A few years ago, I had the pleasure of working alongside the lads in Waterford Walls. I did a huge mural on Thomas Hill which still stands today. As a street artist, it was brilliant to be able to be a part of such a culturally diverse festival, whilst meeting artists from both the immediate locality and around the globe.
Mural Art by street artists
Waterford Walls is Ireland’s largest international street art festival. Each year, this grandiose event brings together both national and international artists who transform Waterford City and its surroundings into an awe-inspiring canvas of mural artworks. At its core, this festival is a celebration of the union between art and public spaces. The mission of the festival is to convert mundane walls into vibrant canvases, thereby infusing life and colour into the urban fabric, whilst giving graffiti artists a boundless canvas to showcase their talents. The festival spans an exhilarating 10 days, during which the city becomes a sprawling open-air gallery. This duration allows artists to craft their masterpieces, giving visitors the opportunity to witness the evolution of these vibrant murals. Throughout the event, artists can be seen in action, passionately translating their visions onto the city walls. This dynamic interaction between creators and spectators is a truly immersive experience.
Art classes and graffiti workshops
The Waterford Walls Festival is not just about admiring art; it's about understanding it. Workshops and educational sessions are conducted, allowing enthusiasts to explore the nuances of street art. These sessions create a deeper connection between the art and its audience.
For those who wish to delve into the stories behind the murals’, guided tours are a must. Experienced guides take visitors on a journey, unravelling the tales, inspirations, and techniques utilised behind each piece of artwork.
This annual extravaganza is a testament to the power of art in transforming spaces and fostering connections, and I thoroughly enjoyed partaking in it. The festival itself is expanding all the time, as each year appears to be getting bigger and better than the previous year, in fact, there were over 900 applications for 2023’s festival, from artists that hail from as far as Australia. It's more than just an event; it's a vibrant, living masterpiece that continues to inspire and outrank expectations year after year.