Since first appearing in 2008, the Penang Street Art has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in George Town. Using the streets, buildings and urban landscape as their canvas, these wall murals and wire sculptures appear all over the city, celebrating and enhancing George Town’s unique history and heritage.
Back in 2008, soon after George Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Penang State Government decided to celebrate its new status by commissioning a series of art installations focusing on the city’s history, heritage and culture. The winning designs were a collection of steel-rod sculptures by local artists that captured some of George Town’s unique qualities, and it wasn’t long before other artwork began appearing around the city, notably Ernest Zacharevic’s wall murals, commissioned in 2010 for the George Town Festival.
Word began to spread that the historic streets had turned into an open-air art gallery and, before long, viewing the street art became one of the most popular things to do in George Town, helping to breathe new life into some of the more neglected corners of the city. Despite legitimate concerns around oversaturation and the impact on the precious heritage buildings, the wall murals and sculptures continue to draw crowds into the city, while managing to paint a fresh perspective onto this historic canvas.
Art is subjective but, for what its worth, we’re not huge fans of the steel-rod sculptures that are dotted around the city. There’s no question they’re cleverly conceived and the irreverent style will appeal to many people, but we much prefer the wall murals and paintings, and it’s those that we focus on here, including where they are and which are the most worth visiting. If you’re planning on doing our George Town walking tour, keep an eye out as you go: many of them make a guest appearance at various points during the tour.
Who are the artists behind Penang Street Art?
The Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic is perhaps most commonly associated with Penang’s street art. He came to George Town on a tourist visit and was surprised (and no doubt relieved) that he could paint his murals in the city without any official interference. By the time he was formally invited back in 2010 as part of the George Town festival, the concept of art on the streets was taking off.
In the intervening years (most recently in 2024) he has returned to Penang to maintain and renovate some of his pieces, bringing them back to life after the damage caused by nature, time, climate and tourists.
Ernest isn’t the only artist who contributes to this community and several pieces have been created by local artists such as Louis Gan and Vincent Phang.
From further afield, the Russian artist Julia Volchkova has contributed several beautiful murals around George Town, including the Indonesian Boy and Indian Boatman which were here first forays into the street art world. She visited George Town in 2014 and worked on these pieces for no payment, other than the love of creating them and the opportunity to get her work seen by as many people as possible. The murals she created are now some of the most visited and appreciated in George Town.
Map of Penang Street Art
Below is a map of the Penang street art around George Town that features in this article. As new ones pop up, and some are removed, we keep this updated accordingly.
32 of the BEST Penang street art around George Town
The amount of street artwork around George Town and across the island is extensive and growing all of the time. But here, we’re focusing on the main pieces that are worthwhile for visitors to Penang. As you walk around George Town, don’t be surprised if you spot an occasional painting hidden on a wall or above an archway that hasn’t made it onto our list. This all adds to the creative charm of this multicultural city; new pieces and new ideas are appearing all the time.
1. Sewing Man
Located adjacent to Chowrasta Market, Sewing Man by Vincent Phang is a recent addition to Penang’s street art and tells the story of a local tailor who used to work close by. As you view some of the other wall murals in the city, you’ll notice how vibrant the colours are in this piece, compared to some of the older examples elsewhere. It’s a relatively new piece but its location down a pretty alleyway protects it from the sun, helping to maintain its condition.
2. The Tailor
Slightly further along the same alleyway is The Tailor, also by Vincent Phang. The tailor is adding the finishing touches to the famous kebaya, often worn by women in Malaysia. As with The Sewing Man, this recent piece is showing no signs of age or deterioration, the strong colours of the kebayas are still jumping out from the walls, especially the smile and pride of the tailor.
3. Man selling pau
Next to a guesthouse, this mural depicts a man selling barbecued pork and red bean paste buns. Despite damage to the lower section of the mural, the top half is still clear and in good condition, while the soft blue paint adds a different perspective to the whitewashed wall behind it.
