Hey it’s Tati again, and I would love for you to tag along for an artsy city trip once more!
Are you ready?
This time we’ll get to explore the Urban and Street Art scene of Germany’s South for a little bit - close to the picturesque Alps and nourished by river Isar, posh and fancy Munich surprisingly is home to a vivid Street and Urban Art scene.
Let’s explore together, shall we?
First Stop for Urban and Street Art in Munich: The Street Art Museum Munich
Did you know that Munich is home to an Urban Art Museum?
The MUCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) can be found at Hotterstraße 12.
The entrance fee at the museum is 12 Euros.
They also offer Street Art Bike Tours which are at 40 Eur per person (students discounted at 25 Eur)!
The two faces of Damian Hirst’s Horse painted bronze plastic "Legend" from 2011 in front of the MUCA in Munich.
The big horse statue reminded me a bit of Gunther van Hagen’s "Körperwelten" - an exhibition of human plastinations.
Second Stop for Urban and Street Art in Munich: Cultural Breeding Ground at Bahnwärter Thiel
A little farther from the Museum and Sindelfinger Gate, at about a 30 minute walking distance, the Bahnwärter Thiel can be found. For almost 10 years (set up in 2015), the project is located at the "Viehhofgelände", Tumblinger Straße 45. It not only holds a vast variety of Street and Urban Art but is also home to coffee shops, bars and cultural venues where regular events take place - for instance, you could go see a poetry slam or concerts there, go to a barber shop, take part in different workshops and dance the night away in a techno club. At the end of November they even host a small festival for free.
The area emerged on controversial grounds - the Viehhofgelände used to be playground for many graffiti artists and in 2015 and 2016 the Urban Art Festival "Deadline" did take place there, but a big part of the created artworks had to make room for the newly built "Volkstheater" and thus were taken down.
What I loved most about the artworks there was, that they all had a unique message and cultural touch: For instance, there is a graffiti of a woman wearing make-up that could be inspired by the Mexican "Dia de los Muertos", another artwork seems to show a face of an ancient culture, perhaps a mixture of mayan and inca heritage.
The big-eyed cat reminded me a bit of the comic icon "Garfield".
Can anyone relate?
The people at Bahnwärter Thiel make sure that all guests feel welcome:
They even created an "air bee and bee"!
Sonido Caribe’s art is spread and sprayed throughout the entire Bahnwärter Thiel area.
Third Stop for Urban and Street Art in Munich: Donnersberger Brücke
Under the bridge is said to be the largest Open Air Gallery for Street Art in Germany: 60 different artists used the more than 2000 square meters as an Open Air canvas. Most of the art works were created in 2012 and some additions made their way underneath the bridge in 2016. To spot them is a bit tricky though, since the bridge holds a lot of traffic and many different lanes. Easiest way to make it there is by taking the train to the Donnersberger Brücke station and then accessing the bridge at the crossroad to Landshuter Allee.
In between parking cars you are able to explore and search for various artists.
One of them is in Munich living Nadia Voß aka. beastiestylez, who created a cat with big comic style eyes, in fact that is her signature move, painting creatures with huge eyes.
Comic eyed cat by beastiestylez.
Some other up and rising Urban Art talents from Munich - Lion "Con Carne" Fleischmann and Matthias "Matzal" Mross painted a larger than life chicken accompanied by a comic style edition of a worm.
...there is more…Beastiestylez created various murals underneath the Donnersberg Brücke. But also artists such as Graphism, Shame ABC, WON, Bunt Lack, Stem, Flin and many more beautifully splashed their colors onto the formally gray walls and pillars. Here is a selection for you.
Hipster Robin Bird by Eazy.
One of my favorites!
To me it looked a bit like criticism of the hipster culture meaning good and still being hypocrites in some regards (e.g. the lid with the loop - not supposed to be on the streets, but if it lands there it serves as a dangerous trap for animals). 
Street Art Deer Tree at Donnersberger Brücke.
Moonwalk anybody? This is your chance!
To be found at Donnersberger Brücke.
Rats at Donnersberger Brücke by Mr. Woodland.
Street Art at Donnersberger Bridge by Lando.
Moreover, a real Urban Art legend is the Munich living Matthias Köhler, more broadly known as Loomit. He was one of the very early adopters and started his craft back in the 1980s where he traveled the world with a spray tin in hand, coloring various trains and walls with his graffiti. If you would like to check out some of his art works you can do so at Kunstlabor 2.
Andreas Köhler alias Loomit. (Photo Credits: Angelika Jacob)
Pit Stop: Where to refuel after checking out Urban and Street Art in Munich
After a full day of exploring, you might be thirsty for a hot or cold beverage and might want to indulge in some (German) pastries: No worries, I got you covered!
Scattered around the city are some nice and cozy coffee places which serve as a perfect pit stop - you can refuel on food, beverages (and wifi, in case you need it ;-).
Cute small corner coffee "Colombo" at Westend with quality beverages, nourishing homemade pastries and wifi.
After checking out the Urban and Street Art in Munich at the Bahnwärter Thiel you could also go to Café Erika (Google Pin here) - yet still, pay attention to the opening hours - I was unlucky for they are closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Some cozy "old school" vibes at Café Erika (Photo Credits: Café Erika).
Last but not least:
There is always more to discover and I would highly encourage you to do so if you got some more time on your hands! Our friends over at Vagabundler comprised a wonderful map of (almost) all Munich Urban and Street Art.
Until next time, art lovers!
Servus + much love,
Tati
Author and PR professional Tatjana Büchler (Photo Credits: Sarah Buth)