Glasgow street art is taking over Instagram
Glasgow has always been bursting with cultural expression, from music to museums to history and heritage. However, there is one aspect of Glasgow's culture that is taking over – street art!
Article Source: TransPennine Express
Last Updated: 29 August 2019 18:45
The first paintings stretch back to the 1970s, when socialist-influenced murals were developed. However, the scene exploded over the last 10 years when Glasgow City Council promoted public art to clean up the city and presented an opportunity to develop local artists. Over 12,000 Instagram posts have been dedicated to the murals that adorn Glasgow’s streets. An analysis by TransPennine Express has revealed that Glasgow is one of the top cities in the North of the UK for street art, ranking third.
Photorealism artist Smug is putting Glasgow on the map with his murals, with the pieces ‘Saint Mungo’ and ‘Fellow Glasgow Residents’ named the most popular in the North in June and July. The research also looked at Glasgow’s most Instagrammed street art.
1. Saint Mungo - Smug
Smug’s most popular artwork depicts Mungo, Glasgow’s patron saint, in modern clothes. It is said that in the 6th Century, boys from Mungo’s village were throwing stones at robins, and one bird fell over. Mungo ran to it and prayed over the bird, and it flew away a while later. The villagers called it a miracle, and Smug chose to depict this in the mural, with modern day Mungo holding a robin. You can find this piece on the High Street.
2. Fellow Glasgow Residents, Smug (Pictured, photo credit @rssvision)
This enormous mural adorns the side of Ingram Street Car Park. It was commissioned by the Glasgow City Council with support by the NCP. In this bright piece, you will spot some of the varied wildlife that lives in Glasgow’s green spaces and parks throughout the seasons, such as squirrels, foxes, bees, birds and highland cows.
3. Crazy Cat Lady, Rogue One
One of Glasgow’s most celebrated street artists, Rogue One, created this fun, innocent artwork to spruce up an area that looked slightly tired on Sauchiehall Street. It depicts a lady knitting with three cars playing around her feet. This crazy cat lady even has feline inspired slippers, and Grumpy Cat wallpaper.
4. Saint Enoch and Child, Smug
Complimenting the image of Saint Mungo, this mural on High Street interprets the founding story of Glasgow; St Thenue/Enoch cradling her beloved St Kentigern/Mungo. The tenderness of the image is partly what makes it so popular, with many Instagrammers stating it reminds them of their relationship with their children.
5. Glasgow's Tiger, Klingatron & Art Pistol
This piece on Clyde Street by Klingatron and Art Pistol replaced another mural of a tiger, which was very popular, having been commissioned in 2010 by Tiger Beer. The new piece was initially met with scepticism as people thought it was too literal and less bright than the original tiger, but it is now one of Glasgow’s most popular pieces.
6. Honey... I Shrunk the Kids, Smug
An enormous photorealistic piece on Mitchell Street by Smug pays tribute to the film of the same name. It shows a girl with a magnifying glass who appears to be picking an object up off the street. If you position the photo correctly, it can look like she is picking up people.
7. Wind Power, Rogue One & Art Pistol
This pretty piece by Rogue One and Art Pistol was originally conceived as a live installation. It celebrates sustainable energy production in Glasgow and Scotland as a whole. It is located on Mitchell Street – one of four pieces in the top 10 to be found here, showing this area is a real thriving street art hotspot.
8. The World's Most Economical Taxi, Rogue One
Rogue One created another cool, conceptual piece with this taxi-powered-by-balloons depicted on Mitchell Street. The attention to detail is astounding – the artist painted a brick wall on to a brick wall, after all.
9. Glasgow's Panda, Klingatron
It’s well documented that Scotland loves a panda, after the nation was captured by the story of Tian Tian and Yang Guang, two giant pandas from Edinburgh Zoo. Thanks to Klingatron, Glasgow has one too – living beside the bamboo gates of Gordon Lane, off Mitchell Street.
10. Boba Fett, Rogue One
Rogue One rounds out the top 10 with one of his newest pieces, depicting Boba Fett from Star Wars. The piece was painted during the recent Yardworks Festival and can be found on Eastvale Place, at the popular SWG3 event space.
You can see all of Glasgow’s most Instagrammed street art, as well as other pieces around the North of the UK , via the TransPennine Express website.
Sponsored Links
Latest Glasgow News
Pavilion Festival Unveils 2025 Lineup with James, Ewan McVicar, Annie Mac, Ben Hemsley, Happy Mondays and more
Pavilion Festival has today announced the huge lineup for its third year on Ayr Beach with James, Annie Mac, Happy Mondays, Ewan McVicar, Ben Hemsley and more playing live!
READ MORE
Ricky Tomlinson returns to head the cast in this fantastic feelgood musical comedy
Smash-hit musical comedy Irish Annie's is embarking on a new major nationwide tour in 2025, returning to the Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow on 13th June!
READ MORE
Buchanan Galleries launches its Made in Glasgow 2025 initiative, encouraging the next generation to reimagine the future of retail
Buchanan Galleries has launched its enterprise challenge, Made in Glasgow, today with St Mungos Academy and Shawlands Academy.
READ MORE
Full cast announced for Death Of A Salesman, coming to Glasgow in March
Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman, one of the greatest plays of the Twentieth Century is coming to The Pavilion Theatre Glasgow as part of a new tour starring David Hayman.
READ MORE
Trust launches storm appeal following extensive damage across Scotland
The National Trust for Scotland has launched an appeal to support emergency work needed to deal with the devastating destruction caused by Storm Éowyn.
