Street art is brightening D8

By Rory Merriman 

Vivid streetside painting, long a feature of the Liberties, is having a new surge. Rory Merriman speaks to artists about their craft and the end of the stigma surrounding it.

It’s a common misconception that Dublin isn’t a colourful and decorated city. New York, London and Sydney are big cities often referenced when we speak about street art but in the last couple of months, Irish street artists have taken to the streets of Dublin to inspire, provoke and amaze.  

From grand, extravagant murals full of colour and light, to messages of hope and encouragement, the walls of Dublin now offer an array of public art.  

Where once stood naked, cracked, and aged structures, now stand beautifully painted walls with various images and sentences, often depicting hidden messages and other times just posing as street art. It’s still true in Dublin 8.  

If you are ever out on a stroll, be sure to walk around with your head up and your eyes peeled. 

Vanessa Power, a lettering street artist from Dublin, believes that street art is important for the streets of Dublin 8 and beyond. “People really appreciate it. Just two weeks ago I was painting a public wall and I’ve already received so much positive feedback. They just love it,” she said.  

People really appreciate it. Just two weeks ago I was painting a public wall and I’ve already received so much positive feedback. They just love it”

Vanessa Power, lettering street artist

“As well as it looking good, sometimes the value of a property goes up simply because there is a pretty painting on the side of it. I’ve heard of places like Sydney and New York raise the prices of apartment blocks because of painted murals painted on them,” Power added.  

Street artist Shane Sutton says the stigma around street art as a form of vandalism is dead and gone. “Nowadays there is less graffiti and more art to be seen on the streets. I guess the difference between now and back then is there is permission involved now – and people have time to create these masterpieces without worrying and looking over their shoulder.”