Street Art Event Happening in Düsseldorf: Graffiti and Urban Art Spectacle

In the heart of Pempelfort, the Juelicher Bridge is transformed into a vibrant canvas for the annual Urban Art Festival. This year, the event, led by festival director Celia-Maria Schmidt, brings together a diverse group of 70 artists from around the globe, including England, Greece, Italy, Brazil, and local talents from Düsseldorf.

One of the festival's most esteemed figures is Klaus Klinger, affectionately known as the "Grandfather of Urban Art." Klinger, who helped found the festival in 2013, has been painting walls since many of his colleagues were still in diapers. This year, he is involved in an advisory capacity and as an artist, with his theme for the event focusing on "Flight, expulsion, and deportation."

The urban character and location directly on the tracks of the Juelicher Bridge were the reasons for the festival's choice of venue. However, it's important to note that the event location, the Old Goods Station, was once used for the deportation of Jews during a shameful part of German history. A memorial stands inconspicuously near the bridge as a reminder of this dark past.

Local artists such as Kj263, Sven Linnert, Marc from the Majo Brothers, and Tom71 are among those contributing to the city's beautification. The festival team has also arranged a series of workshops for both the present and the next generation of artists. Screen printing, sticker, and tape art workshops are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, with no registration required.

The festivities extend beyond the visual arts, with performances by The Balkonien Gang, Djinjo, Fleur Earth, and DJ Irie Jones scheduled for Saturday. The 40 Grad Urban Art Pop-up-Store offers prints, sketches, stickers, and more for purchase from Friday to Sunday.

Food and drinks are available throughout the festival, which runs until Sunday. Artists work daily from 2 pm to 10 pm, inviting visitors to witness the creative process unfold. With no registration required, the Urban Art Festival offers a unique opportunity for the community to engage with art and artists in an immersive and interactive way.