Murals, walls and public art
Murals and street pieces are made for a place, not for a collector. Most of them never reach the market – and those that do raise legal questions.
Murals, graffiti and public installations belong to the place they were made for: a building, a subway station, a square. The wall usually belongs to the building's owner, the copyright to the artist. That is why these works are rarely sold – and why their value is cultural rather than financial.
When wall pieces do appear on the market, they have usually been removed from a building. Many artists refuse to authenticate removed works, and ownership can be disputed. The legitimate market for these artists lies in their studio works: paintings, drawings and prints.
What kinds of wall and public art are there?
Commissioned murals
Painted on behalf of a building owner, city or institution – often protected and documented.
Street art and graffiti
Made without commission on walls, shutters and trains – part of urban culture, usually without a market.
Public sculpture and installations
Site-specific works commissioned by cities and institutions, such as fountains and monumental figures.
Wall fragments
Pieces cut or removed from buildings – legally and ethically delicate.
Photographs and documentation
Photographs of walls by the artist or photographers can be collected in their own right.
What drives the value
- Ownership: Without clear ownership of the wall and permission for its removal, a sale is risky.
- Authentication: Artists or their estates may refuse to certify removed works – which makes them hard to sell.
- Studio works instead: For most street and public artists, the market lies in paintings, prints and objects made for sale.
- Condition: Removed fragments are often damaged; transfer and restoration are costly.
How to check what you have
- Origin: Where and when was the piece made, and who owned the wall?
- Permission: Is there documentation that it was removed legally, with the owner's consent?
- Artist's position: Does the artist or the authentication body accept removed works at all?
- Alternatives: Check whether the artist made studio works or editions of the same motif.
Murals and walls by the artists in our guides
How this type of work looks in the market of individual artists – with links to their full profiles, auction records and authenticity checks.
Keith Haring
Murals: Public walls worldwide, among them Crack is Wack in New York (1986) and Tuttomondo in Pisa (1989).
Jaume Plensa
Public installations: Site-specific works such as the Crown Fountain, commissioned by cities and institutions.
André Saraiva
Walls: Street pieces stay where they are; they are not part of a legitimate art market.
Questions
Can I sell a mural or street art piece removed from a wall?
Legally it is complicated: the wall belongs to the building's owner, and many artists refuse to authenticate removed pieces. Get legal advice first.
Are murals worth anything?
Culturally, often a great deal. Financially, most murals have no market because they cannot be moved or sold.
Who owns a mural on my building?
Usually the building owner owns the wall, while the artist keeps the copyright. Rules differ by country.
Do you own work by a street or public artist?
Photograph the front, the back and any marks, signatures or seals, and get a free estimate. For insurance, a sale or an estate, order an appraisal with a notarized signature.
This guide explains general market rules. It is not an appraisal; the value of a specific work depends on its artist, condition and provenance.