Brussels Muralists Paint Migration Stories on City's Most Prominent Walls

Three large-scale murals by artists under 30 went up last weekend on the side of a former brewery building in Molenbeek, marking the start of a coordinated push by a new generation of Brussels street artists.

Street art here has long served as a visible record of the city’s changing demographics and economic strains, but the current wave arrives as municipal budgets for public culture face cuts and developers eye more central lots for housing projects. The timing matters because these pieces are appearing on sites slated for redevelopment within the next two years, giving emerging creators a narrow window to leave marks that could influence future planning decisions.

Work on specific walls and programs

In Saint-Gilles, the nonprofit group WallSpray has opened applications for its 2026 residency that pairs six young artists with building owners along Rue du Fort and Avenue de la Porte de Hal. The same organisation runs a smaller pilot on the canal-side walls near Place Sainctelette, where two completed pieces already depict daily life in the nearby Matonge quarter. A separate initiative by the city’s cultural department has designated ten blank facades in Anderlecht for the same cohort, with permits issued through October.

Local data shows the shift in numbers. A 2025 count by the Brussels Urban Heritage Office recorded 64 new murals commissioned or tolerated across the nineteen communes, up from 41 in 2023. Commission fees for the youngest artists range from 2,800 to 4,500 euros per wall, with materials supplied through a partnership that began in January 2025. WallSpray’s open call closes on 22 July, and selected participants will receive studio access at the former Usine du Gas site for four weeks.

Where to see the work and what follows

Visitors can start at the Molenbeek brewery wall reached by tram 82 at the Quatre-Vents stop, then walk fifteen minutes to the canal pieces near Sainctelette. Guided walks organised by the same groups depart every Saturday at 14:00 from Place de la Monnaie and cost 9 euros. The next batch of murals is scheduled for completion by mid-September, after which the city will publish an updated digital map listing each artist’s contact for future commissions. Anyone interested in supporting the cohort can attend the open studio day on 9 August at the Usine du Gas, where pieces in progress will be on view before installation.