Local street artists don’t just decorate walls; they respond to Hungarian life in ways that are playful, nostalgic, critical or quietly thought-provoking. Here are five Hungarian street artists whose work you’re likely to come across as you explore Budapest and beyond.

1. 0036Mark

Hungarian street artist 0036Mark grew up in the final years of communism and draws heavily on the visual world of 1970s–80s cartoons from the region. One Christmas, he began mentally mixing characters from his childhood with international films and global pop culture — and that mash-up approach has defined his work ever since.

In his universe, the cult Hungarian animation Cat City (Macskafogó) can collide with Die Hard, and the beloved Rabbit with Chequered Ears (Kockásfülű nyúl) might reappear as a fashion-obsessed figure carrying Burberry luggage.

Mark mainly works with paste-ups, often large enough to catch your eye — but usually only if you’re paying attention. His pieces are most common in District VII (the old Jewish Quarter) and the wider downtown area, though he also “marks” places when travelling, so his characters occasionally pop up abroad too.

Behind the humour there’s often a social angle. One rabbit referenced an eco-friendly decision by a British fashion label, while a witch in District VII warned tourists about buying fake drugs on the street.

Many locals have grown fond of his work because it taps into shared memories. One well-known piece combines characters from DuckTales with Hungary’s first democratically elected president, József Antall. In 1993, a broadcast of the Disney cartoon was interrupted to announce Antall’s death — a moment that still resonates with generations who remember exactly where they were.

2. Box With Wings

Over the past few years, stickers of a small flying cartoon box have appeared across Budapest and other Hungarian towns. The artist behind Box With Wings describes themself as a maximalist — a quiet rebellion against the “less is more” design trend.

They remain anonymous, arguing that the identity matters less than the ideas. After all, people remember Batman, not Bruce Wayne.

Inside the drawn boxes you’ll often find short messages. Some are in Hungarian and refer to politics; others are in English and more universal in tone:

“Irony is not a joke” or “If you cannot do what you love, love what you can do.”

Sometimes the box morphs — triangular, one-eyed, almost godlike, gazing down at passers-by. Keep an eye on street signs, poles and walls in Budapest, but also in places like Szentendre and Pécs. The character travels — the box, after all, can fly.

3. Bamamo Budapest

Drawing on a wave of 1980s–90s nostalgia, Bamamo Budapest gives street art a slightly retro, newspaper-like aesthetic. The palette is limited — white, black, greys and a touch of red — but the references are layered.

Floppy disks, everyday objects and pop culture figures appear side by side. One paste-up shows Michael Knight from Knight Rider alongside “Taki bácsi” from Szomszédok (The Neighbours), a long-running Hungarian TV series from the late socialist era.
 

For expats, decoding Bamamo’s work can be an entertaining crash course in Hungarian cultural memory from the past three decades, seen through a graphic, collage-like lens.

4. v.01.d

Void is known for colourful, expressive faces painted inside oval shapes — a motif that has become his signature. The style grew out of years of sketching in a black notebook, and today his characters have become familiar elements of the urban landscape.

One of his most photographed works is a green door near Szimpla Kert, Budapest’s best-known ruin bar. It’s the kind of piece that often ends up on Instagram feeds, but in person the texture and layering are what stand out.

Void’s real name is Gergely, and like many street artists he has had run-ins with the authorities. That hasn’t stopped him from continuing to add colour to the city, one face at a time.

5. Miss KK

Miss KK is one of the notable female figures in Hungary’s street art scene. Although she is also known locally as a fashion designer, she keeps her identity partly hidden in photos, often covering her mouth with her hand.

Influenced by graffiti and hip-hop since her school years, she developed a style based on newspaper clippings and digital editing, creating doll-like female figures. These collages combine model faces, fashion brands and iconic accessories, then move from screen to street.

Her pieces usually appear on worn walls, old phone booths and construction-site surfaces. They often carry short messages, such as “Too much ego will kill your talent,” blending fashion imagery with commentary on ambition, identity and image.

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