READ MORE
Galactic Carnival is landing in Glasgow
Scotland’s favourite out-of-this-world event, Galactic Carnival, is preparing to launch in Glasgow this spring, promising an intergalactic adventure packed with thrills!
READ MORE
Scottish Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home Show launches a mythical map of Scotland with lead Scottish tour company
The biggest show of its kind in Scotland has partnered with Andy The Highlander to create an Enchanted Map of Scotland's most enchanted locations.
READ MORE
Scottish hospitality group serves up new digital loyalty scheme to cut customer bills
Scottish hospitality group, Signature, has launched an innovative new digital loyalty scheme to help cost-conscious customers save money dining out.
READ MORE
Flight Club announces epic competition to celebrate 10th Birthday
The Social Darts bar, with venues in Glasgow and Edinburgh, turns 10 this year and kicks off the year-long celebrations with a seriously cool competition!
READ MORE
Silverburn champions future leaders through Braveheart Challenge
Over 80 pupils from St Paul's High School in Pollok took part in the national enterprise programme.
READ MORE
Scottish Golf events go LIVE for 2025
Top amateurs and handicap golfers can now sign up for one or more of Scottish Golf's 33 championships in a packed 2025 schedule.
READ MORE
Live Music Now Scotland announces unparalleled new award
Live Music Now Scotland is delighted to announce a funding award of £150,000 from Elizabeth Lornie's Charitable Trust.
READ MORE
Pavilion Festival returns to Ayr Beach with Saturday lineup curated by Ewan McVicar
Pavilion Festival Presents: Ewan McVicar B2B Ben Hemsley, special guest Annie Mac, along with DJ Seinfeld, Sally C, Robert Hood (Floorplan) and more on Saturday 3rd May!
READ MORE
BBC Debate Night returns for 2025
BBC Scotland's topical TV programme Debate Night returns this month and they are searching for people to be part of the big studio audience.
READ MORE
Looking For Laughs: The dating show with a difference
Are you tired of the same old dating shows? Ready for something new, fresh, and LOL funny? Look no further than Looking for Laughs, the dating show that's turning the concept upside down!
READ MORE
First Look: Mar Hall to reopen in Spring 2025
Spearheaded by independent Glasgow-based design studio, Graven, the renovation will see a complete transformation and expansion of one of Scotland’s most established heritage hotels.
READ MORE
Strictly professional Janette Manrara to make stage debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago The Musical at the Kings Theatre Glasgow
The King's Theatre are delighted to announce that former Strictly Come Dancing professional Janette Manrara will join the UK tour of CHICAGO as Roxie Hart, making her musical theatre debut!
READ MORE
Celebrate Chinese New Year with a roster of blockbusters at Vue venues in Scotland
Vue venues across Scotland will be showcasing a mixture of the latest big screen blockbusters from China as well as an anniversary screening of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
READ MORE
Dine out for under a tenner as Platform announces its new lunchtime offering
Platform announces its new lunchtime offering to help beat those January Blues without breaking the bank.
READ MORE
Glasgow student becomes first ever Scottish voice to feature on Ring video doorbells
A woman from Glasgow has become the first ever Scottish voice to be heard on Ring Video Doorbells, following a nationwide casting search by the smart home security company.
READ MORE
Top attractions reward local residents with special offers to say thank you and celebrate Glasgow 850
Glasgow Attractions have launched a series of special offers to celebrate Glasgow 850 and to thank residents for making the city a great place to visit!
READ MORE
Dobbies free February workshops
Dobbies Garden Centres’ popular Little Seedlings Club and Grow How workshops return for February, inviting gardeners and families to get hands-on at these free sessions.
READ MORE
Casting announced for Scottish premiere of Tina
The King's Theatre Glasgow are delighted to announce the full cast for the Scottish premiere of hit production Tina - The Tina Turner Musical, as part of its first ever UK and Ireland tour.
READ MORE
Full programme announced for Glasgow Film Festival 2025
Glasgow Film Festival 2025 has announced the full programme for its 21st edition. Scotland's largest annual celebration of cinema will showcase 92 World, UK and Scottish premieres from 39 countries.
READ MORE
Glasgow 850 kicks off a year of festivities with programme launch
Glasgow City Council has officially launched its Glasgow 850 programme for 2025, a spectacular year-long celebration marking 850 years since the city gained Burgh status!
READ MORE
Karen Hauer & Gorka Marquez are back with their biggest ever tour for 2025!
Strictly Come Dancing professionals Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez are thrilled to bring their all-new show SPEAKEASY to Glasgow Royal Concert Hall next month!
READ MORE
Social run club marks 1st Anniversary with complimentary hosted run and coffee morning
Glasgow's leading running club, Solemates, is marking its first anniversary in style by teaming up with Granary Quay to host a unique social run club and coffee morning.
READ MORE
New opening: The Noble Public House is set to launch in Glasgow city centre
The Noble is set to open next month in Glasgow's city centre, re-imagining the classic British pub and taking an elevated yet unpretentious approach to hospitality.
READ MORE
WestFest is back for its third annual festival this June
After a successful 2024 festival, comprising over 130 events and reaching total audience numbers of over 110,000, the third annual WestFest will take place this year from 1st to 29th June.
READ MORE
Pawsome New Year Resolutions remove over 39 million pieces of litter
Dog owners making an environmental New Year Resolution have boosted the ranks of the “PAWS ON PLASTIC’ charity to 27,000.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links