Oviedo is a city in the north of Spain with a number of street art murals. Many have been created as part of the Parees Mural Festival. The artworks are spread out across the city and in surrounding smaller towns and villages.
A smaller local mural festival, Parees Fest presents a selection of artists each year to paint in the area. Often the artists will have been asked to consider the local culture as well as the history and tradition of the region. Many will also engage with the local population. Eventually coming up with something that is not only unique but which also has a connection to the area.
So far six Parees Fest’s have been held with a total of 37 artists taking part over the six years from 2017 to 2022. Generally across each festival there will be a mix of regional, national and more international artists. However, although the majority, other artworks can also be found in Oviedo.
Mural Maps of Oviedo Street Art
Street Art Cities – Public Map of Street Art in Oviedo and Surrounds
Inspiring City – Map separated by Festival Year
2022 Festival
Mariana Duarte Santos (Portugal)
Portuguese artist Mariana Duarte Santos created a mural dedicated to the greengrocers of Fontán and their ancestral trade. The result shows the strength of the gaze of one of the women heading to the square every week to sell products from her garden. Based on an image taken in 1968 it has been taken from the collection of photographer Francisco Ruiz Tilve. During her stay in Oviedo, Mariana was able to meet Ruiz Tilve’s family, as well as the greengrocers themselves who currently maintain this local tradition.
Nieve Sita (Spain / Asturias)
Asturian artist Nieve Sita is the artistic name for Nieves González. She has summed up the popular Asturian proverb “Si tien arreglu, s’arreglará. Si nun lu tien, arregláu ta” (“if it can be fixed, it will be fixed, if it can’t be fixed, then fixed it is”). The two parts of the saying surround two countrywomen sitting on chairs and holding hands. Sita’s mural replaces a previous work from Kruella D’Enfer originally painted in 2018.
Samir Toumi (Morocco)
A family dressed in traditional costume against a backdrop of colour. This is the work of Moroccan artist Samir Toumi who recreated the image from a photograph arranged by Asturian designer Constantino Menéndez. The colours of the mural are inspired by Samir’s native Sahara yet also care has been taken to blend in with the surrounding buildings. “I am a collection of moments, but everything I have is this instant” says Samir about his work.
Taxi (Greece)
Taxis is the artistic name of Dimitris Trimintzios. Born in Poland and raised in Greece, he has centered his mural on the bicycle as an icon of children’s play. Local children also contributed their ideas with drawings which Taxis was able to take inspiration. Covering three walls, one is dedicated to the tricycle whilst another to the bike with training wheels. The final wall is a mixture of handlebars, wheels and saddles. The piece itself sits just above a childrens play area in a local park.
2021 Festival
Alba Fabre Sacristan (Spain)
Catalan artist Alba Fabre Sacristan’s impressionist mural features two “Sidros” captured in full jump. Depicting an Asturian tradition the “Sidros” take part in the ‘Mascarada de Invierno‘ a celebration of the year. Traditionally an activity undertaken by men some some women can now also take part as of 2019. A costume is worn and the wearer will jump, dance, make noise with cowbells and offer improvised sarcastic comedy about what happened in the village during the year.
Emily Eldridge (USA)
For the 5th edition of Parees Fest American artist Emily Eldridge created a colourful mural showing a ‘modern pilgrim’ walking happily along the primitive Camino de Santiago. It’s a route that starts in Oviedo and which leads pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela. It offers an alternative to the busier and better known French route crossing the regions of Asturias and Galicia.
Foni Ardao (Spain / Asturias)
Taking inspiration from Asturian literature, Foni Ardao gives us a scene from ‘Montesin’ by Maria Josefa Canellada. The book tells the story of Montesin, a lost goat and the children who find and look after him. In the mural we can see the goat in the arms of the girl whilst the boy plays the guitar. Surrounded by nature and heated by a fire it conveys a mural full of peace and sweetness. Foni added to his mural a tribute to his mother, Margarita, who died a year prior. It is represented by the flower bearing her name in the girl’s hair.
