If you didn’t already get the chance, read my brief history of the important points of George Town’s past to get an idea as to why this colonial city and UNESCO World Heritage site is suddenly filled with modern street art. 

I did a few of the touristy things in George Town, but wandering down random alleyways in search of hidden artwork proved to be some of the most fun I have ever had exploring a city. Some of it was 3D, allowing for an interactive experience. Some of them were murals that took up the entire sides of old buildings, making you stop in your tracks in awe. A few of them I was able to find the stories behind. Many of them told their stories just in the illustration. This is nowhere near a complete list of all the marvelous art to be found in George Town. You’ll just have to visit for yourself to see what other pieces I missed (I suspect a lot). 

Ernest Zacharevic

It all started with Ernest Zacharevic, a tourist from Lithuania who had been painting mural’s in his home country’s capital city where it was illegal to do so. The murals were always washed away and painted over as soon as they went up. Not phased by the misconduct of his hobby, he decided to practice his talents on the walls of Penang, and was surprised to find that even the police officers would give him a thumb’s up as they passed by.

Zacharevic’s artwork became so famous, that in 2012, the George Town Festival commissioned him to create several pieces for the ‘Mirrors George Town’ project.

The boy on the motorcycle looks like he’s running away from something, doesn’t he? What could it possibly be? The answer is the artwork piece I most wanted to see in the city, and after five days of wandering the streets looking at murals, I realized that I still hadn’t come across it. So on my last evening, with one hour left to myself before meeting up with friends for dinner, I made the decision to go on one last whirlwind run around the city streets in search of this piece that I just had to see. It was dark by the time I found it, but fate drew me down one last empty alleyway, and there it was hiding in the shadows.

Julia Volchkova

Julia Volchkova is another famous artist who has graced the city streets with her talent. One of her most famous murals commemorates the maritime history behind the street it is on, Stewart Lane.

The Rise of George Town’s Street Art

The popularity of the artwork in George Town by well-known artists, led to many others soon following suite. Some commissioned, some not. Some of the artwork is signed by the artist. Some is anonymous. Scroll through to see some of the fabulous street art that has followed in the footsteps of Zacharevic.

Interactive Art

Some of the art inspires a level of interactiveness, whether that is due to 3d aspects in addition to the murals, or the presence of empty space to play along with the characters in the paintings. Scroll through to see a few examples of George Town’s more interactive artwork. Photo credit for these lovely images goes to my friend, Sanne.

Inside Businesses

The artwork and murals slowly taking over the city have even spread to the insides of shops and restaurants, so be sure to wander into some businesses to see if there is any more artwork to be found! The business owners are usually happy to have you inside taking photos, (and hopeful that the artwork will inspire a purchase).

Non-Murals

The creativity in the city extends beyond the walls of buildings. Artfully decorated walkways and satirical flyers can also be spotted along the streets.

Visiting the Street Art

If you are wondering where to find all of this creative artwork, a simple Google search can lead to a multitude of articles with interactive maps pinning the locations of many of the most popular pieces. Information centers and hotels also have maps that detail the art’s whereabouts. I have opted not to provide the locations of any of these, because I thoroughly enjoyed searching the streets for them myself. George Town is a perfectly safe and hassle-free city to explore.

Alternatively, if you get weary of walking around, hire a trishaw (bicycle rickshaw) driver to show you around for an hour. They know where all the most famous murals are located. Haggle a price prior to riding; the rate should be around $10 for one hour.