Art on the streets of Lubuskie: a guide to the best murals in the province

Art on the streets of Lubuskie: a guide to the best murals in the province

April 11, 2025

The Lubuskie province, though small, hides real gems of street art that turn ordinary urban spaces into open-air galleries. Murals in Lubuskie's cities are not only colorful decorations, but also stories about local history, culture and identity of the region. From monumental works in Gorzow Wielkopolski, to artistic compositions in Nowa Sol, to historical paintings in smaller towns like Kargowa and Strzelce Krajeńskie, each mural has its own unique history and meaning. As we embark on a journey along the trail of Lubuskie murals, we will discover not only the talent of local artists, but also the soul and character of these places, which often remain in the shadow of larger Polish metropolises.

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Gorzów Wielkopolski - city of murals and artistic experiments

Gorzów Wielkopolski is a true mecca for lovers of street art in the Lubuskie region. The city boasts dozens of murals that systematically enrich its landscape, giving it a unique character and artistic dimension.

One of the most important points on the map of Gorzow's street art is 'Filarysztuki' - a space at 29 Zielona Street, which has become a kind of center of street art in the city. It is a place where new works regularly appear and local artists can experiment with form and message. Filarysztuki is not only a place to display murals, but also a meeting point for the local art community, where workshops, discussions and events related to street art are organized.

Among Gorzow's most recognizable murals, it is worth noting the work dedicated to Zbigniew Herbert, an outstanding Polish poet. This mural, maintained in a minimalist style, is a visual interpretation of one of the artist's poems. Its location in the city center has made it one of Gorzow's landmarks, attracting both literature and visual art lovers.

No less interesting is the 'Granny Noñcia' mural, created by a duo of recognized Polish street art artists - Michał Wręga and Daniel Kaliński. This work was created as part of the 'Relationships' project, which in 2012 transformed the appearance of the school walls, making the educational institution a unique place on the map of the city. The artists combined tradition and modernity in their work, creating a touching portrait that has become a symbol of intergenerational ties.

The historical dimension of the Gorzow murals is represented by a work dedicated to Hermann Paucksch - the founder of the Machine Building and Foundry Plant. This mural is not only an artistic interpretation of a figure important to the city's history, but also a kind of pop-up containing a portrait of this figure along with a historical background. The artwork is an excellent example of how street art can serve an educational function, bringing residents and tourists closer to important figures from local history.

Also worth mentioning is the 'Cooltural Ride' project, which resulted in unique combinations of ceramics and wall painting. As part of this project, Justyna Budzyn led ceramic workshops, the results of which were integrated with murals, creating unique works of art combining various artistic techniques.

Gorzów's murals are not only distinguished by their thematic diversity, but also by the involvement of the local community in their creation. Many of them are the result of cooperation between artists, residents and city authorities, making street art an integral part of Gorzów Wielkopolski's identity.

Nowa Sól and Kargowa - street art street art in smaller cities

Nowa Sól, although smaller than Gorzów Wielkopolski, also boasts an impressive collection of murals that give the city its unique character. The center of Nowa Sól's street art is located at Wyzwolenia Square, where some of the most interesting examples of street art in the region can be admired at 2 Pocztowa Street.

Wyzwolenia Square in Nowa Sol is a space that has undergone a real metamorphosis thanks to street art. Murals in this place often refer to the industrial history of the city, which for many years was an important center for salt production (hence the name of the town). In their works, artists skillfully combine historical elements with modern forms of expression, creating a fascinating story about the city's identity.

One of the most distinctive murals in Nowa Sól is a large-format work depicting local legends and tales related to the Oder River, which played a key role in the town's development. This mural, kept in intense colors, attracts the eyes of passersby and is an excellent starting point for learning about the region's history.

The Novosol murals are also distinguished by their high artistic level. Many of them have been created by renowned street art artists who have been invited to the city as part of various art projects. This allows Nowa Sól, despite its size, to compete with larger centers in terms of the quality and variety of street art.

