Ernest Zacharevic has painted some beautiful murals in George Town to help put the state capital of Penang on the map as the street art capital of Malaysia. Photos by Buenos Aires Street Art (article updated in July 2025).
Iconic mural by Ernest Zacharevic in George Town, Penang (photo © BA Street Art 2012)
The Lithuanian street artist visited Malaysia in 2012 as a backpacker and was commissioned by the Penang Tourist Board to create murals on six walls in places of historical interest around the city for the George Town Festival. Ernest, together with the gang at Hin Bus Depot, also started to organise gallery shows and murals around the city together with local curator Tan Chor Whye.
‘Little Children on a Bicycle’ repainted in 2025 (photo © BA Street Art)
Ernest Zacharevic’s best-known mural in George Town is called ‘Little Children on a Bicycle‘ on Armenian Street originally painted in 2012. In 2025, he restored this mural together with three other artworks. His artistic interventions also using a motorbike, chairs and furniture adorn the narrow streets and alleyways of George Town. Included below are his most famous pieces and where they are located.
Motorbike mural on Lebuh Ah Quee Street, George Town (photo © BA Street Art)
Another of Ernest’s most iconic murals is called ‘Boy on a Bike’ on Lebuh Ah Quee Street. Love the relationship between the boy with helmet painted on the old door and the juxtaposition with a real motorbike.
Dinosaur artwork Lebuh Ah Quee Street, George Town (photo © BA Street Art)
In 2025, Ernest also repainted this mural called ‘Little Boy With A Pet Dinosaur’ with (above) located on Lebuh Ah Quee Street.
Tourist next to Ernest Zacharevic mural on Cannon Street (photo © BA Street Art)
This artwork called ‘Reaching Up’ by Ernest at 14 Cannon Street features a boy reaching up towards a window. The city’s murals have now been included in an urban art trail and it’s common to see tourists posing up and even queuing to take photos in front of the different murals.
Mural by Ernest Zacharevic on Muntri Street (photo © BA Street Art)
There are two other large scale murals Ernest has painted in George Town. This one is called ‘Little Girl in Blue’ on Muntri Street showing a youngster holding herself up by her hands on top of two windows.
Mural by Ernest Zacharevic featuring a rickshaw (photo © BA Street Art)
‘The Awaiting Trishaw Pedaler’ on Penang Street is another mural by Ernest created during the Mirrors George Town project.
Alex Face
Mural by Alex Face (photo © BA Street Art)
Thai street artist Alex Face visited Malaysia on a bicycle trip in 2025 and painted four murals around George Town.
Alex Face artwork at 41 Lorong Lumut (photo © BA Street Art)
On Lorong Lumut, this fun artwork by Alex Face features a cute bunny figure peeking out from behind some sliding doors.
Third mural by Alex Face near Nagore Square (photo © BA Street Art)
Mural by U.S. artist Elle (photo © BA Street Art)
In the last few years, many foreign street artists have come to town. This mural on Bawasah Street was painted by New York-based artist Elle in November 2014 and organised by Hin Bus Depot for the project Urban Xchange.
Mural by Karl Addison in parking lot (photo © BA Street Art)
Karl Addison (Germany) was also invited to take part in Urban Xchange and painted this large scale mural in a parking lot on Beach Street.
Indian boatman by Julia Volchkova on Lebuh Klang Street (photo © BA Street Art)
Russian street artist Julia Volchkova has now visited twice and completed this mural of an Indian boatman in 2015 next to gift shop 5.4 degrees north on Lebuh Klang Street 10,200.
Mural by Ricky Lee Gordon (photo © BA Street Art)
South African artist Ricky Lee Gordon visited Malaysia in 2017 and painted this beautiful mural relating to nature on the facade of this building opposite Jen Shangri-La Hotel on Avenue Jalan Magazine.
Mural by Canadian artist Emmanuel Jarus (photo © BA Street Art)
Canadian street artist Emmanuel Jarus came to Penang in 2017 and painted this colourful mural of a boy eating a bowl of chendol that is a traditional dessert in Malaysia. It can be found above the ‘Famous Teochew Chendul’ restaurant on corner of Kheng Kwee Street and Penang Road.
