Iztapalapa, a densely populated borough in eastern Mexico City, has transformed thousands of streets, homes, and rooftops into colorful public artworks through an ambitious community mural program. Launched in 2018 under former borough mayor Clara Brugada, Iztapalapa Mural was designed to celebrate local identity, improve neglected urban spaces, and complement efforts to create safer pedestrian routes, particularly for women. By November 2022, the project had produced 9,191 murals and artistic interventions. A December 2024 report placed the total at nearly 11,000. The artworks feature neighborhood residents, Mexican cultural traditions, athletes, and historical figures, while large rooftop paintings can be viewed from Cablebús Line 2, which opened in August 2021.
How the Iztapalapa Mural Project Began
The Iztapalapa Mural initiative began in 2018 as part of a wider urban improvement strategy introduced by Clara Brugada, who served as borough mayor.
Iztapalapa had long faced challenges involving poverty, public insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, and negative perceptions of its neighborhoods.
The local government sought to address these problems through public lighting, street improvements, community programs, and the rehabilitation of neglected spaces.
Murals became an important part of the Caminos de Mujeres Libres y Seguras program, which was designed to create better-lit and more accessible routes for women and other pedestrians.
Rather than treating public art as decoration alone, the initiative encouraged residents to participate in choosing images that represented their neighborhoods.
Artists began painting portraits, local traditions, historical subjects, and scenes from everyday life across residential walls, businesses, and public buildings.
How Many Murals Are There in Iztapalapa?
The number of murals increased rapidly as the initiative expanded across Iztapalapa.
In September 2021, El País reported that approximately 6,825 murals had been created since the project's launch.
By November 2022, government figures documented 9,191 murals and artistic interventions in streets, public spaces, and rooftops.
Approximately 90% of those interventions were associated with the borough's safer pedestrian corridors.
The project continued growing, with a December 2024 report by The World estimating that local artists had created nearly 11,000 murals over approximately five years.
These totals describe different stages of the project rather than conflicting counts for the same date. A comprehensive official inventory for November 2026 was not established in the sources reviewed.
Cablebús Line 2 Turns Rooftops Into an Outdoor Art Gallery
The project gained international visibility when Mexico City opened Cablebús Line 2 on August 8, 2021.
The cable car route connects Constitución de 1917 with Santa Marta across approximately 10.6 kilometers of eastern Mexico City.
Its seven stations provide an important transportation connection for residents traveling through Iztapalapa's densely populated neighborhoods and hillside communities.
Before the system opened, the city commissioned 40 urban artists to paint 100 large murals on rooftops and building facades along the route.
The surrounding neighborhood improvement program also included painting more than 3,400 homes, covering approximately 495,000 square meters of surfaces.
The elevated cabins allow passengers to see artworks that would otherwise be difficult to appreciate from street level.
In August 2024, Mexico City's Electric Transport Service reported that Cablebús Line 2 had carried more than 69 million passengers during its first three years, averaging over 65,000 daily journeys.
The service connects transportation improvements with an unusual visual experience of the communities below.
What Do the Iztapalapa Murals Represent?
The murals reflect the diverse identities and experiences of Iztapalapa's residents.
Women and Community Achievements
Many artworks portray women, including mothers, older residents, community leaders, and athletes.
The paintings emphasize women's contributions to local history and public life, consistent with the initiative's connection to safer pedestrian routes.
Some works celebrate local sporting achievements, including portraits of boxer Lupita Bautista, who grew up in Iztapalapa.
Local History and Mexican Traditions
Other murals depict pre-Hispanic symbols, Indigenous traditions, neighborhood celebrations, traditional occupations, and Mexican cultural figures.
These themes were selected to reflect the history and experiences of particular communities rather than impose the same images across the entire borough.
Everyday Residents
Some of the project's most distinctive artworks portray ordinary residents rather than national celebrities.
Muralist Pedro Peña Reyes, known professionally as Mickrone, painted a widely shared portrait of an elderly neighborhood couple.
The work depicts the man helping his wife in a wheelchair, reflecting a familiar scene from their daily lives.
Other artists have depicted local workers, families, and neighbors whose stories hold special meaning within their communities.
The Mural of Frida the Rescue Dog
One notable rooftop mural visible from Cablebús Line 2 honors Frida, the Mexican Navy rescue dog celebrated for her work during disaster-response operations.
The artwork, created by an artist known as Isra, is located along the section between Xalpa and Torres Buenavista stations.
Following Frida's death in November 2022, local authorities highlighted the painting as a tribute to her service.
The mural should not be confused with portrayals of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Although both are familiar names in Mexican cultural discussions, this particular Cablebús artwork commemorates the rescue dog.
How Local Artists and Residents Created the Murals
Community participation played an important role in the project's development.
Artists worked with cultural coordinators and residents to identify suitable walls and agree on the subjects to be painted.
In some cases, neighbors requested portraits of people who had made important contributions to the community or had died.
Large-scale artworks required specialized equipment, particularly those painted on high walls and rooftops.
La Jornada reported in November 2022 that more than 100 artists had participated in creating over 7,000 murals across Iztapalapa.
The project also provided opportunities for emerging painters to develop their skills through public commissions and community collaboration.
Did the Murals Improve Neighborhood Safety?
Iztapalapa Mural was connected to a wider strategy intended to improve public safety and strengthen community pride.
The program operated alongside street lighting, pedestrian infrastructure, and other interventions associated with the Caminos de Mujeres Libres y Seguras initiative.
A Mexico City government evaluation published in 2024 examined residents' experiences of these urban improvement projects.
The evaluation found that residents and transportation users generally valued the color and visual improvements introduced by the murals.
Participants also recognized themes relating to women, nature, cultural identity, and local history.
However, the findings should not be interpreted as proof that murals alone reduced crime.
Any changes in public safety must be considered alongside lighting improvements, policing, infrastructure, and other social factors.
The Continuing Legacy of Iztapalapa Mural
The Iztapalapa mural project has become a prominent example of using community art to reshape the appearance and identity of an urban district.
Its expansion from neighborhood walls to rooftops, transportation corridors, and public buildings has created an extensive open-air collection of art.
The program's significance lies not only in the number of paintings but also in the involvement of residents and the representation of people whose everyday lives rarely appear in traditional museums.
By combining artistic expression with public infrastructure and neighborhood renewal, Iztapalapa has developed a distinctive model of community-led urban transformation.