The Best Street Art Spots in Villa Crespo, Buenos Aires

This corner of Villa Crespo straddles the border of Chacarita, and is one of the best places in the city to see some diverse street art. From graffiti to murals to what can only be described as horseplay, the bus terminal located at the corner of Castillo and Fitz Roy has been a stalwart of the street art scene for many years now. It was one of the first places to give street artists free permission to paint there, and as such has become a beloved spot. Artworks change regularly, so if you’re a street art buff, make sure to swing by regularly to see what new stuff is up.

Located on Serrano next to the bike lane is a wall that has been in action for a number of years. The mural that graces it is by a famous local artist called Ever Siempre, and depicts a man and a woman of Asian descent. This is a follow-up piece to a previous mural painted there by the same artist which was of an Asian boy and girl, and this new piece is supposed to represent grown-up versions of these characters. The male figure actually works in the Chinese supermarket the artist frequents next to his studio.

Just around the corner from Serrano are more murals located on the stretch of street between Serrano, Thames and Uriarte. A number of these are also by Ever Siempre (you will be able to notice them by the colourful clouds above the heads of the characters or coming out of their eyes), and one in particular, which depicts Mother Earth towering over a line of field workers below, was done for a music video by Puerto Rican hip hop group Calle 13.

Another mural by Ever Siempre can be found on Padilla, this time depicting the head of Mao Tse Tung. A somewhat controversial mural (given the subject matter), it can be explained by the artist’s fascination with contradiction and Communism. Another piece across the road, featuring two wrestlers, is by another famous Argentine artist, Franco Fasoli a.k.a. Jaz.

This leafy street has a few smaller murals dotted along its length, but one among them stands out for its whimsical nature. A beautiful piece by local artist Mart depicts a boy on a bike against a colourful but subdued background. If you continue along Julian Alvarez across Cordoba and down the hill to Honduras, you can see another mural by the same artist, a charming portrait of a character with a bicycle for glasses, typical of the playful artworks the artist is known for.

This side street should be approached with caution, as it is located in a bit of a dodgy area. However, if you are willing to brave it, you will be treated to some little-known treasures in the neighbourhood of Villa Crespo. Artworks by Belgian street art giant Roa sit alongside works by local artist Sonni and British legend Sweet Toof.

There are a number of works along Niceto Vega between Darwin and Uriarte. A big bus plastered on the side of a building by Gordo Pelota and fileteado expert Alfredo Genovese questions the disparity between the people who frequent the gentrified neighbourhood of Palermo and those who work there. Another artwork by Mart can be seen just past the corner of Godoy Cruz, and if you head to La Calle, a secret bar hidden behind pizza joint La Guitarrita, you will find some murals inside.