The best street art in Dublin

One of Dublin’s most prolific street artists, Maser brings wit and warmth to the city’s streets with his graphic and thought-provoking pieces. Internationally acclaimed and with a studio in Dublin 2, Maser’s bold graphic style draws upon numerous influences including optical and mid-century art, complemented with bold colours, pattern and text. 'U Are Alive', on the corner of Grantham Street and Camden Street, is currently in its fourth iteration. Designed and painted several years ago on a shop wall, it’s proven to be one of Maser’s most loved pieces (the previous version was a collaboration with another Dublin street art staple, his friend Aches.)

4 Grantham Street, Dublin 8 

Media captionStop by Maser's 'U Are Alive' mural on the corner of Grantham Street and Camden Street.

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Take the DART southbound and you’ll spy a slice of urban wildlife on the western side of the Aviva Stadium and along the tunnel up to the level crossing at Lansdowne Road. A collaboration between The Walls Project and artists Holly Pereira, Omin and Decoy, the fluid mural merges diverse styles to feature a ‘page flick’ black cat as it moves along the tunnel through vibrant shapes and graphics. Book-ended by an edgy urban fox, created by artist and illustrator Dan Leo, and an urban hawk by Artists for All City Records at the north end of the tunnel, the work spans 160 metres, making it one of the country’s longest urban art projects.

Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, D04 K5F9 

Media captionDan Leo's urban fox is one of the creatures that adorn the western side of the Aviva Stadium.

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Follow the #DublinCanvas hashtag online and it will lead you to a cool community art project that’s interwoven through the city. Transforming grey traffic light boxes into a walking gallery of public art, the eye-catching initiative is overseen by Dublin’s four councils. Over 750 pieces have been completed, with vibrant new themes by a diverse group of Irish and international artists, designers, illustrators and creatives. Dublin Canvas is constantly changing, with a new callout for submissions of artwork made each spring.

Media captionSpot colourful pieces of art as you go about your day.

“When I die, Dublin will be written on my heart,” wrote James Joyce. Another of Joyce’s quotes – “they lived and laughed and loved and left” – has been immortalised in a striking gable wall mural on a terrace of houses on Harmon Street, off Donore Avenue in Dublin 8. The St. Teresa’s Gardens Regeneration Board and Donore Credit Union commissioned local artists Garreth Joyce and Vanessa Power of Signs of Power to recreate the jaunty quote from Finnegan’s Wake to encapsulate the transition of the population of St Teresa’s Gardens (extra points for their skilful camouflage of the telegraph pole). 

27 Harman St, Saint Catherine's, Dublin 8, D08 E6F7 

Media captionAdmire local artists Garreth Joyce and Vanessa Power's dedication to James Joyce.

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Across town, you can meet Mr Joyce’s younger self looking down from a wall of Summerhill’s Richmond Cottages. Joyce lived at 17 North Richmond Street for a time and staged his story "Araby" here: “The dark muddy lanes behind the houses where we ran the gauntlet of the rough boys from the cottages…. down to the dark odorous stables where a coachman smoothed and combed the horse or shook music from the buckled harness.” Brilliantly created by artist and designer Shane Sutton, the portrait of Joyce joins Sutton’s mural of the writer Brendan Behan, just a few houses over. Both were inspired commissions from the Richmond Cottages Residents Association. 

20 Richmond Cottages, Summerhill, Dublin 1, D01 K7W9 

Media captionStroll Shane Sutton's Writers' Block and spot a few familiar faces.

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Another of Shane Sutton's creations resides on Dorset Street Lower. As well as highlighting important figures in Irish history, Sutton also likes to draw inspiration from urban life and his black and white 'City Fox' does just that. Plenty of Dubliner have spotted a fox roaming the quieter city streets at night and Sutton's colossal mural pays tribute to one of the capital's wildest residents. 

59 Dorset Street Lower, Ballybough, Dublin 1, D01 HR13

In the last five years, Ireland has become a force to be reckoned with in the world of athletics, and one big factor for this is Dublin-born sprinter Rhasidat Adeleke, who took home three medals at the 2024 European Championships. So, it comes as no surprise that several murals of her have popped up around the city, including Canvaz Street Art's 'Mise Éire (I am Ireland)' on Chatham Row. It shows Adeleke in her Irish kit, wearing a floral crown, with eyes fixed on you as you stop to admire the up-and-coming sports star. 

2 Chatham Row, Dublin 2.

Media captionVisit the dedication to Rhasidat Adeleke.

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When you think of something as three-dimensional, the last thing that probably comes to mind is 3D street art, but Greek muralist Insane51 specialises in just that. Using photorealism to create two images layered on top of one another, he created his piece 'Sunny Dog' – a mural that combines the portraits of a young man and a puppy painted in bright red and blue. To admire the piece of art in all its glory, make sure to bring along a pair of 3D glasses.

A joyful riot of colour and culture in Temple Bar, the exterior of Blooms Hotel is one of the most eye-catching landmarks in the city. At the heart of it are Joyce’s best-known fictional characters, Molly and Leopold Bloom, Stephen Dedalus and Buck Mulligan, encircled by a psychedelia-meets-Art Nouveau pastiche of clashing colours and botanical flourishes. Even if you’ve never read Ulysses, you’ll want to see these fictional folk in their full-sized, full-colour glory. 

3-6 Anglesea St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 FK84 

Media captionSay hello to a few of Joyce's leading characters at the Blooms Hotel.

Along one side of The George – Dublin's oldest and biggest gay bar – you'll spot pieces straight out of Dublin-based artist Emmalene Blake's portfolio. Matching the many lively and colourful nights had inside the bar, Blake has turned this stretch of wall into a dynamic homage to significant figures in the LGBTQ+ space, creating an ever-changing exhibition of striking portraits that they create on a semi-regular basis. In the past the walls have been graced with singer-songwriter Wallis Bird, and now you can find Chappell Roan, DJ Karen Reddy and Sinead O'Connor on the side of the iconic gay bar.   

89 South Great George's Street, Dublin 2, D02 R220

Media captionVisit two female icons at The George.

If you find yourself on Grafton Street, whether you're treating yourself to a shopping spree in Brown Thomas or a nice lunch in Bewley's Café, you might be lucky enough to spot Joâo "Brutto" Adnet's 'Cling Film Project' unfold in real time. Born in Brazil and living in Dublin, Brutto turns open spaces into open-air galleries by creating temporary street art with the help of cling film and spray paint. Watch every step of his creative process as he brings his art to life amidst the hustle and bustle of one of Dublin's most lively streets.

Grafton Street, Dublin 2.

With so many incredible pieces of street art popping up across the city, it's easy to miss some. Remove the hassle and book a slot in one of Dublin's great street art walking tours.

Staying close to the city centre, you can learn about the artists themselves and Ireland's history and culture as a whole with My Community Space. Meanwhile, Artful Tours starts off on Dame Street and leads visitors through the city to Portobello, highlighting street art that showcases Irish literature and music along the way. For a deep dive into some of the city's hidden street art scene, Alternative Dublin is a great shout – plus, you'll have the chance to visit a unique gallery tucked away in the city centre.

Head to the suburbs of beautiful Dún Laoghaire and visit every stop on the Anseo walking tour. First started in the summer of 2021, the Dún Laoghaire County Council invited artists from around the world to transform 15 blank walls dotted around town into unique pieces of art. Follow the route and admire the colourful creations, which showcase the area's rich maritime history. 

Media captionApreciate Dún Laoghaire's maritime history through art.

The art of Dublin

Continue to broaden your mind by diving even deeper into the city's eclectic arts and culture scene.