40 Enchanting Street Murals in Oaxaca City

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Dive in for a peek at the incredible and abundant street art of Oaxaca City, Mexico. Pick a favorite and go discover some for yourself!

*Bienvenidxs a Oaxaca.* “Welcome to Oaxaca.”

Oaxaca is known for its talented artists, indigenous culture, nature, and social justice protests. These facets are beautifully captured in the abundant murals and prints scattered across the walls of the city. I was captivated with the color, vibrancy, and power of their messages.

mural with shapes and stylized jaguars and snake

Where to Find It

There is no one neighborhood in which to look for street art – it can surprise you around any corner or inside any doorway. Many of these photos were taken in the western portion of the city, but also along walks in Jalatlaco, Xochimilco, and from the Centro down to the huge market in the southwest, Mercado Central de Abastos. This is just a small sampling of the art that is out there, so don’t worry, there is plenty more to discover! Part of the joy of exploring the city is finding new murals in unexpected places.

cheeseburger in clouds, angels in devil masks — Sometimes art is at lunch. A burger mural inside El Quinque Restaurant on Miguel Hidalgo.

If you want a fun and different way to see the murals, you can take a bicycle street art tour from Coyote Aventuras to see some great pieces and get background on their history and that of the city.

sweeping, colorful mural on a brick wall by a cobbled street — Sprawling mural in Xochimilco neighborhood.

Culture and Identity

Much of Oaxaca’s art celebrates Mexican culture, ancestors, and indigenous identity.

mural of decorated heart, corn, and woman weaving yarn

mural with stylized traditional god over village

black and white painting of old lady with a skeleton face, large hat, petting dogs — *Dia de los Muertos*. Iconic images of the Day of the Dead. Oaxaca is famous for its celebration of this Mexican holiday in early November.

small painting of a woman on the wall of Casa Taviche

Protest

The explosion of Oaxacan street art has its roots in protest – following a 2006 teacher’s strike with a state response that turned deadly, art collectives, notably the Assembly of Revolutionary Artists of Oaxaca (ASARO), used their artistic talents to express their point of view, in public, on the streets. The tradition continues today with socially and politically-themed screen prints pasted up around the city, seeding alternate views for as long as they are allowed to remain. (For more background, check out this article.)