Moving to Kargowa, a small town located in Zielona Gora County, we discover another gem of Lubuskie street art. The Kargowa mural, located at 24B Wolsztynska Street, is a work that uniquely combines local history with a modern form of artistic expression.

The Kargowa mural depicts the most important events in the history of the town, dating back to the Middle Ages. The artist skillfully combined historical elements with symbols of the present, creating a kind of timeline that tells the story of the evolution of this small, but culturally rich town. Particularly interesting are the references to the figure of Jozef Rogalinski - an 18th-century scientist and educator associated with Kargowa, whose silhouette is immortalized on the mural.

Interestingly, the mural in Kargowa was created on the initiative of the local community, which wanted to enliven the urban space and attract tourists in this way. The project was financed with municipal funds and thanks to the support of local entrepreneurs, which testifies to the strong involvement of residents in creating the image of their city.

Both Nowa Sol and Kargowa show that street art is not the domain of big cities alone. Smaller centers are also able to use the potential of murals to build their identity, promote local history and culture, and create attractive spaces for residents and tourists. The murals in these cities often have a more personal, local character, which makes them particularly authentic and valuable elements of the cultural landscape of Lubuskie Province.

Strzelce Krajeńskie - historical mural as a testimony of heritage

Strzce Krajeńskie, a picturesque town located in the northern part of Lubuskie Province, boasts a unique mural that spectacularly commemorates the 730th anniversary of this historic town. The work, located at 14C Chrobrego Street, is not only a decoration of the urban space, but above all a fascinating lesson in the history of the local community.

The mural of the 730th anniversary of Strzelce Krajeńskie is a monumental work of art, which was created in 2016 on the occasion of the anniversary of the granting of city rights. Its uniqueness lies in the skillful combination of different eras and events that shaped the city's identity. The artist, working on this project, reached back to the medieval roots of Strzelce, immortalizing the moment of the city's incorporation by the Margraves of Brandenburg in 1286. The mural also features elements alluding to the city's distinctive architecture - the medieval defensive walls, the Mill Gate and the Gothic church, which are still a landmark of Strzelce Krajeńskie.

What is particularly interesting is that the mural depicts not only historical events, but also legends and tales associated with the city. One such motif is the story of the hidden treasure of the Knights Templar, who, according to local accounts, had their headquarters in the vicinity of Strzelce Krajeńskie. This legend, although historically unconfirmed, is an important part of local folklore and the identity of the residents, which is why it found its place on the anniversary mural.

The Strzelce mural is also distinguished by its execution technique. The artist used modern solutions that make the work change its appearance depending on the time of day - some elements are visible only at a certain angle of light, while others glow in the dark, creating a magical effect at night. This innovative technique makes the mural an attraction for both tourists visiting the city during the day and those who admire Strzelce Krajeńskie after dark.

The educational dimension of this work is worth emphasizing. The mural was designed to tell the city's history in an accessible and visually appealing way. As a result, it has become not only a decoration of the urban space, but also a tool for passing on knowledge of local history to younger generations. Local schools often hold history lessons at the mural, using it as a starting point for discussions about the history of the city and the region.

The mural of the 730th anniversary of Strzelce Krajeńskie fits perfectly into the broader context of street art in the Lubuskie region. As in the case of works from Gorzow Wielkopolski, Nowa Sol or Kargowa, here too art becomes a carrier of local identity and history. However, the Strzelce mural is distinguished by its anniversary character and special emphasis on historical narrative, which makes it a unique point on the map of Lubuskie murals.

Comparing murals from different cities in the Lubuskie region, one can notice some differences in their character and subject matter. While Gorzow's works often focus on figures related to culture and art (such as the mural dedicated to Zbigniew Herbert), and Novosol's refer to the city's industrial history, the mural in Strzelce Krajeńskie is strictly historical and jubilee-themed. This thematic diversity makes a journey along the trail of Lubuskie murals a fascinating expedition through various dimensions of local culture, history and identity.

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