Gatvės meno galerija: From Walls Around Us

14/07/2025 Gatvės meno galerija: Stories From the Walls Around Us

It began with a quiet walk through the streets of Vilnius. On a white fence, the phrase "justbe afraid of not believing" ("tik bijok netikėt") – lyrics from Lithuanian actor SauliusMykolaitis – made you pause and reflect. This wasn't just graffiti. It was poetry made publicand waiting to be noticed. Back in 2013, Vilnius started its first international street artfestival welcoming artists from all over the world. In that same year, Kristina Kurilaitė begannoticing art wherever she walked.That moment of noticing became a practice and daily ritual of writing and sharing newobservations. That's how Gatvės meno galerija was born – the first Lithuanian blog andonline magazine dedicated to street art. From Facebook photo albums of Vilnius and Kaunasmurals to digital magazine issues interviewing artists and exploring urban art in Lithuaniaand Europe, the project evolved in shape and scope. Yet its spirit remained rooted in onething – the joy of discovery.For over a decade, Kristina Kurilaitė has walked the streets of Lithuanian cities and beyond,documenting ephemeral art that might vanish overnight.How Street Art Shaped Lithuanian CitiesWhat was once dismissed as vandalism is now recognized as public art. For this transition wecan thank the EDIT Vilnius Street Art festival (held from 2013 to 2017 in Vilnius) founder anddirector Ūla Ambrasaitė. Her vision invited world-renowned artists like Millo, Os Gemeos,and Mobstr, who left their marks on Vilnius walls. The mural of Millo, painted for the festivalin 2015, is still there – part of Vilnius' alternative side.In Kaunas, the mural "The Old Wise Man," painted in 2013 on the former Fluxus building byTadas Šimkus and Žygimantas Amelynas, has become a true symbol of the city – now part ofthe Kaunastic identity. It also marked the beginning of Kaunas' mural movement, alongsidethe Nykoka festival. Kaunas embraced street art as a mirror of its spirit and a magnet forvisitors.12 years ago, artist Ray Bartkus invited the world to Marijampolė. Artists from London andNew York joined local volunteers to colour the city’s walls. Today, it remains a cherishedsummer tradition –an ongoing dialogue between artists and the community.Art Beyond the Gallery WallsNow shaped primarily as a social media blog, the project documents street art acrossLithuania and abroad. It embraces a personal yet curatorial voice, reflecting on murals andother street art pieces, paying tribute to artists who created them. From small-town murals
to large-scale works abroad, Gatvės meno galerija frames each encounter as a dialogue:between artist and the city, art and the viewer.Recurring Instagram series include #FromTheArchives, #LithuanianWalls, and#TravelDiscoveries. Each of these highlights different aspects of street art: rediscoveredmurals, local street art discoveries, and international finds. Together, they offer contextabout the artworks and artists while inspiring people to seek out these pieces in person.#LithuanianWalls recently featured a mural “The Floating World” by Ray Bartkus inMarijampolė, that was painted a decade ago and was even chosen as the most beautifulmural in Lithuania.In a cultural landscape where street art is still sometimes overlooked or misunderstood,Gatvės meno galerija affirms its value: as public art, as free art expression, and as sharedexperience.More than a photo archive, it is an invitation to pause, to look up, and to join a communityof art observers who find colour wherever they go. It reminds us that art lives not only ingalleries, but in the streets we walk every day.Check new posts on social media:Instagram: @gatvesmenogalerijaFacebook: Gatvės meno galerija (a page and private Facebook group)Online magazine archive: issuu.com/gatvesmenogalerija