I have been interested in graffiti since I was a teenager. I vividly remember trying to copy pieces done by CAN2 and ATOM, a few of my favorite artists at the time. I even tried doing some work out in the wild myself. Only with permits of course (wink).

Later on I understood that there are more nuances to street art rather than just tags and bombs. The curiosity and appetite for bigger and more impressive pieces was satisfied with the discovery of murals. Of course most of murals are done legally, making it a bit removed from graffiti culture, but for me it did not diminish the value of the artwork.

Up to now, I’ve kept a keen eye for any cool murals in my travels, but for the most part in my beloved Vilnius. We had a good run with Vilnius street art festival, many cool pieces still remain, but sadly it was discontinued in 2017.  However,the vacant spot was taken by a more permanent open-air location, which now continuously attracts mural lovers.

The spot is coincidentally called Open Gallery. It’s curated and located within the Loftas area. Loftas has become irreplaceable when speaking about music and alternative events in Vilnius, so it’s even cooler for them to work with local and foreign artists to fuel their creations in this street art bonanza. The gallery is constantly growing and changing. There are many entry points to the area, but I recommend entering from Panerių street.