4. Trishaw man
Cleverly positioned next to real-life trishaw drivers (some of whom may be sitting in the exact same pose a few metres away), this huge mural takes up one entire side of a building, but is badly faded and has lost most of its power and vibrancy. This seems apt in a way, as the trishaws are no longer in as much demand as they once were. It’s still worth a visit though, especially for its scale, and the clever use of the electricity cables as pavement.
5. Big mouth
Slightly more surreal than some of the other street art around George Town, this piece is still a popular place for a photograph leading into the mouth and along the alleyway. We’ll leave it to you to decide if he’s angry, scared, belting out a tune, or celebrating a win by his favourite football team.
6. Girl in blue
Next to Penang Ta Kam Hong (the Goldsmith’s Guild), this mural takes advantage of the large wall to create an impressive piece showing a girl hovering in mid-air, perhaps using the windows and cables to support herself. This is one of those pieces that perfectly uses the building to enhance the artwork (and vice-versa). When you view this is in real-life, you’ll see the girl’s dress is actually a metallic blue, and it glistens in the Penang sun.
7. Dancing girl
Just on the corner of Love Lane, a stone’s thrown from The Indian Boatman, The Dancing Girl balances on an archway at the entrance to one of the famous George Town five-foot ways. The contrast between the graceful dancer and the decaying walls are striking, as is the iron gate blocking access below.
A stencil of a man with a surveillance camera on his head has been added below, perhaps to accompany the piece or perhaps just because there was an empty space here.
And if you look carefully to the left of the arch, you’ll find two chicks sat on a clock.
8. The Indian Boatman
One of the more striking and evocative pieces of street art in the city, The Indian Boatman by Julia Volchkova, on the corner of Klang Street and Stewart Lane, takes up almost the entire section of the end wall. Completed in 2014, this one was of the artist’s first pieces of street art and she returned to complete several other works around the city.
It’s one of the most popular of Penang street art murals and is a nod to the Indian and maritime heritage of the city. The lower section of the mural is slowing crumbling away in the Penang sun but the upper section is holding its own.
Notice how the boatman’s oar starts out as wooden but gradually turns metallic as it approaches the lamppost.
9. The guitarist for walking further
Close to the area most frequented by backpackers, this mural by Julia Volchkova captures the atmosphere and vibe of this part of town in another gentle and thoughtful piece. It’s a good example of where the street arts enhances the George Town streets, making you stop and think for a moment.
10. Girl painting Mona Lisa
Reminiscent of works by the British artist Banksy, this mural is less related to Penang and the George Town streets but is a good example of how the street art scene is evolving within the city. Some people believe these sort of pieces cross a line though, and have begun to adversely impact George Town’s heritage atmosphere. Take a look yourself and see what you think…
11. Turtle rider
Is this a comment on tourism’s overuse of nature and wildlife, or just a cool mural of a girl riding a turtle? Either way, this is a hyper-realistic mural that cleverly uses shadow and depth to give the impression the turtle is about to jump free of the wall. As with all the pieces, make sure you take in the detail and skill that goes into the work, especially on the turtle and the girl’s hair.
12. Dragon and Phoenix
A recent addition to George Town’s open-air gallery, the dragons and phoenixes on display are painted in striking colours that really standout against the orange canvas. The neat use of shadows and perspective create a 3D effect, as if they’re bursting through the walls and out onto the street.
13. Slide
A thoughtful mural, showing two kids sharing a secret. Check out the barely visible figure sliding out underneath them and the pieces of graffiti; were they added by the artist or someone else afterwards?
14. Happy Dog with Steak
George Town’s street art isn’t universally loved and this piece perhaps highlights the divide. When does art become graffiti before becoming vandalism? Who decides which style is acceptable and which brings down the tone of the city. In a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these questions become even more relevant. You might love this mural, we’re more of the view that it adds very little to the surroundings. It’s an interesting piece though and might make you pause for thought.
