During my travels through Malaysia, I stumbled across a lesser-known side of Penang—far from the curated charm of George Town. I spent a day in Butterworth and found something unexpected: raw and neglected, yet powerful street art.

Everyone goes to touristy George Town. Somehow I ended up in Butterworth on my way to cross the border from Malaysia to Thailand. But I had to wait for my bus the next day, so I spent one night in Butterworth.

Butterworth is on the mainland side of Penang.

It’s rough, it’s unpolished—I didn’t see any Instagrammers posing in front of walls there.

And still, you can discover several streets that are completely covered in street art.

I started from my hotel to explore the “Butterworth Art Walk.”

There are some fresh murals in bold, vibrant colors.

But the majority of them is slowly fading, weathered by time, almost washed out (July 2024).

They’re creative expressions by local artists, reflecting the town’s history.