I’m a bit of a street art lover. I seek it out whenever I travel and love finding it hidden down laneways and back alleys. The colours are always so bright. There is nothing better than seeing a plain brick wall turned into an amazing canvas. Here in my own back yard of Port Adelaide street art is starting to pop up more and more.
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I was walking down a street I have walked down many times over the last few years and out of the corner of my eye I saw the edge of a mural on the back of a building. To see it properly, I had to make my way right down an alleyway that was the rear entrance of some shops. I was astounded at what I had found, and can’t quite believe I hadn’t seen it before. Probably only the drivers of the garbage trucks that come and empty the industrial rubbish bins see it regularly.
That got me wondering what other pieces of street art were hiding around Port Adelaide. I knew that a couple of years ago two big pieces had been painted on each side of a seven storey building – at that size they were hard to miss. I had also seen a few other large scale murals around the place, but had never looked closely.
A quick online search at the time told me Port Adelaide had been the host of the Wonderwalls Festival in both 2015 and 2017. This gave a great start to the art in the area with well known local and international street artists, such as Jimmy C and Natalia Rak, making their mark. Now new art is popping up regularly wherever there is a big blank wall. It’s really worth getting down to Port Adelaide and having a walk around to see some of the amazing art below. I’ve only added a small selection of the artwork. You will have to make your way to Port Adelaide to see the rest. Download the free Port Adelaide street art map from the Our Port website to help you to find where the art is hiding.
Port Adelaide was again part of the Wonderwalls Festival in 2019. As one of the many festivals and events that happen in Adelaide in March, the three days livened up Port Adelaide. This was the first year I had not been travelling while Wonderwalls was on, so it was fun to spend a couple of hours on both Saturday and Sunday walking around and viewing the new street art being created. It’s not just that though, the weekend opened with a “block party”, bringing bands and artists and food trucks together on the Friday evening for all to enjoy. Throughout the weekend there were also art walks and photography workshops, as well as opportunities to talk to the artists.
2019 saw international artists from Russia, New Zealand, Italy and Germany all add their mark to the Port Adelaide city streets. At least nine new locations have been brightened up, some with multiple artists working side by side. My favourite piece this year is “The Love Birds” by PHAT1 & Lady Diva from New Zealand (see bottom picture below). This one can be found on Nile Street.
Overall there are now dozens of pieces of street art in Port Adelaide. To find most of them, the map on the Wonderwalls site is useful. It’s also possible to discover more just by walking around the streets as not all the art work was done during the festival.
I am really hopeful the festival will be back in 2021 to bring even more international big names to Port Adelaide. In the meantime, check out all the current street art, and keep an eye out as more pops up from time to time.
The Port Adelaide Street Art Gallery
Is there some street art near you I should they to visit? Let me know in the comments below.
Want to make a day of it? Click here to read my post on other things to do in Port Adelaide.
Or read these posts on other South Australian attractions
Riding the Pichi Richi Railway in Quorn South Australia
Best McLaren Vale Wine Tours – Wine Tasting in South Australia
Things to do in Adelaide
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Josie is a forty-something budget traveller. She only discovered travel in her late thirties, but since then has travelled extensively including taking an adult gap year. She is now based in Australia and loves sharing all she has learned about travelling on a budget but with the comforts a Gen Xer requires.
I remember we were taken down some of the back streets in Melbourne – an absolute feast of street art in a labyrinth of laneways.
There’s a huge difference between lame graffiti tags and pieces of art.
Look at Banksy, I guess.
I loved that walk in Melbourne. My (personal) Facebook profile pic is from that day.
Very beautiful pieces of street art! I have only recently been interested in street art after going on a street-art tour in Brick Lane, London. I adore the creativity, diversity and also freedom that street artists convey through their art 🙂 Very nice post!
I have only spent a couple of days in London and didn’t get to Brick Lane, but I’ve heard good things about it. It’s on my list for next time I get back there.
These artworks are insane! I’ve been to Adelaide but I wish I had been able to see these whilst I was there. So pretty! If you havent already, you should request to join our group Female Travel Bloggers if its of interest? We screen all members through a google doc but its my fav online community and you could learn more about monetisation etc. Help fund the travels from members and what they are doing etc. Great read!
Thanks Toni, I will head over and join the group now ?
I have not seen so much street art ever in my life. I saw a couple of them this December when I visited India
Interesting! I would not have thought there would be street art like this in India
I love streetart and Adelaide seems a great spot for it! I live in Paris and Paris is FULL of it.. we are having the Space Invaders on every other house and some areas like Butte aux Cailles is full if it as well .. i love it!
Thanks Lena. I am going to be in Paris in April, and I have noted down Vitry sur Seine as an area I need to try to visit for street art. I will put Butte aux Cailles on my list too.
That is incredible! I can’t believe the detail on some of those last art pieces! I live in a tiny town, so no street art. But I second whoever mentioned Paris! I was pleasantly surprised there.
Thanks Valerie. I can’t wait to get to Paris in a few months to check it out.
This is very cool – I look street art. It always amazes me. Great stuff.
Thanks Scott.
I LOVE good street art and always look for it while traveling. Looks like Port Adelaide has some killer art! Isn’t it crazy what we can find when we explore our own backyard?
Hi Erica. Yes, I am always stunned how we don’t notice things we see every day.
I am a street art lover too. It’s incredible how much such art can express. And it often makes grey cities at least a bit more colorful.
Hi Milena. I think that’s what I like the most – these bursts of colour in an otherwise grey city!
You should definitely try Istanbul, there is even a tour that takes you to the best street art in the city! And I’m sure by now you’ve heard of Penang so won’t comment on that
I didn’t know about the Istanbul tour. I am hoping to get back there this year, so will keep it in mind. And yes, Penang looks good. It’s been six years since I was there and I don’t remember it being around then, but I might have just missed it.
I think street art is often under appreciated! Personally I really like it but there’s none near me. I’d like to take a street art tour one day – I think Adelaide would be a great place to start.
Thanks Emily. Yes, some street art is simply stunning.
We’re from Melbourne and are big into street art too. It looks like Port Adelaide has a thriving scene (some of the best we’ve seen, actually).
If you’re ever in Cape Town, visit Woodstock – there are some amazing pieces around that area.
I just spent the weekend in Melbourne – there was some great new stuff in Hosier Lane. I also spotted a few new places in the CBD I hadn’t seen before.
Some street art really is amazing to look at. It is just sad that not everyone could make it as great. 🙂
Yes, that is a great point! Some of it is not art at all,