Between historic facades and modern urban culture, Paderborn shows a surprisingly creative side: graffiti art has long been part of the cityscape here. What many people associate with metropolises such as Berlin, Cologne or Düsseldorf has also developed its own authentic signature here.

A lot has happened since a wall was opened in the Paderquell area in 2012: Legal surfaces, large-format façade art and urban art projects are setting accents in public spaces. Formerly gray walls have become visible statements - creative, diverse and close to the people.

Graffitimauer Busdorfgalerie

In the middle of Paderborn is a place that is hard to find in this form anywhere else in Germany: the Busdorfgalerie. A monastery wall over a hundred meters long, which was opened for graffiti art by the Sisters of Mercy of St. Vincent de Paul in 2018 - sending a strong signal for openness and dialogue.

Where once a classic monastery wall dominated the scene, a continuously growing space for urban art has since been created

Heart graffiti

The Paderborn heart graffiti in the central Paderquell area, which was redesigned in 2019, is the city's most famous graffiti. It shows the Pader as the source of Paderborn's life, which rises in the heart of the city, and is now one of the most photographed motifs in Paderborn. In the form of postcards, key rings and coffee mugs, the heart graffiti has also been a great success as a souvenir from the Pader.

Graffitistern

In 2019, the graffiti wall in the Paderquell area had to be demolished except for a small remnant due to the construction of a new school. Instead, the Graffitistern in the Paderwiesen has been in place since 2021. Since then, the three star-shaped walls have been regularly sprayed with new works of art, which graffiti artists can create here in consultation with the city.

Secret City Façade Festivals

The "Secret City Façade Festivals", which have been held every August since 2021, continue the graffiti success story in Paderborn. It is not commissioned work that is required here, but free art. Well-known graffiti artists from Germany and abroad have now adorned numerous facades and walls with their artistic creations.

Eligibility