Graffiti, street art, urban art, or even vandalism; whatever you call it, you can’t help but admire it when it’s done right. And boy does Düsseldorf do it right. What was once illegal a few years ago is now admired and sought after; bringing the city to life. Upholding its traits as an artistic, modern, and trend-setting city; Düsseldorf is populated with epic urban art scenes. Often blooming in secret; you never know if this street art is coming or going – which makes exploring the city even more exciting. We have collected the most beautiful, and most famous street art spots for you to explore. Snap some cool photos and get your Instagram story exploding with vibrancy and colour!
Kiefernstraße
Photo Credit: Vincent Nunes and Courtney Barends
This appropriately takes the first spot on our list. Kiefernstraße is the epicenter of street art in Düsseldorf; where politics meets art. Here you’ll find that no house is decorated the same, from Jesus to Aliens to bugs to Chinese dragons – You’ll find it all. But, Kiefernstraße wasn’t always known as a hub of artistic exploration, but rather for a tumultuous past filled with political conflict.
Originally housing for steel workers since 1905, the buildings became municipal property in 1975. Although affordable housing was scarce, existing tenancy agreements were terminated and the state placed refugees in the evicted homes. Other refugees and those desperate for housing found a place to stay in these abandoned apartments. Conflict and negotiations continued for years between authorities and the residents. Many fought for their rights to housing, and tenancy agreements were finally made. They have since been renewed indefinitely; creating a hub of diversity, culture, and art.
Insider Tip: If you make your way around the corner and head towards the B8 Center on Werdener Strasse 87, you’ll find a new addition to the home of street art. A mural created by twin brothers Raoul and Davide Perré. Now living in New York, the brothers have become some of the best-known street artists in the world. Raoul and Davide revisited their hometown, Düsseldorf to create a piece that focuses on the ‘strength, determination, confidence, and kindness of residents on the Kiefernstrasse.’
Flingern Nord
Take a walk along Ackerstraße. From Café Hüftgold, Ackerstraße 113, to Sainte Élisabeth Church, Vinzenzplatz 1, you’ll be surrounded by little moments of both ‘amateur’ works to some you may appreciate more. Grab a coffee and enjoy a stroll as you capture Alice in Wonderland references, thinking monkeys, and lego men robbing a bank.
On Ackerstraße 59, just over the bridge, look behind you to find “Tor zu Flingern” (The Gate to Flingern) by artist Klaus Klinger and the Majorbrothers, which gives you an insight into the local history.
Passing this route on my tram rides into the city brings me greetings of colour and faces I just can’t help but make eye contact with. Next to the St Elisabeth Church, you won’t be able to miss a facade completely filled with speckled brush strokes and people brought to life. A modern church embracing street murals, diversity, and community.
Toulouser Allee Under Jülicher Brücke
The 40° Urban Art Festival happens every 2 years. Art-loving volunteers organize the festival and invite established, talented street artists to embellish and adorn places and buildings. Encouraging expression and reminding us of the power of art; once unloved places are brought back to life. In 2019 street artists were commissioned to commemorate and redesign a spot adjacent to the memorial for deported Jews.
Some artists directly referenced the memorial and a past to be remembered, while others brightened and unified in the hopes of a future without prejudice and racism; embracing a multicultural, multifaceted, and multiracial society.
Insider Tip: Walk down Marc-Chagall-Straße through the park towards Franklinbrücke (Franklin Bridge). Walk up the steps, onto the bridge and you’ll find our next spot. Perhaps, you’ll need to take another look, as this street art blends perfectly with its surroundings. This once-blank facade was continuously tainted with unwanted tags and amateur graffiti. So rather than cleaning and repainting, the owners opted to hire professionals. Passionate artists embellished the wall of their homes with street art they could finally appreciate.
