Once outlawed, graffiti has now become an inherent part of the visual style of many modern cities. It transforms ordinary city landscapes into open-air picture galleries.
Moscow is also involved in the trend. Every year, dozens of Moscow buildings turn into canvases for talented artists who want to express themselves.
Sputnik presents a photo gallery of some of Moscow’s street-art masterpieces.
© Flickr / Evgeniy VolkovA decade ago graffiti was illegal in Moscow. But now the Moscow authorities officially cooperate with street artists, seriously transforming the city’s image.
Above: "I love Moscow" graffiti, near the Kuznetsky Most metro station.
Above: "I love Moscow" graffiti, near the Kuznetsky Most metro station.
A decade ago graffiti was illegal in Moscow. But now the Moscow authorities officially cooperate with street artists, seriously transforming the city’s image.
Above: "I love Moscow" graffiti, near the Kuznetsky Most metro station.
Above: "I love Moscow" graffiti, near the Kuznetsky Most metro station.
© Sputnik / Ilya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankAbove: Yaroslavl artist Artur Kashak paints Star Wars graffiti on the facade of a building on Sadovo-Spasskaya Street, Moscow.
Above: Yaroslavl artist Artur Kashak paints Star Wars graffiti on the facade of a building on Sadovo-Spasskaya Street, Moscow.
© Flickr / GorVladAbove: "Pop-art", by the artist group 310. This work was inspired by the paintings of legendary US pop artist Roy Lichtenstein.
Above: "Pop-art", by the artist group 310. This work was inspired by the paintings of legendary US pop artist Roy Lichtenstein.
© Sputnik / Kirill Kallinikov / Go to the mediabankSome graffiti works in Moscow are dedicated to important events in Russian history or outstanding people.
Above: The facade of 4 Narodnaya Street in Moscow's Tagansky District is covered in graffiti portraying FC Dynamo Moscow goalkeeper Lev Yashin.
Above: The facade of 4 Narodnaya Street in Moscow's Tagansky District is covered in graffiti portraying FC Dynamo Moscow goalkeeper Lev Yashin.
Some graffiti works in Moscow are dedicated to important events in Russian history or outstanding people.
Above: The facade of 4 Narodnaya Street in Moscow's Tagansky District is covered in graffiti portraying FC Dynamo Moscow goalkeeper Lev Yashin.
Above: The facade of 4 Narodnaya Street in Moscow's Tagansky District is covered in graffiti portraying FC Dynamo Moscow goalkeeper Lev Yashin.
© AFP 2023 / ANDREY SMIRNOVAbove: A woman walks past a giant graffiti-painted wall in the style of impressionism, Moscow.
Above: A woman walks past a giant graffiti-painted wall in the style of impressionism, Moscow.
© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Presnya / Go to the mediabankAbove: A woman in the reconstructed underpass of the Lubyanka metro station in Moscow.
Above: A woman in the reconstructed underpass of the Lubyanka metro station in Moscow.
© Sputnik / Vitaly Belousov / Go to the mediabankMaya Plisetskaya was one of the most outstanding dancers in the history of ballet. In Moscow, Brazilian graffiti artist Eduardo Cobra created graffiti portraying Plisetskaya, to celebrate her 88th birthday.
Above: A passer-by photographs graffiti on the wall of a building in Moscow at the unveiling ceremony for a memorial plaque and garden square named after dancer Maya Plisetskaya.
Above: A passer-by photographs graffiti on the wall of a building in Moscow at the unveiling ceremony for a memorial plaque and garden square named after dancer Maya Plisetskaya.
Maya Plisetskaya was one of the most outstanding dancers in the history of ballet. In Moscow, Brazilian graffiti artist Eduardo Cobra created graffiti portraying Plisetskaya, to celebrate her 88th birthday.
Above: A passer-by photographs graffiti on the wall of a building in Moscow at the unveiling ceremony for a memorial plaque and garden square named after dancer Maya Plisetskaya.
Above: A passer-by photographs graffiti on the wall of a building in Moscow at the unveiling ceremony for a memorial plaque and garden square named after dancer Maya Plisetskaya.
© Flickr / Khuroshvili IlyaGraffiti artists do not restrict themselves only to painting on buildings or working in one genre. Moscow galleries and museums hold exhibitions of street artists’ works.
Above: Graffiti in Moscow.
Above: Graffiti in Moscow.
Graffiti artists do not restrict themselves only to painting on buildings or working in one genre. Moscow galleries and museums hold exhibitions of street artists’ works.
Above: Graffiti in Moscow.
Above: Graffiti in Moscow.
© Sputnik / Segey Pyatakov / Go to the mediabankAbove: Graffiti portraying Marshal Georgy Zhukov on Moscow's Arbat Street.
Above: Graffiti portraying Marshal Georgy Zhukov on Moscow's Arbat Street.
© Flickr / Nick MalyanAbove: "Girl", by the street artist group P183.
Above: "Girl", by the street artist group P183.
© Sputnik / Konstantin Chalabov / Go to the mediabankAbove: Graffiti on the wall of a building on the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment in Moscow.
Above: Graffiti on the wall of a building on the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment in Moscow.
© Flickr / GorVladMoscow holds street art festivals and contests which attract graffiti artists from across the world.
Above: Graffiti in Moscow.
Above: Graffiti in Moscow.
Moscow holds street art festivals and contests which attract graffiti artists from across the world.
Above: Graffiti in Moscow.
Above: Graffiti in Moscow.
© AFP 2023 / VASILY MAXIMOVAbove: A man walks past a building covered in a mural depicting the Crimean landscape in central Moscow.
Above: A man walks past a building covered in a mural depicting the Crimean landscape in central Moscow.
© Sputnik / Kirill Kallinikov / Go to the mediabankAbove: Graffiti art depicting the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin and his wife Natalya Goncharova on Nikitsky Boulevard, Moscow.
Above: Graffiti art depicting the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin and his wife Natalya Goncharova on Nikitsky Boulevard, Moscow.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Presnya / Go to the mediabankAbove: A young man in the renovated underpass of the Lubyanka metro station in Moscow.
Above: A young man in the renovated underpass of the Lubyanka metro station in Moscow.
© Sputnik / Kirill Kallinikov / Go to the mediabankAbove: The artwork by Italian artist 2501 (Jacomo) on the wall of Building 23 on Nizhnyaya Krasnoselskaya Street during the Artmossphere Street Art Biennale in Moscow.
Above: The artwork by Italian artist 2501 (Jacomo) on the wall of Building 23 on Nizhnyaya Krasnoselskaya Street during the Artmossphere Street Art Biennale in Moscow.