Featured in various travel recommendations, this eye-catching mural by local graffiti artist Alex Croft is undoubtedly one of Hong Kong’s most Instagrammed pieces of street art. The blocky motif has been taken from lifestyle store G.O.D.’s signature ‘Yaumati’ print and reimagined with Croft’s style. He was inspired by the former Kowloon Walled City, where windows would look different from customisation by individual tenants – the result is a wall full of bright townhouses that shine a light on our city’s iconic tong lau tenement buildings.

Taking inspiration from one of Hong Kong’s most iconic and stylish films, In the Mood for Love, Hong Kong-based Irish artist Ange McCalmont’s mural at 1 Lan Kwai Fong evokes the city of the 1960s. A woman with coiffed hair in a cheongsam is prominently positioned against a kitsch wallpaper-like pattern adorned with large red roses. The floral motifs also nod to the nearby flower vendors that have long been part of the Lan Kwai Fong landscape. Fans of the auteur Wong Kar-wai should not miss this mural.

Images courtesy of Daniel Murray and HKwalls.

Mainland Chinese talent Chan13 wears many hats as an artist, architect, watchmaker and doctoral student of design at Harvard. It’s particularly interesting that one of Hong Kong’s walls now bears his mark. His architectural background shines through in the geometric lines and compositional blocks of this mural. Since this stretch of wall at the intersection of Square Street and Tank Lane contains two windows, Chan has incorporated them into his artwork, using these elements as a starting point.

This integration of art into the urban fabric has led the artist to call this piece his ‘most urban context-conscious work’ to date. Look for elements inspired by Hong Kong’s buildings rendered in grey, skyscrapers reflected in orange, Bauhinia flowers in purple, parts of Chinese characters and a pearl referencing our city’s nickname, the ‘Pearl of the East’.

Images courtesy of Victor Tong and HKwalls.

Head to D’Aguilar Street near Wyndham Street to discover a bright mural featuring three spirited cats. Created by local artist DD Yung – who proudly embraces her love for felines – the artwork celebrates her cats as daily muses, embodying the resilience and affection of Hong Kong’s street cats. The playful, organic linework of the foregrounded cats and flowers contrasts with a meticulously crafted halftone background, a signature technique for DD Yung.

More than just a charming piece, these cats pay homage to the neighbourhood’s lively spirit, reflecting the warmth and tenacity of Hong Kong’s culture. In addition to representing the traditional ‘shop cats’ often associated with dried seafood stores, these dynamic figures symbolise companionship, creativity and the vibrant energy of Lan Kwai Fong.

Images 1 and 3 courtesy of Daniel Murray and HKwalls; Image 2 courtesy of Victor Tong and HKwalls.

Spanning one whole side of the alley on 26 Tai Ping Shan Street, this mural by Hong Kong-based Spanish artist Miguel Emerico is named ‘Hong Kong Encoded’. This piece comprises various elements of culture, symbols, buildings and motifs found in the city – Emerico has even used traditional bamboo scaffolding while painting the wall. Take a moment to discover the Hong Kong symbols within the layered components that allude to the city’s constant transformation and enduring identity.

Images 1 and 2 courtesy of Daniel Murray and HKwalls; Image 3 courtesy of Victor Tong and HKwalls.

Tucked away near the intersection of Water Lane and Tai Ping Shan Street, Hong Kong artist Erin Hung has created two blocky artworks inspired by the nostalgic board game Aeroplane Chess, which many Hongkongers of a certain age will remember fondly. Just as players’ pieces are sometimes sent backward while continually trying to move forwards, we all navigate transitions, setbacks and new identities.

Viewers of this mural are encouraged to think about how we move and evolve through life. This idea of movement is also reflected in Tai Ping Shan Street, which has journeyed through several identities over the years and now draws locals seeking leisure and unique experiences. Erin’s interest in typography is evident, with text in various styles – especially the line ‘Look how far you’ve come’, which invites personal reflection on journeys and the strength to forge ahead.

Images courtesy of Victor Tong and HKwalls.

Head to the aptly named Graffiti Lane in Sheung Wan, just off of Hollywood Road, to find a mesmerising piece of street art painted by local artist FEVER. Created as part of the 2024 edition of HKwalls Street Art Festival, this neon-inspired design set against a dark backdrop with specks of shimmering light resembles waves in the night lit up by bioluminescence in the sea. Named ‘Butterfly Effect’, the far right side of the street art features a large monarch butterfly whose body is rendered in a fetching shade of deep blue.