15. The Real Bruce Lee Would Never Do This
One of the better known murals, The Real Bruce Lee Would Never Do This is now gradually disappearing from view, faded by the elements and losing its grip on the wall. It hasn’t been renovated for many years and this is perhaps the intention, to show that street art is only a fleeting art form, much more so than traditional paintings in a gallery. It’s well worth a visit though, even if only a small part of it remains visible.
16. Little Boy with Pet Dinosaur
Immediately to the left of Boy on Motorbike you will see Little Boy with Pet Dinosaur. This has also been touched up and reinvigorated recently, the outline of the dinosaur stands out from the broken wall in dark black paint. In fact, the crumbling and damaged wall adds something extra to the mural, proving that the best canvases aren’t always flawless.
17. Boy on a Motorbike
Perhaps the most famous of all Ernest Zacharevic’s pieces in George Town, Boy on a Bike is a good introduction to how the artist combines humour, skill and the existing urban landscape to create something special. The motorbike originally belonged to a tourist and was left down a quiet street before the artist repurposed it for this piece.
As it’s so well known nowadays, prepare yourself for a queue if you’re here on a weekend, but you may still have it all to yourself if you visit at quieter times. The mural has recently been repaired and repainted by the artist himself, and the motorbike has undergone a thorough service.
If you spin round 180 degrees, on the opposite wall you’ll find a portrait of a man in a Malaysian sports shirt. Many tourist miss this piece as they’re too focused on the Boy on a Bike.
18. Thaipusam Mural
A beautiful mural, capturing the joy, colour and tradition of the Thaipusam festival which is celebrated each year in Penang and around the world. The act of smashing coconuts is a cleansing ritual performed during the festival, and it’s depicted here with great skill. Still fresh and full of colour, this mural very much stands out from the crowd.
19. Firefighters
Around the back of the fire station on the corner of Victoria and Chulia Street, this isn’t Penang street art as such, but instead a sombre and respectful tribute to Penang’s firefighters who have died in the line of duty. Further along the laneway, the mural extends to show the work the firefighters perform each day.
20. Brother and sister on a swing
Walking away from the main area of George Town along Lebuh Chulia towards Lim Jetty the Brother and Sister on a Swing is located off a side street.
Created by Malaysian artist Louis Gan, this interactive piece lets visitors sit on the empty seat and become part of the picture, although do take care as the chain holding the seat up is currently broken. In fact, the whole mural is showing the signs of age and deterioration, with the colours now badly faded and the plaster on the wall starting to crumble and break off.
It’s in a quieter part of town though and it’s interesting to see street art that has been created by another Malaysian artist.
21. Old soy milk stall
Just next to Brother and sister on a swing, is the Old soy milk stall street art. In fact, you’ll pass this one first. We love how the mural flows from the tree to the right, and the open drains and kerbstones link the art to its Penang surroundings.
22. Children playing basketball
This famous Penang street art is easy to miss if you don’t know where exactly it is. Hidden behind a big bush, down a little lane across the way from the Brother and Sister On a Swing is Children Playing Basketball. Of all the murals around George Town, this is one of the best at taking advantage of the existing walls and landscape and including them in the piece. Check out how the shadow from the ring falls across the wall, and the post supporting the net is actually an old lamppost.
23. Folklore by the Sea
Chew Jetty is the most popular of the Clan Jetties in George Town and it’s the backdrop to one of the most fun-filled pieces of street art in the city, Folklore by the Sea. The jetties are home to many local families, and the mural is a depiction of family life on the jetty, capturing a sleeping dad being disturbed by his playful children. This mural is in good condition and fits in perfectly to its surroundings. Keep an eye out for the cat about to jump down from the roof.
24. I want Bao
In this Penang street art piece, two kids stretch out from a window to sneakily grab some food from an unguarded basket. This is a popular spot to pose for photos while sat on the bicycle, even if the basket is empty. If you do feel hungry after sitting here, there’s a peanut butter sweet shop next door that offers real life refreshments, just remember to offer the kids in the window a taste of whatever you buy.
