Manchester’s football teams may be known for red and blue – but the city itself is also famous for being a constantly evolving kaleidoscope of colour.
Over the years, street art in Manchester has grown from an underground movement to a celebrated art form that has linked closely to its vibrant music history.
In the lead up to the 2002 Commonwealth Games – which Manchester hosted – Lord Mayor Roy Walters said: “What Manchester does today, the world does tomorrow.”
And that ethos is as relevant now as it was 20 years ago, with Manchester continuing to be a proud trendsetter in the world of street art.
Today, there are several major cities across the globe which are famous for their street art scenes.
Mural artist Nikita Spires has created street art all over the world.
She said: “Street art has the power to transform a community by turning blank walls into vibrant canvases that tell stories, spark conversations, and bring people together.
“It creates a sense of identity and pride while challenging people to see their surroundings in a new way.”
While not everyone is a fan of street art – with graffiti being less tolerated than professional murals – there’s no doubting it is a huge part of Manchester’s landscape.
And the beauty of it is that it is constantly changing, with observant commuters spotting new pieces which regularly make an appearance.
It is very common to see artists in the street working on new pieces.
The Northern Quarter is the main area where street art is prevalent but other spots in the city regularly painted include China Town and Graffiti Palace.
Liam Bononi is a Brazilian street artist who now lives in Liverpool.
He was recently in Manchester working on a mural in the Northern Quarter.
Bononi said that Manchester had a vibrant street art scene that rivalled others he had worked on all over the world.
He said: “Manchester is a great place to create street art, there are some good spaces available.
“I’ve created several pieces now and always enjoy working here.
“I’ve been all over the world creating street art and the scene in Manchester is fantastic.
“I’ve been painting in many countries around Europe having been based in Liverpool since 2019 and this is my fifth or sixth mural in the city.”
Today, Manchester has several different areas in and around the city dedicated to street art.
Over the years Manchester has hosted and subsequently lost many great pieces of art – here are six of the best known examples which are no longer with us.
The artwork was created after his original Stevenson Square piece showing a bee within two hands cupped in a heart shape went viral in the days following the attack.
Unfortunately, like many street art pieces, it has since been painted over, in 2022
A lesser known area for street art – especially for international visitors – is Graffiti Palace, which is located south west of the main street art precinct.
The site is located along the river between Manchester city centre and media city.
It’s proved particularly popular because the art is constantly changing.
It follows a winding path along the river where many people run or take their dog for a walk.
Over the last 15 years the area has been in danger of closing but enough voices have always spoken up to keep it open.
Artists such as Nikita Spires hope that street art continues to be seen as a positive contribution to regentrification efforts.
She added: “Beyond aesthetics, it can ignite inspiration, break down barriers, and make art accessible to everyone – regardless of background or status.”
All uncredited photographs including feature image by Rob Currell.
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