Hollywood Road may boast galleries and art shops but turn one street behind the famous Man Mo Temple to find this floral piece on the corner of Square Street and Tank Lane. This work by award-winning Melbourne-based artist George Rose is known for her vibrant, large-scale murals. Deeply inspired by travel, George documents flora wherever she goes, using it in her artwork as a symbol of the landscapes and cultures she encounters.

For this piece in Hong Kong, she has chosen to paint the flower that best represents our city, the hybrid bauhinia x blakeana, in shades of purple and peach. George will carry this flower into her future works, metaphorically and physically bringing a piece of Hong Kong forward into the world.

Image 1 courtesy of Kyra Campbell and HKwalls; Image 2 courtesy of Daniel Murray and HKwalls; Image 3 courtesy of Victor Tong and HKwalls.

Full of emotional depth, German artist HERA's artwork ‘If I were a hero in a story, I would choose hope and love as my companions’ radiates positivity through its imagery and message, aiming to inspire and uplift its audience.

Images courtesy of Kyra Campbell and HKwalls.

Renowned art collective Innerfields from Berlin, Germany, specialises in combining realism with symbolic imagery and motifs that often reflect the relationship between humans and nature. Head to Wa In Fong East to marvel over their large-scale mural which shows a woman in a spacesuit using a mobile phone – a colourful depiction of the themes of personal space and self-discovery.

Known for his paintings of small people in big cities, Belgian artist Jaune often uses sanitation workers as a central theme for his works. On the exterior wall of the Lan Kwai Fong Hotel, Jaune’s piece showcases a miniature representation of Hong Kong’s urban landscape. Observe closely and you’ll be able to spot workers taking a break amidst the cityscape of high-rise buildings, along with other iconic Hong Kong elements such as bamboo scaffolding, which further adds to his detailed perspective of Hong Kong.

Right across the alley from Erin Hung’s geometric blocks is local artist Joe Ellul’s drastically different mural, consisting of flowing outlines of waves, shells, clouds, branches and plants, clustered together to form a highly intricate work. Inspired by the green neighbourhood and multicultural community of Lamma Island, where he lives, the artist has drawn everything freehand in waterproof marker, referring only to a sketch he does not feel the need to follow.

What resembles a large, bending tree trunk from afar reveals itself to be made up of patterns and flower motifs filled in with thin lines and pen strokes. While colour might have made the piece overwhelming, Joe’s monochrome tones lend it a cool, unfussy vibe.

Images courtesy of Victor Tong and HKwalls.

Located behind the Innerfields mural is a beautiful piece of street art created by French artist Matthieu Antignac, also known as Kogaone. Known for his skillful use of deconstructive techniques to depict realistic human portraits, the artist makes use of contrasting elements such as colours and lines to express his unique form of imperfect beauty. Visit Wa In Fong East in Central and discover this mural situated high up on the stairwell.

Tucked away in the quiet Tai Ping Shan precinct, Rich View Terrace proudly bears a beautiful mural by Los Angeles artist Lauren YS, created as part of the 2023 edition of HKwalls Street Art Festival. A range of female characters are given a distinctively Chinese slant by their elaborate headpieces shaped like traditional pagodas and arches. The whole art piece is foregrounded against a silhouette of mountains and pagodas, strongly featuring lovely shades of periwinkle blue.

Japanese street artist Mon has claimed a section of wall along the stairs of Shin Hing Street to create a swirling piece of blue and purple swirls that brings natural wonders from the great outdoors to the heart of the city. Based in Nara prefecture, famous for its deer, he has included these gentle animals in this fantastical mural. With animals, florals and growing tendrils, his street art nods to the fleeting beauty of change, as well as the lush greenery that lies just outside Hong Kong’s urban sprawl.

Images courtesy of Daniel Murray and HKwalls.

Filipino illustrator Nicole Roquel grew up in Hong Kong and drew on her childhood memories and experiences while creating this colourful, delicate street art that captures the imagination. Stop by 8 Tai On Terrace to be transported into an underwater world of beautiful, strange marine creatures (including a dumbo octopus). Roquel’s piece urges viewers to bravely forge ahead, even when faced with uncertainties.

The star-powered murals on the walls of Hotel Madera Hollywood make this boutique hotel a Central landmark. Hong Kong artist Rob Sketcherman has painted several old-school stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Charlie Chaplin in pop art-like style along with our Hong Kong skyline. It just makes sense that these screen legends should be featured on Hollywood Road! Stop by for a chance to get a selfie with these iconic greats — the best photo spot is actually across the road and slightly to the left of the hotel, where you can capture all the figures in the mural.

