Living in one of the most street art cities in Poland and procrastinating so much on preparing a tour of it, it’s a shame! That’s why, wanting to catch up, I’m starting a series of walks around Lodz, my beloved city, where I’ve been living for a few nice years now.
We started from the surroundings of the Łódź Fabryczna station – the place where most start getting to know Lodz. As we get to know Lodzi we will see its true side. And at the same time the most interesting.
Tour in Google Maps
Walking time: 2 hours
1. Cocoa Plantation, Paulina Kwietniewska, Jaracza St. 58
We start our walk from one of the newest murals. Getting to it from the Lodz Fabryczna station is very easy. We look for the exit from the station next to the sculpture with the hurrying man, and then direct our steps towards the Grand Theater. After passing the theater (and the questionable beauty of the fountain in front of it), a magnificent painting will stand in front of us.
The history of this mural is quite interesting. It was created as a result of a collaboration between the Barry Callebaut company, which produces cocoa products, and the esteemed Urban Forms Foundation in Lodz. The mural is meant to draw attention to the ethical side of the chocolate business. Its author is Lodz-based artist Paulina Kwietniewska.
More information (in Polish) here.
Untitled, Gregor, Jaracza St. 59 [the building and the mural no longer exist]
This mural is not marked as a point on the map, but we will pass it while walking on Uniwersytecka Street. This is another mural made on the initiative of the Urban Forms Foundation. The author of the mural – Grzegorz Gonsior aka GREGOR – is a fashion designer associated with Lodz on a daily basis. In his art, he uses an economical, even sketchy painting form, reducing the number of colors in his works to 3-4 primary colors. Another characteristic element of his works is the myriad of details they arrange into larger compositions.
Several more of his murals (in varying conditions) can be found in Lodz, including on Wólczańska Street.
2. Primavera Sainer, Uniwersytecka St. 12
Primavera is one of my favorite murals. I love the style, which combines a mysterious atmosphere and real-looking everyday objects. Whenever I look at this type of work, I always ask myself in what situation was the mural’s protagonist captured? What was he or she supposed to do? What was he or she thinking about? The author of the mural – Sainer (Przemyslaw Blejzyk) – is a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz. Together with Mateusz Gapski (nicknamed “Bezt”), he forms the world-famous art duo ETAM CREW. Unlike Bezt, who focuses on animals, Sainer paints mainly human figures.
3. Wave, DALeast Pomorska St. 92
It’s time to see a little more of the real side of the city, the less touristy one. 😉 Therefore, we direct our steps to the longest street in Lodz. But chill out, we will focus on its early numbers. In a short stretch, we will see murals by artists from all over the world. We start with Pomorska St. 92 and the work of the Chinese street artist DALeast. I recommend looking at the Wave from a distance. Then the view will be better. It’s very meticulously worked-out designs often look as if they were made of a thousand miniature metal shards.
A few steps further on Pomorska St. 84 we will see the Extra Volume mural by Russian graphic artist and architect Victor Puzin, who specializes in 3D drawings and visual illusions.
And right next door at the crossroad of Pomorska and Zacisze streets, a trace was left by Italian artist Awer. His mural Anatomy of Funny Moments surprises with its expressive form and colors. Both two murals were created in cooperation with the Urban Forms Foundation.
On the way to stop No. 4 of our walk, we will encounter a mural by Toruń-based self-taught illustrator Andrzej Poprostu. The work he created, Drugie życie fabryki (The Second Life of the Factory) at Pomorska 67 (next to Lidl), is unique in that it is more than just a painting, as participants in the 2016 Energy of the City Festival found out. The mural was used for a 3D mapping show, during which it “came to life.” The artists were inspired by the city’s industrial roots. Fortunately, there is a video of the event, which can be viewed HERE. This project was also supported by the Urban Forms Foundation.
4. Love Letter, Aryz, Pomorska St. 67
A beautiful mural by Spanish artist Aryz, nibbled by the fang of time. In Lodz we can find two more of his large-format works – Martwa Natura (Still Life) at Politechniki St. 16 and a very specific mural that was created as a result of a collaboration with another great artist Os Gemeos at Roosevelta St. 5 All three works evoke a sense of longing in a person.
Żyjesz w mieście rewolucji (Live in a city of revolution), TAKIE PANY, ul. Rewolucji 1905 roku St. 60
After contemplating the Love Letter, I recommend you walking towards the Netto store and going through the former gate. You will emerge into the parking lot and immediately notice a large black-and-white mural full of different faces. This work refers to the name of the street where it is located – 1905 Revolution Street. This event was strongly reflected in the history of Lodz – an industrial city at the time, full of workers who fought for their rights during the revolution.
5. Together, Wojciech Brewka, ul. Rewolucji 1905 roku St. 48
The author of the mural “with a bear” Wojciech Brewka dedicated it to Maja Kwiatkowska, who suffers from SMA. The work was inspired by Teddy Bear Uszatek a character from one of the cartoons created at the Semafor Film Studio in Lodz. The mural was intended to spread the word about a fundraiser for the treatment of the ailing Maja and other children with SMA, or spinal muscular atrophy. The mural featured an informative plaque and a QR code that directed to the fundraising page. The collection for this girl has already ended, but you can still support other children in need.
