The Other Kennedy: 7 Hidden Murals in the Courtyards of Homes

Kennedy is not just the airport: the art that lives in the courtyards

When people think of Kennedy, the first thing that comes to mind is the traffic on Avenida 68, the Hayuelos shopping center, or the industrial zone. But if you turn off onto the residential streets, between the neighborhood shops and the one- or two-story houses, there is a circuit of murals that few know about. They are not on main facades or in galleries: they are in the internal courtyards, on the walls that face the alleys, on the sides of houses that are only seen if someone opens the door for you.

In August 2026, with the city changing at full speed, these murals remain an open secret. The neighbors commissioned them, the artists painted them, and the neighborhood's history was recorded in spray paint and acrylic. This guide is for you to find them, understand them, and above all, respect them. Because seeing a mural in a private courtyard is not like seeing one on the street: you have to ask permission, you have to knock on the door, and you have to listen to the story that goes with it.

The culture of the block: why art moved into the courtyards

Kennedy is a neighborhood that grew through self-construction. In the 60s and 70s, families arrived from all over the country, bought a plot of land, and built their house with their own hands. The courtyard was not a luxury: it was the space where the workshop was set up, where clothes were washed, where children played while adults worked. It was the heart of the house, but also the place where stories were kept.

When the graffiti boom started in Bogotá, in the late 90s and early 2000s, most artists went to the center, to La Candelaria, or to Carrera Séptima. But in Kennedy, a group of neighbors and local artists decided to do something different: instead of fighting over public facades or risking a fine, they proposed to homeowners to paint the internal walls of the courtyards. The result is a network of community art that is not visible from the street, is not subject to the rules of tourism, and stays alive because the neighbors care for it as part of their home.

The mural in a courtyard is not an aesthetic whim. It is a form of collective memory. Each stroke tells something: the story of the family that lives there, the neighborhood's trade, the community's struggles, or simply the beauty of the everyday. Unlike the institutional murals you see in the center, these have no City Hall plaque nor were they commissioned by a brand. They are art born from an agreement between an artist and a neighbor, and that gives them a value that cannot be replicated.

What to do: the route of the 7 hidden murals

Before starting, a warning: these murals are on private property. They cannot be seen from the street, and entering without permission would be disrespectful. The good news is that most neighbors are proud of their walls and gladly receive those who ask politely. Here is the route, with the information we have gathered with the help of the residents of each area.

1. The mural of El Tintal neighborhood: the memory of the river

In a two-story house, half a block from Parque El Tintal, there is a mural about 8 meters long that tells the story of the Fucha River. The artist, a young man from the area who signs as "Aerosol Sur", used spray paint in blue and green tones to represent the water, the reeds, and the birds that used to be seen in the area. The neighbor who commissioned it, a 70-year-old man who has lived there since 1975, says he did it so his grandchildren would know that before the warehouses and trucks, a river ran through that block.

Where: Half a block from Carrera 80 with Calle 9, on the south side of the park.

Price: There is no cost, but a tip for the homeowner is appreciated if he offers you a tinto.

Schedule: It is recommended to visit between 9am and 12pm, when neighbors are more willing to open the door.

2. The alley of 43: the block of trades

In an alley that connects two streets between Avenida 1 de Mayo and Calle 43, there is a collective mural made in 2019. Five local artists participated, and each painted a panel representing a trade of the neighborhood: the seamstress, the mechanic, the baker, the shoemaker, and the fruit vendor. The technique is mixed: spray paint for the background and acrylic for the details of the faces and hands. The result is a tribute to daily work, to those people who keep Kennedy alive without needing to appear in the newspapers.

Where: Pedestrian alley between Carrera 78B and Carrera 78C, two blocks from the local CAI.

Price: Free, but if you want to take detail photos, ask permission from the lady at the corner store, who takes care of the alley.

Schedule: The alley is open all day, but the murals are in the courtyards of the adjoining houses, so you have to knock on doors.

3. The fisherman's house: art and memory in Marsella neighborhood

This is perhaps the jewel of the route. In a house in the Marsella neighborhood, a resident who worked for many years in artisanal fishing on the Pacific Coast commissioned a mural that covers the entire back courtyard wall. The work, done in acrylic, shows a seascape with a canoe, nets, and an orange sunset. The artist, who prefers to remain anonymous, took three weeks to finish it, and the neighbor paid him with fresh fish and some money. The story is as good as the mural: the man wanted to have the sea close, even though he lived 400 kilometers from the coast.

Where: In a house on Carrera 74 with Calle 10, in the Marsella area. We do not give the exact address to avoid exposing the owner; ask at the corner store for "the fisherman's house".

Price: The owner does not charge, but he will tell you the story of the Pacific for an hour if you give him the chance.

Schedule: Only by appointment. Do not knock on the door without prior notice, because the man is elderly and gets scared by strangers.

4. The mural of flowers: a tribute to the matrons

In the Kennedy Central neighborhood, there is a house distinguished by an interior wall full of giant flowers painted in spray paint. The mural, which spans about 6 meters wide, was made in 2021 by a collective of women artists called "Pinceladas de Barrio". Each flower represents a woman from the block: the grandmother who raised her grandchildren, the one who sold empanadas, the one who worked in the factory. The homeowner, a 65-year-old lady, says she commissioned the mural because she wanted the women of the neighborhood to feel visible, even if only in her courtyard.

Where: In a house on Calle 5 with Carrera 76, in the Kennedy Central area.

Price: There is no cost, but the lady appreciates it if you buy a dessert from the neighbor who sells them on the corner.

Schedule: On weekdays, after 3pm, when the owner returns from work. On weekends, in the morning.

5. The alley of sport: when the neighborhood plays

In the Timiza neighborhood, there is an alley that connects two residential complexes and has one of the most dynamic murals in the area. Painted in 2022, it shows children playing soccer, a basketball court, and a boxing ring, all in vibrant colors and with spray paint technique. The artist, a young man who is part of a local boxing school, wanted to represent sport as an outlet for the neighborhood's youth. Several families commissioned it together, and today it is the pride of the block.

Where: Pedestrian alley between Carrera 72 and Carrera 72A, near Parque Timiza.

Price: Free, but if you want to see the murals of the adjoining courtyards, ask permission at the security desk of the complexes.

Schedule: The alley is public, but the courtyards are private. Better to go between 10am and 2pm, when the doormen are more relaxed.

6. The house of the sun: a mural that changes with the light

In the El Amparo neighborhood, there is a house with a special mural: a huge sun painted in acrylic that covers the entire courtyard wall. The interesting thing is that the artist used a gradient technique that makes the sun change color depending on the time of day: orange at dawn, yellow at noon, and red at sunset. The neighbor who commissioned it, a school teacher, says he wanted his courtyard to have "a sun that never went out". The artist, who signs as "Kroma", is known in the area for his work on school facades.

Where: In a house on Calle 3 with Carrera 70B, in the El Amparo area.

Price: They do not charge, but the teacher will explain the gradient technique to you if you show genuine interest.

Schedule: Better in the afternoon, between 3pm and 5pm, when the sun is at its peak and the mural looks its best.

7. The mural of La Amistad neighborhood: the memory of the grandparents

We close the route with a mural that is a tribute to grandparents. In a house in the La Amistad neighborhood, a mural about 10 meters long shows scenes of rural life: a farm, a horse, a wood-burning kitchen, and a hammock. The artist, a 55-year-old man who grew up in the countryside and now lives in Kennedy, used spray paint and acrylic to create a work that looks like a sepia photograph. The neighbor who commissioned it, an 80-year-old man, says he did it so as not to forget where his family comes from.