About Us
Over the years, the international Stenograffia street art festival in Yekaterinburg has produced numerous works that have become iconic city landmarks.
Without proper context, however, their meaning and the story behind their creation are often lost to the viewer.
Without proper context, however, their meaning and the story behind their creation are often lost to the viewer.
3500
tours over 16 years
participants
15000
54
guides trained
Stenograffia
One of Russia’s largest and longest-running international street art festivals, Stenograffia has been transforming the face of Yekaterinburg since 2010. The story of this project is a journey from a bold grassroots initiative to an established cultural institution.
Key milestones: the 2010 launch, marking the beginning of large-scale engagement with Yekaterinburg’s urban landscape
Stenograffia
One of Russia’s largest and longest-running international street art festivals, Stenograffia has been transforming the face of Yekaterinburg since 2010. The story of this project is a journey from a bold grassroots initiative to an established cultural institution.
From 2015 to 2019 — geographic expansion under Gazprom Neft’s
“Native Towns” social investment programme
“Native Towns” social investment programme
Stenograffia
One of Russia’s largest and longest-running international street art festivals, Stenograffia has been transforming the face of Yekaterinburg since 2010. The story of this project is a journey from a bold grassroots initiative to an established cultural institution.
Successful adaptation of the festival format during the pandemic from 2020 onwards
Stenograffia
One of Russia’s largest and longest-running international street art festivals, Stenograffia has been transforming the face of Yekaterinburg since 2010. The story of this project is a journey from a bold grassroots initiative to an established cultural institution.
Since 2022, Stenograffia has remained a vital platform for cultural exchange and bringing artists together, holding its ground as an impactful event in a shifting geopolitical reality
Summer 2025
Stenograffia has now completed its 16th edition. Its core mission remains unchanged: transforming urban surfaces into landmarks, encouraging artistic experimentation, and bringing people together in the spirit of creation. Over 16 years, the festival has forged a fresh visual landscape in Yekaterinburg, helping residents develop a genuine love for their city.
A Brief History of Street Art in Yekaterinburg
In the 1980s, Yekaterinburg’s street art emerged from the underground through spontaneous art actions and the work of legendary artist Old Man B.U. Kashkin.
A Brief History of Street Art in Yekaterinburg
The turning point came in the 1990s. With the influx of Western culture into the country, the first graffiti writers appeared, such as the Destroyers crew. They went “bombing” on commuter trains and fences, plastering the entire city with pieces and tags.
A Brief History of Street Art in Yekaterinburg
The 2000s marked the formative period for public art in Yekaterinburg. Street art stepped out of the underground as the first legal projects emerged, including “Long Stories of Yekaterinburg” and the Stenograffia festival from 2010 onwards. City authorities and local businesses began to view street art as a valuable tool for urban improvement.
A Brief History of Street Art in Yekaterinburg
The 2010s saw large-scale murals reshape the face of both the city centre and its outskirts. The capital of the Urals welcomed international creators alongside acclaimed Russian artists. Public art became an integral part of the city’s brand: “Yekaterinburg, the Street Art Capital of Russia”.
A Brief History of Street Art in Yekaterinburg
The 2020s: today, Yekaterinburg’s street art represents a complex ecosystem spanning classic graffiti and conceptual statements to sophisticated content-driven projects designed for active dialogue with the city.
A Brief History of Street Art in Yekaterinburg
In the 1980s, Yekaterinburg’s street art emerged from the underground through spontaneous art actions and the work of legendary artist Old Man B.U. Kashkin.
A Brief History of Street Art in Yekaterinburg
The turning point came in the 1990s. With the influx of Western culture into the country, the first graffiti writers appeared, such as the Destroyers crew. They went “bombing” on commuter trains and fences, plastering the entire city with pieces and tags.
A Brief History of Street Art in Yekaterinburg
The 2000s marked the formative period for public art in Yekaterinburg. Street art stepped out of the underground as the first legal projects emerged, including “Long Stories of Yekaterinburg” and the Stenograffia festival from 2010 onwards. City authorities and local businesses began to view street art as a valuable tool for urban improvement.
A Brief History of Street Art in Yekaterinburg
The 2010s saw large-scale murals reshape the face of both the city centre and its outskirts. The capital of the Urals welcomed international creators alongside acclaimed Russian artists. Public art became an integral part of the city’s brand: “Yekaterinburg, the Street Art Capital of Russia”.
A Brief History of Street Art in Yekaterinburg
The 2020s: today, Yekaterinburg’s street art represents a complex ecosystem spanning classic graffiti and conceptual statements to sophisticated content-driven projects designed for active dialogue with the city.
Recommendations for a walk
- A bottle of drinking water.
- A fully charged phone or camera.
- A power bank.
- A comfortable backpack or waist bag (to keep your hands free for taking photos).
- Wet wipes and hand sanitiser: for after touching outdoor surfaces (you can actually touch the mosaics on our tour).
- Sun cream and a hat (summer) or an umbrella (autumn/spring).
Footwear: comfortable shoes (like trainers). Be ready for loads of walking.
Clothing: practical and comfortable, keeping the weather and extended time outdoors in mind.
Clothing: practical and comfortable, keeping the weather and extended time outdoors in mind.
Duration: the suggested tour usually takes around three hours.
Distance: roughly five kilometres.
Good to know: the route often winds through courtyards and back alleys, so be prepared for a change of scenery.
Distance: roughly five kilometres.
Good to know: the route often winds through courtyards and back alleys, so be prepared for a change of scenery.