Artwork by Bronik (photo © BA Street Art)
Peruvian street artist Bronik has also been to Penang and left this cool artwork of a girl with an umbrella next to this local store. We’ve also photographed street art by Bronik in Barcelona.
Mural by Sanchai on Jalan Datuk Koyah (photo © BA Street Art)
Local artists
Brother & sister on a Swing’ by Louis Gan (photo © BA Street Art)
Louis Gan, a local deaf-mute self-taught artist, is also well-known for his artworks around the city including this one on the wall of a printing warehouse along Step by Step Lane.
Artwork depicting children playing basketball (photo © BA Street Art)
On Gat Guilia Street is an artwork featuring kids jumping with a ball under a basketball hoop.
‘I want bao’ artwork on Armenian Street (photo © BA Street Art)
This artwork called ‘I want bao’ outside a pastry shop along Armenian Street makes a fun play with kids reaching for dim sum inside some bamboo steam pots.
‘Fortune Cat’ on Armenian Street (photo © BA Street Art)
‘Fortune Cat‘ on Armenian Street – one of 12 cat murals painted under the 101 Lost Kittens project to create awareness about stray and abandoned animals
Cat mural by ASA (Artists for Stray Animals) along Armenian Street (photo © BA Street Art)
Armenian Street is one of the best spots to see street art including this artwork entitled ‘Skippy Comes to Penang‘ of a giant cat painted by ASA (Artists for Stray Animals).
Mural called ‘Wo Ai Nee Malay Indian’ on Armenian St (photo © BA Street Art)
The ‘Wo Ai Nee Malay Indian‘ mural along Armenian Street on wall of the I-Box Museum of Glass depicts a Chinese, a Malay and an Indian girl in elaborate dresses.
Artwork signed ‘Penang I-Wall’ (photo © BA Street Art)
Another mural on the facade of the I-Box Museum of Glass features a peering boy painted in a similar style to a Manga comic.
Mural by Simon Tan (photo © BA Street Art)
More street art can be found around the docks area and Chew Jetty. This artwork entitled ‘Amah and Asoon‘ is one of several painted by local artist Simon Tan.
Mural by Color Fighter off Chulia St (photo © BA Street Art)
Graffiti artist and music producer Color Fighter painted a cool tiger mural in an alleyway just off Chulia Street. The artwork features a resting tiger. In 2025, it’s estimated that there are less than 150 tigers in the wild in Malaysia due to loss of habitat and hunting.
Mural on Jalan McAlister 118 of boy eating noodle bowl (photo © BA Street Art)
On the wall of 118 Hotel on Jalan McAlister, is a mural painted by three local artists Vincent Phang, Yong Li Chuan and Ang Zu He. It features a boy eating a bowl of noodles with a squirrel on his head.
Mural by Emmanuel Jarus (photo © BA Street Art)
By 1st Avenue Mall on Jalan Magazine is a large scale mural by Emmanuel Jarus featuring Swindon-based artist Caryn Koh as the model. The mall is also a good place to buy well-priced clothing, bags, toys, cellphone accessories and other items.
Hin Bus Depot
Ernest Zacharevic mural at Hin Bus Depot (photo © BA Street Art)
Hin Bus Depot is a great spot to see more murals including two by Ernest Zacharevic. The disused bus shelter is used for art, music and cultural events and also has workshops and a couple of small stores selling artisan goods.
Artwork by Ernest Zacharevic originally painted in 2013 (photo © BA Street Art)
Bird mural at Hin Bus Depot (photo © BA Street Art)
Also check out two murals that Buenos Aires Street Art and Hin Bus Depot helped organise for Argentine street artist Martin Ron in Penang here.
One was painted with Ernest Zacharevic in George Town and the other is in Butterworth.
This post was updated in 2018 and 2025 on different trips to George Town to include more recent murals painted around the city.
All photos © Buenos Aires Street Art
