Street Art Around the World: A Universal Language

 Wednesday, April 2, 2025

1:38 PM

Street Art Around the World: A Universal Language

 

One of the most fascinating parts of traveling in my time abroad has been witnessing how street art appears in so many in different cultures. Each place I have visited has its own unique approach to graffiti, yet there is an universality that connects them all. From Greece to France, from Bulgaria to Italy, or Switzerland to London, street art is more than just paint sprayed on a wall, it’s a form of expression, rebellion, storytelling, and identity.

 

In Athens, street art is deeply political or associated with the city's soccer teams. The city’s walls are covered in messages, often responding to economic struggles, social justice issues, and historical events or the colors of their favorite team. In Paris, the graffiti scene leans more toward the poetic and aesthetic. In Bulgaria, it was a mix of rebellious quotes or a mural of a political head. Italy’s street art, especially in Rome and Milan, mixes high art with graffiti. I saw intricate Renaissance-style portraits. In Milan, some of the more playful graffiti pieces included bold, colorful designs that celebrated fashion, a nod to the city’s global influence in the industry.

Despite their differences, all these cities share a common thing in their graffiti scenes. Whether political, poetic, historical, or playful, street art remains a universal form of self-expression. It gives passersby an idea of what the city speaks to them. Observing these works in person has deepened my appreciation for this unfiltered art form, reminding me that sometimes the most profound stories are written not in books but on the walls around us.