand square meters and amazing perfection and detail in graffiti techniques. This style comprises a series of works that adorn the city of São Paulo showing memories of the beginning of last century, entitled “Muros da Memória” (Walls of Memory).

Liberdade

In the district of Liberdade fine line graffiti with the most delicate figures predominates, which are similar to Japanese manga. The drawings in the eastern colony neighborhood of São Paulo could not be more appropriate, a demonstration that the graffiti São Paulo reflects elements of local culture. The panels are a little smaller, but very elaborate. Include the path to Rua Galvão Bueno and Rua da Glória, right there in the streets that intersect there are paintings by Titi Freak and Whip. In the neighborhood you can see interventions made by Nina Pandolfo, Os Gêmeos, and Nunca as well.

Centro (downtown)

In the downtown area you can find many urban interventions mixed with historic architecture. Are common as the 33 meters giant mural stencil made by the artist Daniel Melim (Avenida Prestes Maia – Luz), which reproduced a drawing with the influence of Pop Art. Nearby, at Avenida Tiradentes, 822, there are two murals by Eduardo Kobra, whose images represent the Avenue 50 years ago.

In the Vale do Anhangabaú surprise yourself with the lovely yellow doll created in 2009 by Os Gêmeos as part of the celebrations of the French Year in Brazil. In Praça da República, the CIT – Tourist Information Centre – won the beauty of the colorful Binho, Chivitz and Minhau. Check this out!

Os Gêmeos giant graffiti in São Paulo Downtown

Cambuci

In the neighborhood of Cambuci, cradle of talents of urban art in Sao Paulo, the streets became the inspiration for this kind of artistic occupation. Former residents Os Gêmeos left his mark there with the iconic painting of the giant yellow and the new generation of graffiti artists sign works, particularly murals. A good place to start is by visiting the wall in the corner of  Rua Lavapés with the Rua Justo Azambuja. In addition to the Os Gêmeos and other names, the site has works of Nina Pandolfo, which uses children’s issues and women, and Nunca, another artist who, in 2008, occupied the front of the Tate Modern, one of the major museums in London.

Tietê River

In the gray watercourse of the Rio Tietê (Tietê River), there are a curious form of graphite, Zezão paint their “flops”, the name given to the blue drawings by the artist, full of lines and curves that sometimes resemble pipes, sometimes resemble waves, sometimes reminiscent of flowers and other life forms in the mouth of the river. There are painted designs within the watercourses which are not possible view, but that express the unusual way how the artist develops their work.

Minhocão

In the columns that support the “high bridge” known as Minhocão, lean to the homeless and pedestrians who waited their turn to cross the street. Do they notice as being involved and monitored by the interesting designs and colors of graffiti written there? Who has artistic flair realize yes!

Avenida Cruzeiro do Sul

About 70 columns supporting the metro at the Avenida Cruzeiro do Sul received a special color for more than 50 artists, transforming the region of Santana in a large open-air gallery: the 1st Open Museum of Urban Art. The project also provides educational activities with local people, this first edition featured works by artists of the group “Collective PHA”, including Chivitz, Binho Ribeiro, Akeni, Minhau, Speto, Presto, markone, Onesto, Zezão, Highraff.

Graffiti at walls of Vila Madalena district

Graffiti and art galleries:

Galeria Choque Cultural (Rua João Moura, 997 – Jardim Paulista)

• Art Gallery, whose mission is to bring young audiences of the arts, encouraging the collecting, promoting knowledge and promoting exchanges.

MASP – Museu de Arte de São Paulo. (Avenida Paulista, 1578)

• In 2011, the 2nd time MASP invited an urban art exhibit, with the proposed renewal of art and ideas of art: “Inside and out” from August 17 to December 23

Matilha Cultural (R. Rego Freitas, 542)

• Independent cultural center focused on the convergence of ideas and actions that benefit the common good. Supports and promotes cultural production and socio-environmental initiatives.

MuBE – Museu Brasileiro da Escultura (Avenida Europa, 218)

• Promotes the “Graffiti Fine Art”, an event that draws an overview of several types of graphite, work with national and international artists from different generations.

QZ Galeria de Arte (R. Mato Grosso, 306 – Store 09 – Higienópolis)

• The QZ was established in early 2008 with the objective of spreading in Brazil and abroad the work of young artists who have their production related to graffiti and street art.

Spray Galeria (R. Delfina, 112 – Vila Madalena)

• New stronghold of graffiti artists, the Spray Galeria was designed by the artist Rui Amaral and the collector José de Souza Queiroz to increase the visibility of the works of artists coming from urban art in Brazil.

Photos by André Deak | Marcel Maia | Mário Dourado | Henrike Godoy