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Public Art in Oaxaca City

GE McKerrihan
5 min readMay 3, 2022

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It is Everywhere, Amazing in Its Variety, At Times Humorous, Always Lovable

Colorful wall mural with tropical flowers, a hummingbird, and a painted skull.
“New Mural on the Acala” — Image by Author

I was on my morning walk yesterday and saw this mural on the Alcala. It was not there two days ago when I passed this way. I was stunned by its beauty.

I am amazed at how quickly things appear on the streets of Oaxaca City. And just as amazed at how quickly they disappear at times. Talk about living art. Art is definitely alive in this vibrant city.

As I looked through the many photos I have made since arriving in Oaxaca, I realized that art is everywhere, in many forms. It became obvious I needed to define my terms. I knew it would not include all the wonderful graffiti I see. But what would be included?

The historic architecture? The large block prints displayed on walls? The variety of creative expression is endless. But is it all art, with a capital “A”? I don’t have a good answer. Perhaps readers here do.

Painting of a traditional masked and decorated man.
“Wild Masked Man” — Image by Author

A large and frightening masked man inviting all to a Fiesta Traditional, a part of Carnival Oaxaca. It is such a powerful, and intriguing image. Sure looks like art to me, and it was displayed in a public square. How could I not include it?

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GE McKerrihan
GE McKerrihan

Written by GE McKerrihan

I’ve been using the camera for nearly 50 years. I write about Photography, Art, Travel, and Life. Top Writer in Photography, Art, Creativity, and Inspiration.

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