From Revolution Street, I recommend turning into Kilinskiego Street, where you will see the “remnants” of the Alexis Diaz mural of Puerto Rico, and then turn into the phenomenal Włokiennicza Street. From Włokiennicza Street, turn left into the Passage named after Hilary Majewski. Hilary Majewski Passage. At its end, at 20 Jaracza Street, you will find two murals referring to the life of the local community. The first one is Lodz Totems by Kasia Breska, which was created as part of the Lodz of Four Cultures Festival. Right next to it, we will see the work Taurus by Italian artist Opiemme, whose work balances between image, text and performance. The Taurus mural was created during the 2016 Energy of the City Festival, and residents of Lodz also contributed to its creation by throwing paint-filled blowpipes at the wall and covering the pre-prepared inscription with color. The work refers to both the history and modernity of the Textile quarter. Lodz’s most famous architect, Hilary Majewski, once lived here, and his zodiac sign is the bull (taurus) we see in Opiemme’s work.
6. Oblicze piękna (The face of beauty), Paulina Nawrot, Wschodnia St. 70
Leave Majewski Passage and turn right. At the Jaracza/Wschodnia intersection, we turn left. On the two sides of Wschodnia Street we find two murals. One hidden, the other not. The first one, emerging from behind the treetops, is the work of a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz and depicts the Mother Mary.
And the second one, hidden in the gate at number 63, is the faces of Michelangelo’s sculptures created by Karolina Treler, commissioned by the developer. Both works are so beautiful that we could turn them into paintings and hang them in the museum. 😉
7. No name, Nunca, Narutowicza St. 25
From Wschodnia St. we enter Narutowicza St. and turn left. On the way to the next mural we will pass the neon sign Breathe In/Breathe Out by Katarzyna Furgalinska and Lukasz Smolarczyk at Narutowicza 21 St. It is recommended to view the murals when it’s dark. Sorry, the building’s owner decided to get rid of the neon. :<
I assume you will not be walking around the murals at night, so to see it on I recommend coming back here when it is already dark.
A few buildings futher – at Narutowicza St. 25 – is a mural created by Brazilian artist Nunca. In his works, the artist combines modernity with portraits of Brazilian natives. In Lodz, the characters from the work he created listen and peep. 😉
After seeing Nunca’s mural, we direct our steps towards the Lodz House of Culture. At the corner of Traugutta and Sienkiewicza (exact address: Sienkiewicza St. 18) streets is the Rubinstein mural created by Eduardo Kobra, who, like Nunca, comes from Brazil. Artur Rubinstein, the hero of the mural, is a world-famous pianist, born and associated with Lodz. From the mural, Rubinstein looks straight at the Lodz Philharmonic building, which bears his name.
Sąsiedzi, Isaac Kordal, Traugutta 10 (+ZBIOK & Egon Fietke)
We continue walking along Traugutta Street. In the courtyard at number 10 is the original minimalist art installation “Neighbors” created by Spanish sculptor Isaac Kordal. On the other side of the street (or rather woonerf) we will see two, medium-sized and beautiful murals by ZBIOK and Egon Fietke.
8. Zasłużeni dla Łodzi, Krzysztof Jaśkiewicz, Piotrkowska 71
We continue walking to Piotrkowska Street and come to Rubinstein Passage. Here we find an interesting mural imitating the wall of a tenement house. “In the windows” we will find figures associated with Lodz selected in a plebiscite organized by the City Hall of Lodz in cooperation with the local press. In the end, 32 specific people were portrayed, with the addition of two symbolic figures representing a Lodz weaver and a Jew. Among the painted people we can find Lodz factory owners, artists, politicians and… King of Poland Wladyslaw Jagiello.
From Piotrkowska Street we turn into Tuwima Street. We reach the intersection with Sienkiewicza Street, where we find two excellent murals on the corner. The first is a factory face of Lodz created using stencil technique by M-City, who comes from Gdynia.
The second mural alluding to Silesian traditions is Raspazjan’s Cat Woman.
9. Ciągłe miasto, Sebastian Bożek, Nowa 3
Back to the less touristy part of Lodz. On Nowa Street you will find a mural by the Cracow artist Sebastian Bozek. In this work, the artist presented his own interpretation of the city as a continuous, fluid, changing structure, neither open nor closed, without beginning or end.
Dziewczynka z pieskiem, Jakub Michalski, Tuwima 98
We slowly direct our steps towards EC1, which stands out significantly in the landscape. Along the way we pass two more murals. The first, Girl with a Dog by Jakub Michalski at 98 Tuwima Street, refers to one of the portraits of London children made by Horace Warner in the early 20th century.
The second mural at 52 Wierzbowa Street was created on the occasion of 90 years of the Water and Sewerage Plant under the leadership of Piotr Chrzanowski. As for me, a perfect way to celebrate a birthday. 🙂
10. Fantastyczne stworzenia i jak je znaleźć w zabytkowej elektrowni?, Kim Jung Gi, EC1 Targowa 1/3
The last mural on our tour is unique because of its location. The work is based on a design by Kim Jung Gi – a graphic artist and comic book illustrator known worldwide for his talent and precision. He designed a story specifically for the EC1 Comics and Interactive Narration Center, which was written on the cooling tower buildings. The story begins at the entrance to CKNI. To learn the whole story, head to the left, going around both buildings.
As a resident of Lodz and a neighbor of the Fabryczna Station, I warmly invite you to get to know this area, which hides something extraordinary. 🙂
Want more pictures? Check my instagram!
Bye, bye!
Karolina
Part of Streets 
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