Best Perth Street Art

When you’re in Perth you’re likely to stumble across a colourful mural and be captivated by some street art while walking around the alleys and laneways.

Many of the great artists of today have ditched their studios for the street, creating humanity’s most beautiful works of art and giant outdoor galleries in our suburbs.

These joyful pieces have an aged charm and tactile element, through the textures of the bricks and concrete walls they are painted on, showing the beauty of decay.

Fremantle has some well-known pieces like the Octopus, Kraken by Phlegm and ROA’s numbat running on the wall near the Fremantle markets. These are two pieces you literally cannot miss in Fremantle. But there are others that unless you know they are there, you would just walk past and miss. Of course, there are others that have been erased and overpainted, or completely wiped out when buildings have been demolished, like those on the Fremantle Myer store. I guess that’s why I like photographing street art so much, because a lot of them are photos of murals that many have never seen.

Layers and textures, the details in the eyes to pull the viewer into the space, there are so many elements that make a great mural. I love the way age strips back some of the paint and creates a dirty texture that adds to the story of the art rather than a flat finished piece of art.

From iconic local street art wonders, to pieces commissioned by local community projects to engage internationally recognized artists to work with local youths to transform graffiti hot spots into spectacular murals.

Perth’s laneways and buildings have become works of art and no wall is safe.

Unique street art is creating inspiring laneway art to bring together local artists, residents and landowners and turning forgotten spaces into interesting places.

Melbourne is often the Australian city that comes to mind for street art, but did you know the street art in Perth is next level? In fact, Perth has been flying under the radar when it comes to its street art scene. Fremantle, Subiaco, Leederville and Northbridge probably head the list of suburbs that support a healthy street art scene and its well worth a wander around these areas. Maylands, Inglewood, Bassendean and North Perth are taking up the challenge and top places to see some of the best street art Perth has to offer.

Street art adds to the fabric of what makes an area such a great area to live in, work in, or play in and really combines the community. Street art brings people to an area they might otherwise not venture into, down laneways they wouldn’t even have known existed and creates such a positive change.

Making the exteriors of buildings interesting and fun, makes it a more vibrant place and makes art more accessible where people no longer have to step into a gallery to appreciate art.

One laneway can introduce you to a plethora of different art in a five-minute walk through any number of suburbs.

Walking through a suburb you can stumble upon some truly inspiring, creative artwork that was never there before. It is great for the local community, people get to meet neighbours out for a stroll, people get out and about, becoming more aware of their local surroundings and local vendors benefit from the trade as people stop for a coffee to sip along their journey or sit down for rest and snack. People bring their kids out, photograph them against the colourful backdrops. As most of the art tells a story, it makes people stop, think, and learn as they meander in the metropolis. Street art is no longer taboo and draws people in to ponder the back story to each piece.

A lot of local shires have art programs and sponsor murals to bring people to their areas, make the laneways safer by having more people frequent the back streets and increase sales to local vendors. And of course, Instagrammers love it. These colourful backdrops allow them to hashtag the meaning of life.

There are new works constantly being commissioned and now carparks and laneways were once the home of delinquents and undesirables, now they are the playgrounds for artists and culture seekers. The street art scene has exploded into an impressive collection of public art. In an ever growing, evolving city, these giant colourful monoliths have created a living gallery and a destination for art lovers.

They fire the imagination and keep you on the lookout for something new and unexpected. Creativity can transform communities because its accessible. Immersive galleries like 140 in the city have incorporated art throughout bringing form, function and fun to the garden and walls.

These community and laneway projects have enlivened and enhanced the streetscapes of suburbia and breathed new life into the streets. Street art is the perfect tool to create some vibrancy into what was once dull and lifeless walls and create enjoyment in the community and foster a sense of place. Highly experienced and well-known artists have created beautiful artworks that the community has totally embraced.

It is so much fun wandering around, discovering new places through street art in places that make us feel so inspired. The best thing about this type of gallery is that it’s free.

Are you a fan of street art? Do you stop and reflect about the backstory to the piece?

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