- Be mindful of people around you: keep pavements clear, give way to pedestrians, and take extra care at pedestrian crossings and driveway entrances.
- Do not step into the road, even if it offers a better view of an artwork.
- Treat the artists’ work with respect: do not leave tags or scribbles on murals, and do not chip away at the plaster.
The best time to explore murals is in sunny weather, when the colours truly come alive and every detail is clearly visible.
Viewing murals at night makes it difficult to appreciate the artist’s painstaking detail. Consider the time of day carefully when planning your tour.
Viewing murals at night makes it difficult to appreciate the artist’s painstaking detail. Consider the time of day carefully when planning your tour.
Walking Route
01 This Music Will Last Forever — 02 Malachite — 03 The Elbow Is Close, but You Cannot Bite It — 04 The Dragon — 05 The Warmth Room — 06 We are not alone — 07 Neural Street Art — 08 Dawn of a New Era — 09 Young Yuri Gagarin — 10 The Wall of Angels — 11 The Connection of Two — 12 Untitled — 13 Coloured talismans and the old new spells — 14 Alexander Nevsky — 15 Sun is shining, weather is sweet — 16 On the Shore of This Quiet River
01 This Music Will Last Forever
02 Malachite
03 The Elbow Is Close, but You Cannot Bite It
04 The Dragon
05 The Warmth Room
06 We are not alone
07 Neural Street Art
08 Dawn of a New Era
09 Young Yuri Gagarin
10 The Wall of Angels
11 The Connection of Two
12 Untitled
13 Coloured talismans and the old new spells
14 Alexander Nevsky
15 Sun is shining, weather is sweet
16 On the Shore of This Quiet River
02 Malachite
03 The Elbow Is Close, but You Cannot Bite It
04 The Dragon
05 The Warmth Room
06 We are not alone
07 Neural Street Art
08 Dawn of a New Era
09 Young Yuri Gagarin
10 The Wall of Angels
11 The Connection of Two
12 Untitled
13 Coloured talismans and the old new spells
14 Alexander Nevsky
15 Sun is shining, weather is sweet
16 On the Shore of This Quiet River
Tap the first stop to begin your journey
How to Experience Street Art
We don't simply produce eye-catching, pretty imagery. We imbue spaces with meaning, making them feel truly cherished. We have seen with our own eyes how people can completely change their relationship with a place, even the most dreary. All it takes is a splash of paint and a touch of care. When you genuinely enjoy your surroundings, you become that little bit happier. Since our environment shapes who we are, a great city naturally brings out the best in its people.
How to Experience Street Art
We know of countless examples where businesses and local officials, taking responsibility for the city and its people, seek out artists on their own initiative — and rightly so. Street art can directly influence urban development and boost a city’s prestige. Socially responsible businesses understand very well that the appeal of an area draws people in, inspiring them to live and work right here rather than move away. This is vital for keeping the city vibrant and buzzing with life.
In 2020, we curated the TchÖ Festival, which saw artworks created all across the city. The public art programme was initiated by the property developer Atomstroykomplex — a local business that stepped up to drive regional development in a major way.
In 2020, we curated the TchÖ Festival, which saw artworks created all across the city. The public art programme was initiated by the property developer Atomstroykomplex — a local business that stepped up to drive regional development in a major way.
How to Experience Street Art
Think about the news headlines in almost any regional city: more often than not, they focus on something negative. Street art, on the other hand, generates a positive buzz in the media. The more art there is, the more frequently the city appears across social feeds and news outlets in an uplifting context. This helps the city stand out on the country's cultural map, leaving a lasting impression while naturally drawing in tourists.
In 2019, the SPEKTR team helped Grozny make the news for a genuinely positive reason. The artists took the republic’s history and told it through murals for both the local community and visitors. Locals loved seeing their symbols of national pride spark interest among artists and journalists alike — an outcome that proved immensely beneficial for the city.
In 2019, the SPEKTR team helped Grozny make the news for a genuinely positive reason. The artists took the republic’s history and told it through murals for both the local community and visitors. Locals loved seeing their symbols of national pride spark interest among artists and journalists alike — an outcome that proved immensely beneficial for the city.
How to Experience Street Art
Every city has locations that people actively avoid. Street art can reclaim these spots or, conversely, draw special attention to them. Put simply, the artwork commands all the focus. By creating a piece in a run-down environment, we reshape its narrative. A wall looks run-down? We conceal it within the context. An unnoticed, dreary space? We turn it into a city highlight, giving it a fresh look and a new story. In doing so, we can change a person's relationship with a place while transforming entire locations, entire districts, and entire cities.
A great illustration of this is the artwork MEGA SUPER NOVA ULTRA in Omsk. A massive, blank grey shopping centre wall became a canvas for the artists from SPEKTR and Hot Singles in Your Area, capturing the attention of the media, influencers, and even Timur Bekmambetov.
A great illustration of this is the artwork MEGA SUPER NOVA ULTRA in Omsk. A massive, blank grey shopping centre wall became a canvas for the artists from SPEKTR and Hot Singles in Your Area, capturing the attention of the media, influencers, and even Timur Bekmambetov.
How to Experience Street Art
In conclusion: by changing our relationship with space through creating murals, we can improve how any city is perceived by a vast cross-section of people looking to visit or even relocate there. Granted, many places lack the monumental historical weight of Rome, Paris, or St Petersburg with their rich cultural heritage. Through street art, however, we can reshape the conversation around other cities, endowing them with new values, comfort, and landmark attractions. That is why cities need art.
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