Mainland Chinese artist Nut is no stranger to painting murals in Hong Kong, having decorated the city’s streets before. He is the first Chinese artist to use a porcelain-inspired art style in murals, painting figures that resemble glazed pieces of blue and white pottery. From Wyndham Street, look across to the slope of Arbuthnot Road to find his latest work. Swallows – birds commonly found in Hong Kong – are flying towards a serene deer to roost on its branch-like antlers, depicting natural life and beauty. These animals are also auspicious motifs of luck, vitality and growth in Chinese culture, combined to form a delicate art piece that brightens up this corner of Central.

Images courtesy of Daniel Murray and HKwalls.

With a hand that displays clear East Asian influences, Mainland China artist Satr has used spray paint to create a piece of street art that resembles the style of traditional Chinese ink paintings. Her flowing, sinuous fox is tucked away near the top of a flight of stairs on a slope — it’s difficult to spot from a distance and needs to be admired up close. The mural captures Satr’s impression of Hong Kong: an energetic, fresh quality that attracts deeper exploration.

With the theme of children at play, this giant mural on the wall of the Lan Kwai Fong Hotel in Central was created by French artist Seth. Featuring a young boy sitting on a tree swing as he watches a girl fly off into the distance, this simple, adorable artwork is the perfect accompaniment to the surrounding children’s playground where the mural can be viewed, creating a harmonious connection between the art piece and its physical setting.

Head up to the upper part of Aberdeen Street to find a brand-new mural that perfectly matches the watering hole’s metallic, clinical cool. Mainland Chinese artist SEVE brings a touch of his Sichuan home to the fashionable Central district by depicting an anthropomorphic panda dressed in a snazzy zoot suit, with the cityscape in the background. The fiery motifs and burnt orange tones evoke twilight, showcasing both Eastern and Western themes – a clear nod to the culture of Hong Kong.

Images 1 and 2 courtesy of Victor Tong and HKwalls; Image 3 courtesy of Kyra Campbell and HKwalls.

As part of the 2024 edition of HKwalls Street Art Festival, mainland Chinese artist Shaw Daan has painted the outer walls of the Blossom & Beyond clothing boutique. The corner of Hollywood Road and Lyndhurst Terrace is therefore filled with a dynamic mural that features a long-haired woman among clouds and flowers. Infusing this curved wall with a whimsical feeling of flight, Shaw Daan’s mural echoes the bustling traffic that runs along this busy road in the heart of Central.

Japanese actor and singer Shingo Katori, known for being a member of the boy band SMAP, was invited to create a piece of art for Hong Kong’s streets after he visited for filming in 2017. He then spent three consecutive nights painting the corner of Shelley Street and Hollywood Road, finishing the graffiti piece within 18 hours. Drawn freehand directly under a section of the Central–Mid-Levels escalator, it features old-school Hong Kong junks, multi-coloured bauhinia flowers, and other Hong Kong motifs — together, these elements form an abstract image of a dragon.

Created by Spanish artist Victoriano, this mural perfectly complements the lively and bustling streets of Sheung Wan with the motifs of people and printing presses. What makes this piece extra special is that you can view it through an augmented reality platform on your mobile phone, where you can interact and admire the piece in new and dynamic ways. In particular, the moving images of the printing press slowly coming back to life makes this piece truly unique. If you want to try it out, download the mobile app to view Victoriano’s artwork in full animated glory.

South Korean artist XEVA, who painted the famous Bruce Lee mural that used to be on Tank Lane, has once again graced Hong Kong’s walls with his work. A pod of joyful dolphins has taken over the Asian-inspired women that were on the walls of Sheung Wan’s Square Street, bringing a distinctly cheerful vibe to this quiet precinct above Hollywood Road. These intelligent animals are joyfully leaping through waves, and the happy atmosphere is enhanced by the bright, cheerful colours. Take a closer look and see if you can spot the rainbow.

Images courtesy of Daniel Murray and HKwalls.

Shanghai-based Guangdong artist Zelam Lim is known for melding graffiti techniques with Eastern art motifs. For his piece along Sham Ka Lane in Central, he has chosen to focus on flowers. Chinese hibiscus and white magnolia – often seen in Hong Kong – are depicted along their life cycles from bud to full bloom. This lane off Aberdeen Street leads to the quiet oasis of Pak Tsz Lane Park, and strolling along Lim’s array of blooming florals can help visitors unwind and soak in some of nature’s delights.

Images 1 and 2 courtesy of Daniel Murray and HKwalls; Image 3 courtesy of Victor Tong and HKwalls.