Street art pops out from the walls of the Barranco district in Lima, Peru and it’s a big giveaway that you’ve arrived in the city’s creative neighbourhood.
Bohemian Barranco is home to many of Lima’s artists, photographers and musicians. MATE, the gallery of the Peruvian fashion and portrait photographer Mario Testino, lives and works in this artistic neighbourhood.
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Lima (MAC), the Contemporary Art Museum, which specialises in modern and contemporary Peruvian art is also in Barranco. Lima is one of the best South American cities for street art and the colourful murals totally enthralled and captured my imagination.
Barranco Murals
Contents
Limeno Yandy Graffer (real name Abraham Portocarrero) is the street artist behind the mural above. The flowing swirls, vibrant colours and black outlines makes this one of my favourite walls. Graffer paints murals with themes of the sea and fishermen because they reflect the city’s culture and trades.
Jade Rivera
“The Home Of Sigh” (above) by Jade Rivera is by the Bridge Of Sighs, one of the main sights in the Barranco. The mural symbolises the love in the neighbourhood.
Muraliza el Barrio, Lima
Festival “Muraliza el barrio” is a project started by a group of Lima street artists called the Barranquinos Artists Network. In 2015 the new mayor of Lima, Castañeda Lossio, ordered Lima’s street art be painted over in bright yellow paint. Yellow just happened to be his political party colour.
Sixty murals were destroyed and so Lima’s outraged artist community decided to act. A collective was formed to replace Lima’s lost street art and festival “muraliza el barrio” was born. #BorraronUnoPintaremosMil – “they erased one, we will paint a thousand”.
Come Fruta – Eat Fruit by Chococar
More Peru Inspiration – Peru on a Plate
Lima Street Art
Faniart
Third Eye Mural by Faniart
More Lima inspiration – Things you should know about Lima
The breed of dog in this mural is a Peruvian dog. It’s a hairless breed except for a few facial whiskers and an odd tuft of hair on top of the head. We encountered one during our street art walk and I can confirm that they’ve got a very unique look about them…
The Barranco, Lima
Barranco is Spanish for ravine which aptly describes the cliff-top area with walkway cut through the rock to the sea. Bajada de los Baños pathway leads down towards the main coast road and beach which runs between Miraflores and Chorrillos. You’ll find a lot of murals and street art in this area.
The famous Peruvian artist Victor Delfin lives in Barranco, Lima. We stayed at the house where he has his studio. Second Home B&B is packed with Delfin’s works and I felt the mural from the breakfast room (below) deserves a spot in this post! It’s not street art but it’s a pretty cool wall.
Some of this street art we saw during our Lima food and culture tour and more when exploring the Barranco later on. There’s a Facebook page which showcases more Lima street art. What’s your favourite city for street art?
Love it? Pin it!
Suzanne Jones is a full-time travel blogger and writer at The Travelbunny website which she started in 2011 during her time as a professional travel planner. This serial traveller enjoys exploring new destinations, culinary encounters and the outdoors. When she’s not indulging her wanderlust or writing about her adventures you’ll most likely find Suzanne, camera in hand, enjoying coastal walks on England’s South Coast.
Suzanne also runs Hello Sussex a website which showcases the best of East & West Sussex. Read more about Suzanne here…
shalini
Saturday 9th of June 2018
can you provide the specific location (address). we are visiting Peru next month and your blog is my bible.
Suzanne Jones
Wednesday 20th of June 2018
The Barranco is a small district - if you head for the bridge you'll see some street art after that just ask a local because it's dotted around the area. There are street art tours which you can take which cover other parts of Lima. Check Tailored Tours for details. Have a fantastic trip!
Sara Dobak
Tuesday 27th of June 2017
There's a lot of avant-garde stuff and psychedelia in this selection - love the 'House of Sighs'. As you said, many folk don't stop in Lima, and I was one of them - but only because of logisitics. I'll be sure to check out the street art next time (and there WILL be a next time!!).
Suzanne Jones
Tuesday 27th of June 2017
This was just one small area of street art in the Barranco. I hear there's a lot more around the city and even a street art tour you can take. Hope it's not too long before your next visit :)
restlessjo
Wednesday 15th of March 2017
Lots of fun, Suze :)
Suzanne Jones
Wednesday 15th of March 2017
Yes, Jo, it was :)
sugarandstamps
Thursday 2nd of March 2017
I absolutely have a thing for street art and murals, so this is totally up my alley! I love shooting photos with beautiful wall art in the background, so I will definitely save this for when I visit Lima!
Suzanne Jones
Friday 3rd of March 2017
Hope you don't have to wait too long before you get to Lima. Check out the street art in the Barranco and also the rest of the city, there's lots of it.
Lucy
Saturday 25th of February 2017
I wouldn't really think of street art and Lima but they have some beauties, so intricate, there are some real talent there and a tour's a great way to uncover it.
Suzanne Jones
Monday 27th of February 2017
It was great to see the street art - some was on the tour and others we found ourselves :)