
Valencian and Galician urban art are celebrating. The mural “Ocelote Ornamental”, by Galician artist Tirso Paz, known in the art world as Bublegum, has been awarded as the best mural in the world in the “Artist Choice” category of the Best of Awards 2024, organized by the Street Art Cities platform.
These “Oscars” of urban art have recognized the work located in Cheste (Valencia), among hundreds of international proposals, selected by a renowned jury formed by 10 urban art artists and subsequently voted by the public through the Internet.
“Ocelote Ornamental” is not just a mural, it is a tribute to nature in the heart of Cheste. The majestic figure of an ocelot, fused with ornamental filigree, emerges from the wall in a display of talent and creativity.
The style, dubbed by the artist as Ornamental Style, combines the precision of portraiture and the beauty of natural elements with influences ranging from modernist sculpture and gargoyles to tattoo art.
Those who want to visit this work closely can do so at Rey Don Jaime Street, 1, in Cheste.
For Tirso Paz, the work represents much more than a simple mural. It is a “guardian” that beautifies and protects the urban environment of Cheste: “I wanted to create a piece that was not only aesthetically impressive, but also had a message of protection and respect for the biodiversity of the planet,” explains the artist in a statement.
In addition to this recognition, Bublegum’s “Rinascimento” mural was also a finalist in the Best Of category, reaching 25th place in the global voting, which demonstrates the impact of his work in the world of urban art. With murals in Spain, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Aruba and the United States, among others, Bublegum has become a reference in urban art worldwide.
The Street Art Cities Awards, considered the “Oscars” of urban art, in its 2024 edition, counted with the participation of 97 artists from 29 countries and registered more than 310,000 votes.
In this year’s edition, the winning mural in the ‘Best Of’ category was “The Bull” by Portuguese artist Nuno Miles, located in Guarda, Portugal. In the ‘Expert Spotlight’ category, the award went to “Echoes of Harmony” by Studio Giftig, in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.