On the world’s most captivating streets, art doesn’t wait behind gallery doors. It lives on brick, steel and shutter – capturing a city’s energy, its history and its edge. From London to Buenos Aires, discover the art that speaks for the places that inspired it.

LONDON, ENGLAND

Hailed as one of the most iconic areas for street art in the world, Shoreditch has creativity spilling over every surface. Walk down Brick Lane and the surrounding streets to spot famous pieces from the likes of Banksy, Pablo Delgado, Stik, Ben Eine and Sickboy & Sweet Toof – think bold lines, expressive colors and East London charm.

LOS ANGELES, USA

Unlike other cities where street art is tucked into certain neighborhoods, Los Angeles has a long-standing tradition of large-scale public murals. From the Downtown Art District with its big-name artists such as RETNA and Shepard Fairey, to the beachside creativity of Venice or the Instagram-famous walls of Melrose Avenue – expect a dynamic patchwork of styles. Straddling the line between the underground graffiti culture and perfectly polished technique, Los Angeles has art for all tastes.

BERLIN, GERMANY

Berlin’s street art culture is inexplicably linked to its history, creating statements of freedom, protest and peace. The East Side Gallery transforms the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall into an open-air gallery, with over 100 murals from international artists. A living monument to the intersection of history and creativity, the East Side Gallery officially opened in 1990 and features thought-provoking pieces from artists such as Dmitri Vrubel, Birgit Kinder, Gabriel Heimler, Peter Hübner and many more.

GEORGE TOWN, PENANG

Street art in George Town got its major break in 2012, when the artist Ernest Zacharevic was invited to create a series of murals for the George Town Festival. His interactive pieces often incorporate real objects like bikes or windows, capturing the playful spirit of the local culture. Alongside Zacharevic, artists such as Louis Gan and Julia Volchkova have transformed hidden nooks, alleys and tiny pockets between buzzing coffee shops into living canvases.

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Unlike many other cities, Buenos Aires is unusually open to street art – with property owner permission, murals are legal, which has encouraged a thriving creative landscape. Palermo is at the heart of the scene with its constantly changing walls, while San Telmo tells a more traditional story with art dedicated to Argentinian history and strong tango culture. Many artists work together to create these large-scale pieces, embodying the community spirit of the city.