Sprays, brushes, a wall, and a world of art. Rudi from Alicante uses these elements to win the National Graffiti League, a year‑round competition where Spain’s top urban artists compete for the crown.
The league operates like a seasonal tournament. It runs across the year and mirrors a football league in structure, but murals and graffiti replace the ball. A director guides the event and a panel of expert juries selects the works. Between thirty and fifty participants compete throughout the year.
Alicante, the capital of graffiti
Through social networks, artists share proposals that are weighed by the judges, by seasoned urban art veterans, and by the audience. The artists earn points, and the top ten overall travel to a different Spanish city each month to compete and paint live.
The final showdown took place in Tenerife, where Rudi emerged victorious. The result carried little sentimentality; the Alicante artist reached the final with a clear lead, and the mural’s quality spoke for itself. “Winning the league is an honor; the level of graffiti artists is incredible, and I’m very happy,” said Rudi.
Rudi with the League champion trophy.
The National Graffiti League has started to generate significant buzz, partly due to collaboration with city halls that host conferences on urban art, backed by major sponsor companies. “Like cockfights or rap battles, it’s incredibly exciting,” a veteran observer explains.
The prize includes a trip to New York to paint a mural, in addition to the champion’s trophy. Rudi plans to travel and paint in Brooklyn, supported by an art society with connections to pioneers in the Bronx and to a circle of experienced artists.
Rudi had not decided a specific mural idea yet. As he approaches the next mural, he intends to let inspiration guide him and to dedicate his spray work to someone special until completion.
From graffiti to Romanesque
Rudi’s ties to the United States run deep; he spent years painting in American offices and collaborating with graffiti pioneers there. For the trip, the organizing team provides materials, since travelers cannot carry paint beyond Spain. He notes that he will bring only his nozzles and a few brushes used for spraying.
Neighborhoods where urban art reshapes the landscape
Rudi has become a national benchmark for urban art, guiding tours of the Campoamor neighborhood each month. Campoamor stands as one of Europe’s largest urban art spaces, showcasing striking murals. “There were blocks with dirty walls before, and no one passed by; the murals changed the face of the neighborhood,” explains Rudi. Campoamor is recognized by the City Council as a tourist point of interest for urban art.