Walls as Canvas: Panama City's Street Art Culture Takes Root
Panama City has emerged as one of Central America's more active centers for urban art, with murals and graffiti-style works appearing across a range of neighborhoods that span the city's sharp economic contrasts. From the cobblestone streets of the UNESCO-listed Casco Viejo district to the densely populated corridors of El Chorrillo and La Exposición, painted walls have become a consistent feature of the urban landscape.
A District of Particular Significance
Casco Viejo, the city's historic quarter, has served as a focal point for sanctioned mural work. As the neighborhood underwent gradual gentrification over recent decades, local organizations and property owners began commissioning murals as part of cultural and tourism initiatives. The area now draws visitors specifically for its painted architecture alongside its colonial-era buildings and plazas.
Outside the historic center, unsanctioned street art continues to appear on transport infrastructure, residential walls, and commercial shutters. This work often carries social and political themes, reflecting conditions specific to Panama's urban communities, including inequality, environmental concerns related to the Panama Canal expansion zone, and Afro-Panamanian and Indigenous cultural identity.
Regional and International Influence
Panama's geographic position as a transit hub has contributed to cross-cultural artistic exchange. Artists from Colombia, Venezuela, and other parts of Latin America have left work in the city, and Panamanian artists have participated in regional street art festivals. The country's proximity to Colombia, which hosts some of the hemisphere's most recognized urban art scenes in cities such as Medellín and Bogotá, has been a documented point of influence.
Municipal authorities have held varying stances on unsanctioned street art, at times commissioning public murals while periodically enforcing restrictions on unauthorized works. Festival-based formats, in which artists are invited to paint designated surfaces, have helped formalize parts of the scene without eliminating its grassroots character.
Remaining Questions
How municipal policy will evolve regarding unsanctioned works remains unclear. The degree to which street art is integrated into Panama's formal tourism infrastructure, beyond Casco Viejo, also warrants continued observation.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage List (Casco Viejo designation); Panama Tourism Authority public documentation; general reporting by regional outlets including La Prensa Panamá and El País América.
Several verified sources, together with artificial intelligence, were used in the preparation of this article. The content was reviewed by our editorial team prior to publication. Disclosure provided in accordance with Article 50 of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act).