Street art murals: photos, prints, paintings and books
A mural is a large painting applied directly to a wall, often commissioned by a city, a festival or a building owner. Street art murals can cover an entire facade and are made to be seen by everyone who passes by. Because the wall itself stays where it is, most collectors experience these works through photographs, prints and books rather than by owning the original surface.
What you find in this category
- Mural photo prints: photographs of painted walls, sold as prints, posters or framed pieces.
- Original mural paintings: smaller paintings and studies on canvas or panel by artists who also work on walls, plus sketches made while planning a wall.
- Mural art books: photo books, festival catalogs and city guides that document street art murals from many places.
- Mural books: monographs on individual artists and books on the history and techniques of large-scale wall painting.
Photos and books are an affordable way to follow the work of mural artists, especially since many walls are painted over or demolished over time. Once a wall has been buffed, a good photograph may be the only record left.
What to check before you buy
Ask who took a photo and who painted the wall. A photograph of a famous mural is the photographer's work, not the painter's, so a print of it is a different thing from a print released by the artist. For paintings, look for a hand signature, details on the medium and clear photos of the front and back.
- Be very careful with anything described as cut or removed from a wall. A street piece taken from a building raises legal and ethical questions, ownership can be unclear, and artists often do not recognize such pieces.
- Terms such as "in the style of" or "inspired by" usually mean the work is not by the artist named.
- Check paper items for creases, stains and fading, and books for missing pages or damaged covers.
The listings come from independent eBay sellers and are not checked by us.
Already own a mural painting or print?
If you have a painting, study or print connected to street art murals and want a first idea of what it could be worth, upload a few photos for a free estimate on StreetArtValue.com. It is a quick starting point before you buy, sell or insure a piece.