Patras’ International Street Art Festival | ArtWalk, returned fresh, with new ideas, for the fifth time in Patras, Greece and filled the city with color, our daily life with optimism, the public space with messages and will "keep our heads looking high” again. 

ArtWalk 5, as every year, true to its vision, has invited street artists from all around the world and started on June 15th 2020 with a surprise mural. The street artists activate the city with their artistic mark, giving it a new dynamic and a unique contemporary character, through art and extroversion. Modern creations are seen by the citizens and the passers-by of Patras throughout July, September, and October 2020. 

Street artists’ participation in the festival’s OPEN CALL surpassed every initial expectation once again this year, with the applications approaching the number of 100 and the participants representing both Greece and many foreign countries. Indicatively, entries were recorded from United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Belarus, Poland, Latvia, France, Spain, Canary Islands, Portugal, Italy, Serbia, Ukraine, Romania, Cyprus, Algeria, China, Australia, Canada, USA, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, proving yet another year the prestige of the Festival. 

This year's artists who leave their personal touch, by creating murals on selected walls of Patras are: Andrea Casciu, Asier Vera Maceiras, Dourone, Drew Merrit, Edmon1419, Jay Kaes, Leandro Bustamante, NSN997 Crew, Siguel and Silver Formz. 

A celebration of Greek modern history and culture

The first mural of this year's festival is dedicated to the 100th birthday of Melina Mercouri, a Greek symbol with a huge contribution in the field of culture of the country. An intense and much-discussed personality, of urban origin, whose life would surely be characterized by passion and disarming honesty. 

In difficult times, art, history, and culture light our way and lead us forward. 

This special mural is characterized by strong symbolism, historicity, but also "hidden elements", while it is a group work by Art in Progress’ team, under the artistic guidance and painting execution of the artistic director of ArtWalk, Kleomenis Kostopoulos (KLE). 

The mural is located at the junction of Archiepiskopou Kirillou and Themistokleous streets in Patras and several national media have already highlighted the issue with tributes and special interest. 

The year 2020 is dedicated to Melina Mercouri by the Ministry of Culture.

NSN997

The two members of the famous artistic group, NSN997, were creating for 5 days, with feverish rhythms, in order to deliver to the urban fabric of Patras another large-scale mural. The wall at 30 Voreiou Epirou Str. in Patras is now adorned by one of the characteristic creations of the team. 

"KNOWLEDGE BELONGS TO EVERYONE" is written on the mural and, in this way, NSN997 want to honor the entire scientific community of the past, but also the scientists who have been fighting relentlessly in recent months to limit the pandemic that is affecting the whole world. 

"We believe that during this tough moment, only the scientific community can save us. However, the value of the discovery of the vaccine does not belong to the big pharmaceutical companies, it belongs to everyone, freely, and to the whole scientific community", they characteristically express their opinion.

Explore Athens’ Street Art Scene 

JAY KAES

Street artist, Jay Kaes, who lives and works in London, has created another impressive large-scale mural in the urban fabric of Patras. The wall of the apartment building at 5 Molaon Str. in Patras, is now adorned with one of his characteristic colourful creations. 

The child with the colourful clothes who plays happily and looks down, "hangs out" with the other children of the Ionian Square, who gather every afternoon and fill the whole neighbourhood with voices, laughter, and joy. Jay Kaes is inspired by the neighbourhood of the Ionian Square and the colors that exist on the square and creates a work that is in complete harmony with the surrounding environment. 

As he characteristically states: "What I enjoy the most is the ability of art to empower, motivate people and change their ways of thinking by opening a conversation or by creating emotions."

The artist himself has a surprise in store for us, as, through our mobile devices and the application Artivive, we will be able to "wake up" the child and play together!

EDMON1419

Inspired by the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, EDMON1419 wanted to honor one of the most important composers of the classical music repertoire by creating a work of art at 90 Geor. Olympiou Street in Patras, that would be in complete harmony with its surroundings.

"While researching the theme of the festival about Beethoven, I discovered many fascinating facts, but only one of them tied the theme itself to the surroundings of the wall. ‘The Creatures of Prometheus’, one of the unique ballets composed by Beethoven, is considered a very important work in his career and is associated with the beauties of Greek mythology", the artist himself characteristically tells ArtWalk.

EDMON1419, having 10 years of experience in street art, has participated in many international festivals, while he has collaborated and "decorated" with his characteristic works many companies, both in Cyprus and London, and has contributed significantly to the familiarization of children and adolescents with the art of graffiti in Cyprus, through his teaching in public and private schools. 

ArtWalk 5 is co-organized by: the Region of Western Greece,  the warm help of the gold sponsors: Chrysanthopoulos S.A. (Patras’ company of lifting machines) and VECHRO (Greek paint industry) and of the big sponsor: Coffeebrands (Patras’ coffee chain).

More information about the organization and its actions can be found on the website www.artinprogress.eu, on Facebook (Art In Progress) (ArtWalk) or on instagram (artinprogress.patras) (artwalk_festival).