Admiring the street art murals in Amman, Jordan.
Have you witnessed the graffiti art phenomenon in the old white city?
One of the best things to do when visiting new destinations, is to explore the uniqueness of the different cultures that contribute towards a city’s character. Global street art murals are one interesting aspect of every city, which paint a picture of the city’s vibes and energy. The street art murals in Amman do not disappoint, as they captivate the artistic side of an ancient city, which is continuously rising in modernity.
A movement has been in place for several years now to transform old parts of Amman into more appealing colourful neighbourhoods. Rainbow Street is the benchmark, which is filled with colourful street decor, quirky buildings and themed cafes & restaurants. This is usually the first spot that tourists will visit when arriving in the Jordanian capital, however, other parts of Amman are now just as intriguing as the growing number of cultural murals draw attention.
This blog includes some famous, colourful and quirky street art murals from Amman, along with an Amman street art mural map, to help you to go and discover the artistic magic that now covers some of the previously dull buildings, with an expression of the local Jordanian & Palestinian culture.
As we explore the Street art murals in Amman, we can learn about the rise in street art throughout the city, as respect rises for the cultural murals.
This is a great addition to the start of your Jordan trip!
Lets see how the Amman graffiti compares to other murals from around the world.
The Column Street Art Mural in Amman, Jordan.
The ‘Column’ street art mural by Jofre Oliveras & Dalal Mitwally.
Global street art murals usually tell a fascinating story about a city, and their underlying culture. The most interesting Street art in Amman is the famous mega mural named ‘The Column’, which can be seen from various points in the city, and most notably on top of the citadel hill overlooking downtown.
Arguably the most famous street art in Jordan, this 90 foot high cultural mural adds colour to an otherwise bland area, full of beige buildings and old sites.
The mural story depicts a local man carrying the crown of an Nabatean column, from the ancient rock-cut city of Petra, Jordan’s most famous archaeological site.
This is just one aspect of Petra’s history which can be leaned through art.
The two global street artists, Jofre Oliveras and Dalal Mitwally did a splendid job of linking Jordan’s historic past with its bright future, through dressing the man in modern clothes, but whilst wearing traditional headwear.
Although the finished project turned out to be an amazing piece of art, there was a debate over the stature of the man, with local authorities insisting the man was to be a robust figure, signifying the strength of the local people. The man’s determined facial expression solidifies this.
Learning about a city’s history through art is a fascinating way of gaining insight into how different cultures have shaped global history over the centuries.
The Column Street Art Mural appears as we make our way down from the citadel towards the Roman Theatre.
When did the street art mural movement start in Amman?
Street art murals in Amman have only recently been accepted within the last decade, as the Jordanian people attempt to brighten up a previously dull city, and Jordan becomes a more popular choice with tourists. Following other MENA countries such as Lebanon and Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan allowed artistic expression to flow through the city during the Arab Spring.
What used to be classed as vandalism, all of a sudden became a respected way of expressing the local culture, furthermore, drawing in global tourists. Graffiti in Amman started to pop up everywhere in the city, at a rapid rate, as the dull areas were brightened up. The Amman street art didn’t just stop at building murals, as all aspects of the different neighbourhoods were touched up with a bit of quirkiness. Stairs, fences and roads were all improved and decorated as part of the colourful project.
The artistic lure for visitors is now apparent, as they flock to notable spots such as Rainbow Street and other famous downtown locations to grab a selfie with the graffiti art, and try to capture the perfect Instagram shot.
This makes for a great free activity in Amman.
If you are only in Amman for a day trip before heading to Petra and Wadi Rum, I would recommend booking a private tour to enjoy both the ancient and modern side of the city.
A private tour including a driver takes away most of the stress that is involved with travelling around a foreign city, especially one with the geographical landscape of Amman in the sweltering heat.
When we visited in June, we found Get-Your-Guide to be very professional, which really enhanced our trip.
Where are the street art murals located in Amman?
There are street art murals located throughout Amman, as painting murals on buildings has increased in popularity with local and global street artists.
As you can see in the map below, a large section of Amman graffiti art is located near the downtown area, where famous landmarks are, such as the Citadel, Roman Theatre and Rainbow Street. You can zoom in on the Amman Street art map to see exact locations of famous Jordanian graffiti art, along with the artist name and year that the work was completed.
Exploring the different art masterpieces makes for a great day of alternative travel, and can easily be added to a one day Amman itinerary alongside the other notable tourist attractions.
Choose your personal favourites on the Amman Street art map and then go and feel the artist’s magic while admiring the murals close up.
As the popularity of the new art murals in Amman increases, the stories behind the art pieces are posted on social media regularly to keep fans updated.
Some of my favourite murals in the city are by the following artists. You can check out their work on their Instagram accounts.
Cultural diversity through street art.
As the graffiti art phenomenon swept through Amman, the random paintings were replaced with building art murals with more meaning behind them. The poor neighbourhoods and refugee camps started to feel the artistic magic flowing through the city, and got involved by brightening up the dull areas, allowing the residents to express themselves.
The paintings are now used as important messaging vehicles and help raise awareness on women rights, occupation and inequality. The strict Government guidelines means that artists need to get permission to make sure their art is in line with the national rules and regulations.
An important cultural mural downtown in Amman.
Baladk Street Art Festival in Amman.
Street art offers a modern twist to an otherwise ancient city, and the Baladk festival has been one of the bedrocks of the Amman street art murals’ continuous rise in popularity. The arts festival was founded a decade ago in 2013 by some local street artists as a project to expose the beautiful graffiti art to all members of the community, regardless of their cultural background.
The annual festival brings together artists, groups and different communities together through creating and telling their stories through building art murals in Amman. The six day event takes place in the capital, turned art hub to empower the transformation of the city into a new colourful realm.
This video shows how the community comes together to celebrate the magic of art.
‘Women On Walls - WOW Graffiti & Street Art’ on Youtube.
For some updates on the annual arts festival, check out Baladk’s instagram.
Rainbow Street graffiti art and colourful vibes.
Rainbow Street in Amman is a central hub for tourism, with a very vibrant scene throughout the day and night. The street art murals help to add unique character to the street, along with the quirky rooftop restaurants and cafes. There is also an abundance of shops which line the street, selling souvenirs and local necessities.
The murals on Rainbow Street depict a variety of subjects, including traditional Jordanian scenes, animals, and abstract patterns. They are created using a variety of techniques, including spray paint, stencils, and acrylic paint.
There are many Instagram worthy murals!
After you have explored and admired the street art murals in Rainbow Street, it is a great place to experience the culture and atmosphere of Amman.
Reflecting on the street art murals in Amman.
A real highlight of my time in Amman was walking down from the Citadel to the Roman Theatre in the downtown area, when the mega mural ‘The Column’ suddenly appeared through the gap in the street. The famous mural looks down over the local people and offers real strength. As street art goes, Amman takes some beating against other murals from around the world that I have witnessed, as the artistic movement increases momentum every year. Regular building mural additions add layers of creativity and culture to Amman, as the public artwork colours the whole city.
The curated mural masterpieces certainly brightened up my stay in the ‘White’ city.
Travel photography your thing? Read about the best photo spots inside Petra!
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