Glasgow graffiti you’ve simply got to see!

Glasgow graffiti is renowned for its gorgeous colours, unique designs and sheer size. A  wide variety of graffiti and street art styles to be found throughout the city. Some of the most well-known areas for street art in Glasgow include the city center, the West End, and the East End. The city has a long history of graffiti and street art, dating back to the 1980s when the city was known for the punk and new wave music scenes. 

Glasgow’s street art scene is its celebration of local culture and history. Many street art pieces in the city are inspired by issues like inequality, gentrification, and environmentalism. These works often make powerful statements about the state of the world and the need for change.

In recent years, Glasgow has become a hub for international street artists, with many artists from around the world coming to the city to create murals and installations. This has helped to further diversify the city’s street art scene, and has given rise to a number of exciting collaborations and events.

If you happen to be visiting, we suggest checking out the local graffiti in Glasgow.

The World's Most Economical Taxi by Rogue One
The World’s Most Economical Taxi by Rogue One via Flickr

1. The World’s Most Economical Taxi by Rogue One

“The World’s Most Economical Taxi” was originally a street art installation by the anonymous artist known as Rogue One. The installation consists of a wooden taxi cab mounted on a pole, with a bicycle wheel attached to the bottom. The installation is meant to be a comment on the high cost of taxi rides, as well as the environmental impact of traditional taxis.

Rogue One has also created a mural version of the artwork in Glasgow, Scotland. The mural is notable not only for its size but also for its location. High Street is a busy thoroughfare in Glasgow’s historic center, and the mural is a prominent and eye-catching addition to the area.

 

The Glasgow Panda by Smug
The Glasgow Panda by Smug via Scottish Tours

2. The Glasgow Panda by Smug

“The Glasgow Panda” is a large-scale street art mural in Glasgow, Scotland, created by the Australian artist Smug. The mural features a giant panda in intricate detail, with its fur, eyes, and facial features rendered in stunning realism. The panda is shown lounging against a brick wall, with a serene expression on its face. The mural covers the entire side of a building in the city’s west end, and has become a popular attraction for both locals and visitors to the area.

Smug is known for his hyper-realistic style and attention to detail, and the glasgow graffiti panda is a prime example of his artistry. The mural took several days to complete and involved a meticulous process of sketching, painting, and fine-tuning to achieve the final result.

 

The Three Faces by Klingatron
The Three Faces by Klingatron via Art UK

3. The Three Faces by Klingatron

Klingatron completed ‘The Three Faces’  in 2016, since then it has become a popular attraction to Glasgow’s street art scene.

The mural depicts three faces in psychedelic colors, with unique patterns and designs that create a sense of movement and energy. Each face is fairly distinct, with its own personality and expression.

The mural is located in the Finnieston neighborhood, and has become a popular spot for locals and visitors to take photos and admire the artwork. Klingatron’s work often explores themes of identity, diversity, and the human experience, and is known for its intricate details and bright colors.

St. Mungo by Smug
St. Mungo by Smug via The Herald Scotland

4. St. Mungo by Smug

The artwork by Smug shows St. Mungo holding a robin in one hand and a bell in the other, with his arms outstretched. The robin is said to be a reference to one of the miracles attributed to St. Mungo, in which he restored a bird to life. The bell is another reference to one of his miracles, in which he was said to have miraculously recovered a stolen bell.

The mural is located on High Street in Glasgow, and covers the entire side of a building, creating a stunning visual impact on the surrounding area. The level of detail in the artwork is characteristic of Smug’s style, which is known for its hyper-realistic depictions of people and animals.

St. Mungo is an important figure in Glasgow’s history and is known for founding the city’s first church in the 6th century. He is also credited with performing several miracles, which have become part of Glasgow’s folklore and mythology.

The Clutha by Rogue One and Art Pistol
The Clutha by Rogue One and Art Pistol via Art Pistol Projects

5. The Clutha by Rogue One and Art Pistol

​​”The Clutha” is a large-scale street art mural in Glasgow, Scotland, created by the collaborative duo of Rogue One and Art Pistol. The mural was unveiled in 2019, marking the fifth anniversary of the Clutha Vaults tragedy, a helicopter crash that occurred in 2013 and claimed the lives of ten people.

The mural covers the entire side of a building near the site of the Clutha Vaults pub, which was destroyed in the helicopter crash. The artwork features famous faces relevant to the area and the history of the pub. These include: Spike Milligan, Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty, Alex Harvey, Frank Zappa, Jimmy Reid, John Martyn, Glenda Jackson, Rupert Everett and finally David Hayman.