Luogo Comune (Italy)
Italian artist Luogo Comune painted a huge mural dedicated to Oviedo for the 5th edition of Parees Fest. The inspiration was taken from personal testimonies. These were the stories of dozens of people who participated in the design of the mural by answering the question “What do you think makes the city of Oviedo special?”
Curated by Parees Fest and the ‘City Council’s Citizen Participation Area’ the answers were given to the artist. Comune then composed a work which combined the core themes within it. The final mural incorporates history, nature, the pre-Romanesque past and local geography.
2020 Festival
Harsa Pati (Spain)
Inspired by a traditional fairy tale from Asturias. Harsa Pati aka Arantxa Recio had heard it from local writer and storyteller Milo del Nido. The tale itself called was called ‘The Cold Dead Lamb’. Representing the story through the characters of a woman and a lamb. The mural itself is made up of both figurative and symbolic elements. “I have reduced the history to the essential elements” says Harsa. “I have tried to tell the story as it should be told and I have done it through light and colour”. Her finished piece spans 50 metres long and covers a wall by the German Fernandez Ramos Public School.
Lidia Cao (Spain)
Dedicated to local writer Dolores Medio. Lidia Cao’s work celebrates the literary work of Dolores. A victim of censorship she lived through the Franco regime. She is seen typing whilst two vultures observe. The shadows of the vultures reveal men with hats standing behind. According to Cao she was “a brave fighter and revolutionary woman. Always with her typewriter, tie and short hair. Carrying literature where it was needed. She would carry a shopping cart full of books, mailing to those who did not have easy access to them”.
Manolo Mesa (Spain)
A mural paying homage to the abandoned crockery factory of San Claudio. As part of the preparation the Parees team asked locals to take pictures of their old San Claudio pieces. Images of plates, teapots, trays and cups were received alongside the stories behind them. Manolo Mesa, an artist known for his large scale depiction of crockery, then visited the homes of the people. Determined to find out more about the history and also to photograph the pieces for the composition that would find its way onto the wall.
Manu Garcia (Spain / Asturias)
Painted onto the wall of the El Milan College Campus. This piece for the Parees Festival 4th edition is from Manu Garcia. A tribute to the festivals of Prao and La Folixa, two very popular local summer events. His work to learn more about the traditions of the area led him to visit the photographic archives of Asturias. A local himself, he also drew on his own memories of life growing up in the area.
2019 Festival
Catalina Rodriguez Villazon (Spain / Asturias)
Local artist Catalina Rodriguez Villazon pays tribute to the the legacy of scientist Margarita Salas with her work. The first time the artist has really painted a mural outdoors, Salas is a leader in the field of biochemistry and molecular genetics.
Hedof & Joren Joshua (Netherlands)
From the Netherlands Hedof and Joren Joshua combined for the first time to paint at the Parees Festival. The wall pays homage to traditional sports in the Asturias region. Most specifically in this mural, the Basque rural sport of Aizkolaritza or ‘woodchopping’.
Matt Velvet (France)
‘Les Indes Noires’ or ‘Child of the Cavern’ is a piece created by French artist Matth Velvet. It comes from the title of the Jules Verne novel published in 1877. A homage to the mining background of the village of Olloniego. He used old photographs and conversations with some of the neighbours to get an sense of the history of the area. The mine in Olloneigo was finally closed in 1993.
Mina Hamada
Barcelona based Mina Hamada based her work on the illustrations of animals and plants drawn by children in two local schools. She has re-interpreted those drawings at the Parees Festival to create a colourful and imaginative world full of fantasy and fun.
Udatxo (Spain)
A local artist from the Basque Country, Udane Juaristi goes by the street name of Udatxo. Her piece at the Parees Festival is painted onto the side of the Bar Guillen. A family business first opened in 1921 it would become a centrepiece of the local area. Working from old photographs as a reference, Udatxo places herself in the scene. Strolling by and observing a time from years past.
2018 Festival
Alfalfa
Focusing his work around the idea of magical and mythological beings. Alfalfa’s work in the Ronda Sur of Oviedo takes inspiration from Asturian mythology. His mural is of ‘The Xana’, half woman, half snake. It is one of the areas best known characters.
