Hong Kong boasts an impressive urban art scene, with sprawling murals livening up alleyways and storefronts across the city. Whether you want to explore a new part of Hong Kong or simply add some colour to your Instagram feed, here are six works of street art that celebrate the city’s culture and identity.
1. PMQ, Central
Known for his nature-inspired works, Dutch artist Amok Island has crafted a vibrant mural of a leopard cat on an outer wall of creative centre PMQ. Made up of geometric shapes and minimal strokes, the painting represents Hong Kong’s only wild feline, the leopard cat. Its piercing gaze and bold patterns create a striking image among the lush trees that skirt the wall – a speck of wilderness in the heart of the city.
2. Lan Kwai Fong Hotel, Central
Complete with lines of laundry and air conditioning units, Belgian artist Jaune has constructed a scene of a Hong Kong street on the facade of this hotel. As a nod to his previous work as a garbage collector in Belgium, Jaune’s painting includes a depiction of sanitation workers chatting on benches. His signature technique of layering stencils creates bold shadows that make the scene seem like it could come to life at any moment.
3. Lantau Island
The Flock Project, founded by Dominic Johnson-Hill, spotlights Hong Kong’s native and migratory birds through paintings on abandoned village homes. Created by British artist Rob Aspire, many murals now dot Lantau Island’s alleyways and trails, and the colourful, expressive birds stand out against the run-down houses they are painted on. If you make a trek to Lantau Island, make sure not to miss this artsy scavenger hunt.
4. Fook Yuen Leather Factory, Peng Chau
If you walk down Wing On Street, you will find an abandoned leather factory whose walls are exploding with colourful shapes and swirls of graffiti. Wandering through the path will bring you to an ever-changing art installation full of upcycled structures and quirky paintings. The transformed industrial site pays homage to Hong Kong’s rich history and enlivens it with fresh creativity.
5. Cadogan Street, Kennedy Town
Irish artist Aches painted this mural using his signature technique of mimicking chromatic aberration, a distortion that creates outlines of different colours. The overlapping colours and shapes bring the lion dance’s movements to life. The lion appears to be in action – passionately jumping or twirling. This hypnotic, energetic mural is a nod to Hong Kong’s lion dances, a traditional performance during celebrations to symbolise luck and prosperity.
6. Kwun Tong Promenade, Kowloon
As part of the “Lift Up Kowloon East” project, 30 characters are plastered on columns under the Kwun Tong Bypass. By depicting people from different time periods – such as workers making salt or plastic flowers – architect Derrick Leong and designer Annie Long aim to showcase the district’s history and diversity. Passers-by can scan an image’s QR code to activate a photo filter that allows them to take photos as the character.
