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Tahiti Graffiti Ono'u Street Art Papeete 3 Tahiti Tourisme © Kristiyan Markov
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Kristiyan Markov

Urban design

Papeete street art trail

Estimated duration: 1h30

By foot, bike or scooter.

PAPEETE, AN OPEN-AIR MUSEUM

A pair of sneakers, a baseball cap, a bottle of water and a camera. Now you’re ready to discover Papeete from a completely different angle. But you’re going to have to look up, because it’s all taking place up on the walls. From 2014 to 2018, thanks to an initiative of Polynesian businesswoman Sarah Roopinia, the city of Papeete played host to the Ono’u festival of Tahiti. This street art festival brought together many well-known international artists as well as the cream of our local talent. The result is a veritable open-air museum of modern street art.

So let’s take to the streets!

Tahiti Graffiti Ono'u Street Art Papeete 4

Kristiyan Markov

Ferry terminalOff we go

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“Le Marché De Robots” at the Ferry Terminal in Papeete byLéon Keer
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Street Art Tahiti

A good place to start the street art trail in Papeete is in front of the ferry terminal. As the Moorea ferries come and go, take a look at the 3D image on the floor. Painted by Léon Keer, it portrays a joyful group of robots which come to life as you walk by. A ‘trompe l’oeil’ which amuses both children and adults alike.

Leave the ferry terminal and head for Papeete Market where three local artists came together to paint this four-color fresco. Abuz, Jops and HTJ are well-known names in the world of Tahitian street art and this fresco, which represents the face of a tiki, was painted by them in 2016. It features all the symbols that characterize their work, including the tiki, the shark and the vahine.

Papeete Marketfour-color fresco

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Fresque quadricolore Du Marché De Papeete Par Abuz, Htj Et Jops© Tahiti Heritage
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Tahiti Heritage

Partie 2

Stage 3
Stage 4

Rue Edouard Ahnne The vahine in a red tīfaifai

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The Red Tahitian Girl by Seth Et Htj - Tahiti Tourisme
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Tuania Tufafau

This is without doubt the best-known and best-loved fresco of all. On a huge wall, it depicts a young Tahitian girl lying asleep on a red and white tīfaifai (bedcover) or pareo. Imagined by the artist Seth, it was painted by him and local artist HTJ. Take your time to observe it in detail, it will surprise you. As a matter of interest, this work of art featured on a postage stamp issued by the local Post Office, Fare Rata.

Rue d’Urmont d’UrvilleThe Tahitian girls of La Mennais…

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The Faces by Kobra - Tahiti Tourisme
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Tuania Tufafau

The Brazilian artist Eduardo Kubra is known for the multi-colored diamond shapes on the faces he paints. The two Tahitian girls whose faces adorn the wall of La Mennais college are no exception. The colors on their faces draw your attention as their eyes seem to pierce right through you.

Partie 3

Stage 5
Stage 6

… the portrait by VHILS

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The Sculpted Vahine at La Mennais College by Vhils - Tahiti Tourisme
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Tuania Tufafau

Papeete can be proud of having welcomed one of the best street artists in the world, Alexandre Fartos, known as VHILS. On yet another wall of La Mennais college, the artist used a jackhammer to create the black and white portrait of a young girl. The asperities in the wall give depth to the image and it is a truly remarkable work of art.

Rue du Dr Cassiau vahine wearing a blue mask

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Portrait Of Harehia by Findac - Tahiti Tourisme
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Tuania Tufafau

As you go down Rue du Dr Cassiau in the direction of Avenue du Général de Gaulle, turn your head to the right. Staring straight back at you is a beautiful and mysteriousvahine wearing a blue mask. Proud and modern, she holds a native bird of The Islands of Tahiti in each hand. The bright blues of the painting will remind you of the colors of our lagoons. This vahine is the work of the Irish artist, Findac.

Partie 4

Stage 7
Stage 8

Avenue du Général de Gaulle The blossoming vahine

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The Vahine by Vinie - Tahiti Tourisme
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Tuania Tufafau

A soft and gentle figure which exudes an air of contentment. The blossoming vahine painted by the artist Vinie is a breath of fresh air on the streets of Papeete. At the end of Avenue du Général de Gaulle, it is one of our best-loved works because of her wholesome, unreserved beauty. A second blossoming vahine by the same artist can be seen in the district of the Mission.

La femme au fruitAt Paofai

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La Femme Au Fruit by Okuda - Tahiti Tourisme
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Tuania Tufafau

If you like color, then you will adore the work of the artist Okuda. After having created the majestic birds downstairs at the Vaima Center, he pays homage to Paul Gauguin with this free interpretation of ‘La femme au fruit’ on the wall of Paofai clinic.

And so ends our street art trail. But there are more than thirty other works to see, so continue to wander along the streets and avenues of the city and take your time to enjoy them all. And if you visit the island of Raiatea, you’ll be able to admire the colorful images on the walls of Uturoa, the fruit of the Ono’u street art festival when it was held there in 2018.