Andrea Ravo Mattoni
Inspired by the great masters. Andrea Ravo Mattoni has taken a work from Spanish artist Velazquez and placed it at a road intersection. His aim being one of democtractising art and taking works into the public domain. With his own background in graffiti he uses spray paint to do just that. Often associated with graffiti he wants to turn the medium on it’s head. In some way de-stigmatising the use of spray paint by creating works more akin to the old masters. For his work at Parees Fest 2017 he took after ‘The Triumph of Bacchus’. A piece originally created in 1629 and kept in the Prado Museum.
Colectivo Licuado (Liquefied Collective) (Uruguay)
Two Uruguayan artists, Florence and Camilo, their work focuses on what makes us human. Their murals are inspired by real lives and the cultures of different peoples. For the 2018 festival their mural revolved around a group of female Tamborine Players. Calling themselves ‘Nun Tamos Toes’ they had been using their group and music to talk about feminist issues. This as well as celebrating their own friendship as well as their own local culture and musical history.
Working with each member they were photographed holding their instruments in front of their faces. The idea being that when represented on the wall it would become a testament both the rhythm of the music and the teamwork of the group. Called Las Panderateras (The Tambourines) many of the women said that once finished they recognised themselves. Not because their faces were visible but simply due to the way that they held their tambourines.
Kruella d’Enfer (Portugal)
Kruella d’Enfer’s painting for the 2018 festival was image of a bear outlined against a colourful abstract landscape. The bear is an important symbol of Asturias and just outside Oviedo is the famous Senda del Oso or the “Bear Trail’. Speaking about the work she said that she wanted to pay homage to the animal and to the beauty that surrounds Oviedo. As of 2022 however, the mural is no longer there. Replaced by a piece from Nieve Sita.
Mural Project with Over 65’s
A workshop managed by Raposu Roxu with the aim of exploring collective memory. The resulting piece stands at the foot of stairs leading into the Jardines de la Rodriga. It shows a family scene against a pink background along with some quotes.
Roc Blackbook
A mural in Trubia, a village on the outskirts of Oviedo. Called ‘Forging Community’ Roc Blackbook’s mural was created as part of the 2018 Parees Festival. An industrial area, it remembers the towns role in weapons manufacture and in particular, the centenary of the ‘Trubia Casino’. Created by the towns weapons factory, it was a space of leisure and music. As such the mural features people from this time taken from archival photographs. Many holding instruments they sit as if waiting to play. The image contrasts starkly with a painting of a glowing forge pouring metal just below.
Taquen
A wall already designed to be faded has faded even more. To the extent that you’ve really got to know this mural exists to make out the faint outlines of wolves. Created as part of the 2018 Parees Fest the work focuses on Asturian wildlife threatened with extinction. Choosing to work with the image of the wolf. The faded feel to the work (even without years of weathering) gives the impression of impermanance.
Twee Muzien (Spain)
A tribute to Leopoldo Alas Clarín, a Spanish author and literary critic. He worked at the Universities of Zaragoza and Oviedo and wrote ‘De el la Regenta‘ in 1884. A book now considered a key work of Spanish literature. He died in 1901 and is buried in Oviedo. The mural was painted as part of the 2018 festival by Cris and Denis, artists from villages near Santiago de Compostela. Meeting abroad at University in the Netherlands the name Twee Muzien comes from that time and means’Two Mice‘.
XAV (Spain / Asturias)
A tribute to Tino Casal in the little village of Tudela Veguin just outside of Oviedo. A multi-disciplinary artist, Casal was from the village. Created by XAV he worked with the local neighbourhood association and the family of Tino to create the portrait.
2017 Festival
Agostino Iacurci
Sadly Agostino Iacurci’s delicate portrayal of an Apple Tree is no more. Painted over, the wall that was created in 2017 is now just a plain yellow. The idea for his original work coming from the name of the district ‘Pumarin’. Speaking with neighbours about the area he learnt that this district of the city once was an orchard. Titling the work ‘Pumar’ it derives from the Latin word Pomum that came to mean ‘Apple Tree’ or ‘Apple’.
