Transform a Room with Hand-Painted Wall Murals
A brief history of wall murals and loads of gorgeous modern day examples
I can buy myself flowers… But I can also paint them on the wall! And some people do… I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed lately more and more painted wall murals so I’m dedicating this feature here on them today — their past and present - along with a few examples to uplift and inspire you to give it a try at home.
First, a little about the history of wall murals. Painted wall murals and motifs by hand dates back to ancient times when the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans adorned their walls with intricate paintings. The modern resurgence of painted wall murals can be traced back to the Renaissance period in Europe, where artists like Michelangelo and Raphael transformed ceilings and walls of churches, palaces, and public buildings with stunning frescoes and murals. We all know the Creation of Adam painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
In the early 1920’s, wall murals experienced a revival with the rise of various art movements such as Mexican Muralism, led by artists like Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros in Mexico. These artists used murals as a means of social and political expression, depicting scenes of everyday life, historical events, and cultural heritage. They were not happy with the states of affairs, the Mexican revolution, and how society around them was changing. They decided to use art as a strong tool to communicate that.
In the contemporary art world of today, wall murals with paint have become a popular form of public art, often commissioned by cities, businesses, and communities to beautify urban spaces and convey messages of cultural diversity, environmental awareness, and social justice.
Street artists like Banksy and Shepard Fairey have gained international acclaim for their large-scale murals, which often challenge societal norms and provoke thought.