Anthony Marest, a contemporary artist based in Alicante, has left a lasting mark on urban landscapes by painting murals that speak to communities around the globe. In the Albufereta neighborhood, his work stands out, particularly outside the pharmacy on Villajoyosa Street next to the Vistamar building known as El Barco. This striking intervention brings color and energy to an area often associated with routine, inviting residents and visitors to pause and engage with their surroundings.
With roots in Villena and a lifelong fascination with architecture, Art Deco forms, and historic structures, Marest pursued practical ways to influence the built environment. His long-standing dream was to transform this specific pharmacy, a space that features a sales area for flats within a building designed by architect Juan Guardiola. Constructed in 1963, the structure belongs to the era of Levantine Rationalism, a movement noted for its clarity of line and functional elegance. The project offered more than decoration; it presented an opportunity to reframe a local landmark within its urban context.
“I felt deep affection for that space because of its architecture and the distinctive roof,” Marest explains. The roof, rendered as a wave with triangular crests, captivated him from the start. When inspiration strikes, he says, it is hard to resist. As he walked past the site, a persistent urge arose to intervene and refresh the building’s appearance. He learned that the pharmacy was owned by a friend, a discovery that felt almost fateful. Across his career, opportunities flowed in ways that felt like coincidence but were clearly aligned with a broader purpose to contribute to the neighborhood. The aim was to bring a revitalizing change to the Albufereta pharmacy and to nourish the community that had relied on it for more than forty years.
Recently, Marest and his team received encouragement from locals who had been discussing neighborhood improvements with the SOS Albufereta platform and the building’s owner. These conversations reflected a shared desire to elevate the area and to ensure that the voice of residents could be heard more clearly. The project thus became not merely an artistic intervention but a collaborative act that acknowledged the concerns and aspirations of the community.
For the interior, the plan called for a blue treatment on the wave-shaped ceiling, a choice that resonates with the sea and the wider Mediterranean identity of the region. The ceiling’s vibrant yellow accent add warmth and sunlight, while the former dull yellow of the façade was refreshed with a modern palette of granite, black and white diagonal lines, and turquoise accents on the storefront signage placed both at the lower edge and the upper fascia. The effect is a cohesive dialogue between the sea, the urban fabric, and the building’s original design language.
Over four days, Marest and his crew worked in harmony with the breeze and the sun. The process, described as highly rewarding, sought to draw attention to what he saw as urban neglect and to invite the neighborhood to re-see its surroundings. This project places Albufereta among Alicante’s few districts to boast a building entirely colored by the artist, marking a milestone in the city’s public art landscape. Across his career, Marest has left traces in approximately two hundred works across five continents, a global footprint that underscores his distinctive Mediterranean imprint and his impact on Alicante’s visual identity.
Meanwhile, in the city of Alicante, another public design project still awaits final decisions. The wooden cabins planned for San Juan beach have faced delays from the City Council, a hurdle that echoes broader planning conversations in the area. Beyond Spain, Marest has recently completed a commission for The Strat casino in Las Vegas, and he has an upcoming artistic residence at the PAMM museum in Miami. During this period, he plans to undertake a 9,000-square-foot mural that will be created during a stay through December, expanding his international presence while maintaining a strong connection to Mediterranean motifs and sensibilities.
The Albufereta project represents more than an isolated act of mural painting; it embodies a bridge between local identity and global artistic practice. By reimagining a familiar public space, Marest invites everyday life to become a canvas, offering residents a renewed sense of pride and a shared visual language that can be read by visitors from around the world. The intervention stands as a testament to how art can illuminate community spaces, spark conversation, and inspire collective attention to the places we inhabit every day.