25. Monkey Wall
Created to raise awareness to the plight of stray and abandoned animals (in particular, cats), this mural sits next to slightly crazed-looking bearded monkey. The cat at the centre of the mural is looking up a rat who in turn dangles a smaller rat, tempting the cat to leap up. We spotted a real life rat scurrying into the drain at the same time, all adding to the sense of art and the city streets combining again.
26. Skippy the Cat
This used to be one of the most colourful murals in George Town, with the bright yellow fur of Skippy the cat leaping out at passing visitors. Sadly, Skippy died several years ago and the mural has been allowed to fade since then, signifying the memory of Skippy slowing slipping away. Some locals have even helped the process slightly by rubbing away at the paint. It’s another good example of the temporary nature of these murals and how quickly they can disappear.
27. Kids on bicycle
In the top two or three most popular and well-known of the Penang street art murals, Kids on a Bicycle deserves to be on so many Instagram accounts. The joy and terror in the kids’ faces is so real, you’re almost expecting to hear their screams as you walk by. You might need to queue to get close to it, but it’s worth the wait.
28. Boy on a chair
If you are visiting Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, make some time to check out The Boy on a Chair before you go in. This piece is so lifelike, it’s tempting to rush over to stop the chair from overbalancing. Still in decent condition, this one is a great example of the skill the artist has in capturing everyday scenes and making them appear so realistic.
29. Cat in window
Just across the road from Boy on a Chair, don’t be alarmed by the large cat staring back at you through the open window.
30. Indian Woman
Another piece by Julia Volchkova, this is one of our favourites, perhaps because it’s almost hidden from view and easy to walk past. It fits in perfectly to the surroundings, with the kind woman and tangled tree forming one shape. In our eyes, this is where Penang street art is at its best.
31. The Old Blacksmith
Created by local artist, Vincent Phang, in 2024, this is a tribute to Mr. Chong Saik Pow who worked as blacksmith on Toh Aka Lane. He specialised in creating anchors for ships and retired in 1995 from his Toh Aka Lane workshop, which is where you will find this stunning Penang street art. It’s another good example of where the street art acts as a link to George Town’s history and heritage.
32. Local traders
Painted on a grand scale by local artist Chan Kai Lun, the mural of two local traders captures a common scene on these streets for decades. Squeezed in amongst air-conditioning units, window frames and electricity cables, this piece has a vivid contrast between the intricate details of (for example) the man’s clothing, and the crumbling plaster surrounding him.
Which are our favourites?
With all the wall murals, wire sculptures and unofficial pieces of art around George Town, it can feel slightly overwhelming to decide what to look at. In some ways, the best way to view the art work is to wander around the streets and see what you find.
However, if we had to recommend just three to visit, we’d choose:
- Boy on a Motorbike. Yes, it gets busy and everyone has a photo of it, but that’s for good reason. It’s the iconic Penang street art wall mural and one that combines great technique with the existing landscape.
- Indian Woman. A beautiful mural, painted in a way that’s sympathetic to the surroundings and capturing a serene moment. It’s made all the better because many people don’t even realise it’s there.
- The Real Bruce Lee Would Never Do This. Perhaps a surprising choice, but bear with us. This mural used to be vibrant, striking and well-visited, but it’s now rapidly crumbling from view. When we viewed it, the temporary nature made it feel even more intriguing, the fact that while you can still see it, it won’t be there for much longer. This seemed to capture something of what makes street art so special.
-
On Penang ebook£16.95
On Penang ebook
New for 2025, the On Penang ebook is the only travel guide you need for exploring the island of Penang. It is jam-packed with inspiration on what to do, where to eat, where to stay, and also includes a step-by-step self-guided walking tour of George Town (with photos).
This is a PDF download for use offline and on the go (and ad-free!). Save it to read on the plane to Malaysia, download to your phone to follow the self-guided walking tour, or print it off at home before you leave on your adventures and highlight all the bits you want to remember for your visit.
Before your go, check out these useful reads for your visit:
The best things to do in Penang
15 BEST restaurants in Penang
Top tips for visiting Penang
One day Penang itinerary
Best hotels in Penang
How to get around Penang
A brief history of Penang
