The Most Notable Street Art in Johannesburg
Johannesburg’s street art scene is on the rise as more and more artists, both local and international, are flocking to the city to color the streets. Here’s where to spot the best of the bunch.
Johannesburg’s inner city is filled with striking pieces commenting on the social and cultural zeitgeist and metropolitan areas, such as the Maboneng precinct, Jeppestown, and Newtown, are being transformed through the introduction of trendy cafés, restaurants, art galleries and, of course, street art.
Street art has long been a contentious topic in South Africa but recently artists, like ABOVE, travel from abroad to make their mark on the city’s walls, while local artists are gaining more and more recognition. Corporate companies are also injecting large sums of cash into the gentrification of Johannesburg’s inner city and supporting street artists by doing so.
1. Mural by Karabo Poppy Moletsane
Cinema
See it at the Eyethu Cinema, 649 Machaba Drive, Mofolo Central, Soweto.
Karabo Poppy Moletsane is an award winning illustrator, designer, and street artist |Taken as part of Nando’s Street Art Stories series
3. "Bird" by ROA
View it from The Main Change, 20 Kruger Street, Maboneng.
ROA, from Ghent, Belgium, is known for his large black and white murals of animals and his work can be seen in cities all across the globe |© Marturin Le Goff / Flickr
4. "Una salus victis nullam sperare salutem" by Faith 47
See it at the Johannesburg CBD Bus Stop, Von Wielligh Street.
Faith 47, a world-renowned female artist from South Africa, has held solo exhibitions in New York, London, and Johannesburg |© Marturin Le Goff / Flickr
5. "Family Time" by Falko 1
Find the mural in Newtown.
Falko started out in the Cape Flats and has toured Sweden, Germany, France, and more |Courtesy of Past Experiences
6. "Incognito" by ABOVE and "Big Heart" by Falko 1
See it from Bjala Square, Jeppestown.
This is one of Berlin-based artist ABOVE’s largest murals |© Carina Claassens
7. "Remed's View" by Remed
See it at 306 Commissioner Street, Jeppestown.
Spanish street artist Remed painted this mural as part of the 2012 Adidas I ART JOBURG project |© Adamina / Flickr
8. "Betty Fox" by Falko
Find it on the Betty Fox warehouse, Betty Street, Maboneng.
Falko has worked on campaigns for brands such as Adidas and MTV, and was responsible for the backdrop for Nelson Mandela’s 79th birthday |© Adamina / Flickr
9. Jan van Riebeeck mural, a collaboration between America’s Gaia and Cape Town-based Freddy Sam
See it in front of The Cosmopolitan, 24 Albrecht Street, Maboneng.
Freddy’s (AKA Ricky) murals can be seen all over the world, from New York to Istanbul and Madagascar to Kathmandu |© Mathurin Le Goff / Flickr
10. Mural by Hannelie Coetzee
Find it at 269 Fox Street, Maboneng.
Hannelie Coetzee is a local artist whose work is often temporary |© Adamina / Flickr
12. "Now and Then" by Acrylic Walls
Find it at 264 Fox Street, Maboneng.
This piece is a collaboration between KNOW HOPE (Tel Aviv), Gaia (New York), Franco JAZ Fasoli (Buenos Aires), and Freddy Sam (South Africa), known collectively as Acrylic Walls |© Adamina / Flickr
13. The Beginning of a Mural Stretching an Entire Street Block
See it in Berea Street, Maboneng.
This is the beginning of the above mural by Acrylic Walls |© Adamina / Flickr
14. "Jozy" by Kazy Usclef
Look out for it in the Maboneng Precinct.
The Maboneng Precinct has come alive with street art |© Adamina / Flickr
15. Tagged Mural at Curiosity Backpackers
Find it at 302 Fox Street, Maboneng.
Curiosity Backpackers is a great accommodation option to explore the area |© Adamina / Flickr
Street art in Maboneng
The local public is becoming increasingly more interested in street art and numerous tours focus solely on the city’s public art. Gummie Tours have a street art bike ride through Maboneng and Past Experiences have a range of different inner city tours. This is the best way to find and see all the city has to offer—and there’s much of it.
Nando’s launched Street Art Stories: Jo’burg, a film that documents the rise of South African street art. The short film depicts how activism and events during apartheid struggles shaped the rise of Johannesburg’s street art movement.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
Read Next
Guides & Tips
The Best Private Trips You Can Book With Your Friends
Places to Stay
The Best Hotels in Nelspruit for Every Traveller
Guides & Tips
Top Small-Group Tours for Solo Travellers
Guides & Tips
The Best Private Trips to Book for a Special Occasion
Guides & Tips
The Best Places to Travel for Adventure
Guides & Tips
The Ultimate South Africa Safari Holiday
Guides & Tips
The Most Amazing Kayaking Experiences With Culture Trip
Places to Stay
The Most Luxurious Hotels in the World You Can Stay at With Culture Trip
Guides & Tips
The Best Private Trips to Book for Birthdays
Guides & Tips
Unforgettable Trips for Exploring National Parks
Guides & Tips
The Best Luxury Trips to Take This Year
Places to Stay
The Best Hotels in East London, South Africa, for Every Traveller
Culture Trip Spring Sale
Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.
