Walls Cambodia

Discover Cambodia’s Growing Urban Art Scene at Walls Cambodia Festival

art festival // AUG 31, 2023 // C. KEO 

Cambodia’s urban art scene is experiencing an exciting transformation, with a handful of trailblazing artists leading the charge. Among them is Theo Valier, a name that’s becoming synonymous with the street art movement in the Kingdom. If you’ve been keeping an eye on Cambodia’s evolving urban art landscape, you’ve likely heard of him. 

Last weekend, Phnom Penh hosted
Walls Cambodia, a vibrant street art festival organized by Theo Valier. The festival aims to cultivate the burgeoning street art community in Cambodia and took place in the heart of the city, at Palace Lane—an alleyway tucked behind a few bars, including the underground artist hotspot, Bong Bong Bong. This hidden gem has now become a canvas for stunning murals.

The festival spotlighted rising local talents like
Koeng Rithy, Sokheng, Daro Sam, and Rhanon Phal, who collaborated to transform a once-ordinary wall into a stunning work of art. Adding to the underground vibe, rap group B-Side debuted their new EP, bringing the sounds of Cambodia’s emerging hip-hop scene to the streets.

Theo Valier also invited me and the featured artists to design custom skateboard decks, created specifically for this event. You can still see these unique pieces on display at Bong Bong Bong, and they’re worth checking out while enjoying the bar’s eclectic atmosphere.

Curious to see more? Head over to the
Walls Cambodia Facebook page for photos and highlights from the event. And if you’re in Phnom Penh, be sure to drop by Palace Lane and witness this new wave of Cambodian creativity firsthand.