Manchester is known for many things, but one thing visitors and locals alike are always surprised and delighted by is the fantastic array of street art we have adorning the sides of our buildings. One area that is particularly popular for artists in need of a canvas is the Northern Quarter, with official plots in the trendy neighbourhood being highly sought after.
Street art culture in Manchester has become so huge that companies now hire street artists to create eye-catching promo on the walls of the city, from Netflix to Alton Towers, which still somehow feel mildly organic and oddly local. Manchester has been voted one of best cities for street art and here’s our guide to the best street art Manchester’s Northern Quarter has to offer, but beware, they change on a regular basis, so you may spot something brand new!
1. Stevenson Square
Stevenson Square has be adorned with an ever-changing variety of street art over the years, from tributes to David Bowie and George Floyd, to seasonal patterns, but at the moment the square is aglow with bright and beautiful spring/summer landscapes by regular Manchester street artist Hammo, commissioned by Fred Aldous, the quirky homewares and craft shop on the square.
The surreal, joyful scenery crafted by Hammo covers the roadblocks, brick walls that line the middle of the square and any structures that would otherwise be eyesores, like electricity cupboards and signposts. It truly puts a smile on your face and pops off just as much in the rain as it does in the sun.
π Stevenson Square, 37 Lever St, Manchester, M1 1LW.
2. Cane & Grain, Thomas Street
Just along from Stevenson Square is popular drinking and dining street Thomas Street. A stalwart piece of street art on this now-famous street, after hosting the Chanel fashion show last year, is that which adorns the façade of Cane & Grain, a popular watering hole. Many of us Mancs walk straight past this artistic spot on a daily basis, not paying much attention, but when you step back to admire it, you realise how engrained it is in Manchester culture.
The beautiful teal colour of the building flows with the painted tropical leaves that climb the walls, and all of this creates a stark contrast to the canary yellow of the entrance area, and the white of The Smithfield Social next door, all thanks to the legend, Hammo, once again. All in all, this one’s easy to miss, but you can’t unsee it once you’ve had a good look.
π 49-51 Thomas St, Manchester, M4 1NA.
3. Blue tit on Newton Street
This mural by Faunagraphic has become an icon of Manchester street art and has been around for a number of years now. To Mancs, it’s a landmark, something you can say “meet me at the bird mural” about and your mates would know exactly where to go. It’s also so big that you can see it peeping out from the corner of Newton Street from pretty far away, all the way up to Piccadilly Gardens, and it’s nice to see a familiar face in amongst the hustle and bustle of a weekend in the city.
It was actually a commissioned work for Converse in 2011, but has really stood the test of time having been adopted by the city. Faunagraphic, real name Sarah, is a real nature lover and this definitely comes through in her intricate, elegant style of art, which we’re so happy has stuck around in Manchester.
π 50 Newton St, Manchester M1 2EA.
4. Car park birds
Speaking of birds, Mateus Bailon is responsible for one of Manchester’s best kept street art secrets. Bailon is Brazilian artist born in Santa Catarina, and his work explores narratives that seek to recall the connection between the human being and nature. His richly coloured, majestic depiction of tropical birds is massive and truly eye catching, but only if you’re coming down the right street from the right way.
It’s cleverly positioned to face a backstreet car park, and is only really visible when walking towards town from Ancoats, on the stretch of Port Street. It’s really special to see with the skyline of the city centre in the background and reminds us what a contrasting yet beautiful city we have.
π Cuba Cafe, 43 Port St, Manchester, M1 2EQ.
5. Liquor and Burn corner
The exposed wall on the corner of beloved Mexican spot Liquor and Burn is ever-changing when it comes to street art. It has had mind-bending moving art, advertisements for women’s football, and all kinds of other brands going for the prime spot just as you enter the Norther Quarter from Shudehill. When this area isn’t breathing fresh air into an ad campaign, it’s true to its roots, often boasting cheeky and humorous quotes and sayings in support of Liquor and Burn itself.
Liquor and Burn often reverts back to classics like “You can’t make everyone happy, you’re not beer & tacos“, and more recently a tongue-in-cheek, temporary-looking “Imagine this cross was neon” with a scribble of a cross underneath, all of which you make you chuckle as you’re on your way to work or, as is often the case, snap a photo for Instagram. Whatever’s up there, make sure you give it a glance next time you’re in town.
π 100 High St, Manchester M4 1HP.
6. The Wall on Church Street
Having been in place since 2011, this mural on Church Street was created by Subism Collective from Derby, in collaboration with Red Bull. The mystical design of two women representing earth, wind, fire, and water evokes the tattoo style of this specific area, with tattoo studios peppered around the NQ. The mural can be seen when walking towards the Arndale Centre and is pretty striking and much easier to see than some of the others. It’s one of the longest standing pieces of street art in Manchester and is most definitely beloved.
π 27 Church St, Manchester, M4 1PE.
7. Textile mural, Port Street
A beautiful, huge piece of street art on Port Street is this detailed pair of hands painted an old red brick building. Head north on Port Street (towards Ancoats) and you’ll find yourself in an open space with a car park, towered over by this striking piece harking back to Manchester’s past as the first industrial city, mostly producing textiles. We don’t have much information on this long-standing street art piece, but we’re very happy it’s still there for all to see.
π 75 Port St, Manchester M1 2EG.
8. Swan Buildings mural
German street artist,Β Case, created this powerful mural of a troubled-looking man to highlight mental health issues. This is a topical piece of Manchester street art created for the Cities of Hope festival, aiming to raise money for worthy causes, and it stands tall as you walk towards Oldham Road from Great Ancoats Street.
π 3 Cable St, Manchester M4 5EQ.
9. War Children mural, Oak Street
For more Northern Quarter Manchester street art, find this quiet square off Oak Street. The soldier mural titled ‘War impact in children lives‘ by Hyuro was created for the Cities of Hope project, blending politics and surrealist sensibility. It’s both heartbreaking and breathtaking, and every time you see it peek out of the surrounding buildings in the Northern Quarter, thoughts and feelings tend to pop up.
π 9 Oak St, Manchester M4 5JD.
10. Enigma by Akse
We’ve possibly left the best til last, because Enigma on Stevenson Square was created by Manchester street art legend Akse. The piece depicts Manchester resident Ste Wing who, like Akse, has Vietnamese heritage, and was part of the 50 Windows of Creativity project showcasing the work of local venues and businesses. Akse just so happens to be the architect of some of Manchester’s most beloved street art, most of which were portraits of significant people, but have now been painted over or demolished, as is the nature of street art.
Some of his work in Manchester includes murals of David Bowie, George Floyd, Tony Wilson, Ian Curtis and the Marcus Rashford mural in Withington.
π2 Little Lever Street, Manchester, M1 1FB.