Wall Stories: Twenty Years of Studio Giftig

You have probably walked past their work without knowing their names. Studio Giftig, the Eindhoven street-art duo of Niels van Swaemen and Kaspar van Leek, has been painting murals on walls in Eindhoven and far beyond for twenty years. From 17 October to 14 November 2026, the free exhibition Wall Stories at the Muziekgebouw Eindhoven tells the story behind those walls.

From sketch to facade

A mural on a building looks effortless when it is finished, but it starts long before the first spray can is opened. Wall Stories shows the whole process: the first ideas and concept sketches, the design, the preparations and finally the finished work on the facade. The exhibition brings together original sketches, process images and the stories behind the murals, so you see how an idea grows into a work of art several storeys high.

On top of that, Studio Giftig shows a series of new works on canvas and panel, made especially for this exhibition and shown for the first time. It is a rare chance to see the artists' work up close, at eye level, instead of looking up at a wall.

Best mural in the world, twice

Studio Giftig is not just a local favourite. The duo has twice won the award for the best mural in the world, given by Street Art Cities, the international platform that maps street art in cities around the globe. One of those awards was for Echoes of Harmony, the mural on the facade of the Muziekgebouw itself. So when you visit the exhibition, don't forget to step outside and look up.

During GLOW: the mural in light and sound

From 7 to 14 November, during the light festival GLOW, the exhibition has special evening openings from 18:30 to 23:00 (except on 11 November, when it is closed for the 11-11 carnival celebrations). During those evenings, light artist Ivo Schoofs and composer Bas Soetens give Echoes of Harmony a new dimension in light and sound. It is a perfect stop on your GLOW walk through the city centre.

Opening hours

The exhibition is open on these days from 11:00 to 18:00:

• October: 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28 and 29.
• November: 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

During GLOW, from 7 to 14 November, it is open from 18:30 to 23:00, except on 11 November. The exhibition is on one of the floors of the Muziekgebouw; staff at the entrance will show you the way.

Free admission

Admission is free, and you don't need to book. That makes Wall Stories an easy addition to a day in the city centre, for example combined with Dutch Design Week, which runs at the same time in the second half of October.

For whom?

Wall Stories is a good outing for anyone interested in street art, illustration, graphic design or the city itself. Children who like drawing will enjoy seeing how a sketch on paper becomes a giant painting on a wall, and the process images help to explain it. No knowledge of Dutch is needed to enjoy the work, and the stories behind the murals give you a new view of the walls you pass every day in Eindhoven.

Street art in Eindhoven

Eindhoven has a lively street-art scene, with large murals in many neighbourhoods. After visiting the exhibition, take a walk through the city and see how many walls you recognise. Street Art Cities maps many of them online, which makes it easy to plan your own mural route.

Getting there

The Muziekgebouw Eindhoven is on the Heuvel in the city centre, about a ten-minute walk from Eindhoven Centraal. The public entrance is at Heuvel 140. Car parks and guarded bike parking are nearby.

See also all culture and exhibitions in Eindhoven and the free events in the city.