Anna Taratiel (Spain)
A bright multi-coloured mural which evokes the ‘Centralila de Hidrocantabrico’ power plant in Ciudad Naranco. Demolished at the beginning of the century this was despite local opposition. Anna Taratiels work places a gemetric and abstract spin on the memories of the place. Working with local people she re-imagined the plant on the wall. She describes her work as being ‘metaphorical reflections‘ on a landscape. Expressing these through ‘geometrical abstractions’ which then provoke memories of a place.
associateART (Spain / Asturias)
Still going but filling up with throw ups and tags. This collaborative piece underneath a road bridge was created in 2017 by artistic association AssociateART. Created in 2010 the idea is to put young artists and creatives together to help spread urban culture. The piece as part of Parees Fest 2017 features work from artists Nino, Eleman and Xav.
Bastian Prendes (Spain / Asturias)
Prendes work for the 2017 festival showed a comic Greek inspired scene. Featuring Poseidon potentially with Athena they are set amidst the rocks of the breaking ocean. A local artist, Bastian Prendes work was originally inspired by comic books. Originally situated near to the Ronda Sur the piece is no longer available to see having been painted over.
Bitxo (Spain / Asturias)
Exploring the idea of identity in a playful way. Bitxo is a local artist whose wall surrounds a childrens play area with lot of different images of people. It was created as part of a collaboration with people in the Ciudad Naranco.
Creature
La Creature are an art association with headquarters in Langroe. Created in 2015 to promote all aspects of urban culture including graffiti and mural painting. The work as part of the 2017 Parees Festival featured work from three artist, Hosk, Jalos and SKF. Over the years the work has seen some changes and weathered somewhat. But still as of 2024 some core bits remain.
Elisa Capdevila
A young mother kisses her baby. This wall from Elisa Capdevila captures a special moment and shows the bond between mother and child. Created for the 2017 Parees Fest it has stood the test of time, positioned on the side of a busy road. It adds a touch of calm to the built environment around it.
Paint Pressure
A big wall in front of a childrens play area. Paint Pressure is an association wanting to blend graffiti style artworks with the local community. For the 2017 Parees Fest, their wall compliments the play area. Transforming the bland concrete space into something for more appealing. Their large scale mural a mix of shape and geometric ideas. Amazingly still there albeit faded in 2024 it was created by BRUS, DemeseOne and Sonek.
Spogo
Inspired by architecture and the built environment. Spogo’s work sits just behind the main Oviedo bus station. Though first painted in 2017 the weather has certainly worn it over the years. He likes the idea of complimenting the building with his artworks.
Susie Hammer (Poland)
A bright orange fox guarding the entrance to a road tunnel. Created in 2017 it lasted until 2023 when the wall on which it was painted was demolished. Revealing another road tunnel behind. Photographed in March 2024 there was a tiny bit left. Just the nose on the section between the two roads. Susie Hammer is the author of several childrens books. Her worlds are happy and carefree. Deciding on the fox for the 2017 festival, she researched the wildlife of the Asturian region. Settling on the fox as she imagined that the road tunnel would be the entrance to its little den.
Luc Bueno & Nikita Rodriguez
A wall created as part of an open call. The two artists combined to create a piece full of strange characters living in their own abstract world.
More Street Art in Oviedo
Encarna Diaz Velasco – Camino
A piece commissioned by the local council to commemorate the Primitivo Camino. This is the version of the Camino de Santiago which runs through Oviedo. Completed in 2021 it is painted onto the underside of a concrete seating platform.
Bastian Prendes – Chameleon
Local artist Bastian Prendes has painted a large scale mural of a chameleon. Seemingly perched on a reed of some sort which rises up from a lake. Under the water are piranhas all of whom seem to be waiting for the chameleon to fall. It’s an older piece from 2018 though most is still visible despite some flaking render
El Puente
A large scale mural of a steam train passing over a bridge. The piece covers four different walls in total making the piece the largest mural in Oviedo. Despite this it’s not certain who it is by.
The Street Art and Murals of Oviedo were visited between 22 March 2024 and 1 April 2024. All photographs in this piece are by Inspiring City except were noted. With thanks to the organisers and artists of Parees Fest.