Bilk
Bilk has quickly become a new home for large-scale street art and urban expression. The perfect place to see this is at the newly beautified underpass of Bilk’s regional train station. From the shopping centers to the restaurants to the train station and underground stop; this hub of activity offers up a perfect opportunity to grab people’s attention and embellish a once grey and dull area.
Both international and local artists have upgraded the scene and certainly improved our first impression; making your route to work and home at this busy intersection just a bit more exciting. Take a look behind the underpass and walk past the Arcaden, before you explore the rest of what Bilk has to offer. On Bachstrasse 126, a large tilting glass can be seen riding the waves of an ocean. This piece is titled Konsumonsum (Consumerism). Appropriately placed next to the shopping center, the designer Klaus Klinger in collaboration with the Warsaw artist Ivo Nikic, criticizes consumerism and greed.
As these large murals often make social and economic comments let’s walk to the next stop – which is no different. Walk back through the underpass towards Tigges, my newfound favorite restaurant, on Merowingerstraße 4. Here, you’ll easily spot the largely painted facade. This piece, titled Wirtschaftswunder (Economic Miracle), comments on the obvious displacement between the rich and poor. With 20 individual characters’ stories being told, you can empathize with their fragile economic situation as the people around them and the economy get richer.
Parallel to Merowingerstraße, you’ll find an idyllic street lined with cute cafes, a florist, independent clothing stores, a popular thrifting outlet, and even a yoga studio. As you grab a coffee and explore Brunnenstraße 1, try to find our friend the mechanical zebra. French artist, ARDIF has left his mark on Düsseldorf. He is famous for the pieces he calls “Mechanimals”, and this happens to be one of my favorites. You’ll also find ARDIF’s wolf on this street (larger in size, it is much easier to find) next to my favorite florist ‘Love Your Plants’. From owls to cats to wolves; see how many you can find in the city before any street cleaning begins.
If Brunnenstraße hasn’t given us enough you can find another iconic piece of artwork by Irish artist Fin DAC, titled MoonChild. A vibrant stencil you won’t want to miss.
This is Zeitreisende (Time Traveler) located on Aachener Straße 39. This piece is one of Düsseldorf’s older examples of street art; painted in 1995 and designed by Isaac Linares, Klaus Klinger, and Sabahattin Sen. This once high-rise bunker built in the nazi period was almost demolished in the 1980s. It was saved through a citizens’ initiative and placed under monument protection. A diverse group of people fights for their survival in choppy seas and an unreliable means of transport; commenting on the times of the building’s construction.
Our last mention in Bilk is this giant mural from Italian artist Pixel Pancho, entitled ‘Rusted Ideas’. Pixel creates robotic creatures inspired by different environments while embracing earthy tones to create a more rustic and ancient feeling. You can find this capturing piece on Suitbertusstraße, 151.
Derendorf
This is one of my favorite street art spots in Düsseldorf. Klaus Klinger has contributed a great deal to the urban and street art world. Collaborating with other famous artists while commenting on social, global, and economic issues. This has allowed Klaus to greatly influence the story of Düsseldorf. This piece is titled, “Hot World” by Isaac Linears and Klaus Klinger.
Located at Derendorf train station, sitting on a large building, 25m high; all those traveling by train from the north will get a glimpse of this vibrant and colorful mural, sure enough, to capture as many views as possible. Although bright and enchanting it represents something more concerning. Our planet is getting hotter and the need to change the trajectory of climate change is desperate. Klaus and Isaac quickly capture your attention in their desire to remind us of the looming concerns of our over-heated planet and what that world will look like for the generations to come.
Düsseldorf is filled with epic street art to discover. As this trendy, artistic and diverse city is ever-changing, we can always be on the lookout for new designs to come. These pieces brighten up our city, but it can be easy to look past their unique designs and uncover their true purposes. As a vessel for expression and commentary in a world ever-developing, street art has become a way to engage and capture a wider audience. Let us know if you have any other artistic moments worth exploring in the city and we’ll be sure to include them in our list.
