Messages Made to Last: Painted Ceramic Advertising Murals

There is plenty of inspiration to be found across Europe in the form of ceramic advertising and decorative murals. In this article, translated from the original in Spanish, Diego Apesteguia takes us on a whistle-stop tour to introduce the main stylistic trends, and some of the craftspeople responsible for creating them.

Messages Made to Last: Painted Ceramic Advertising Murals in Spain, Portugal and Europe

Painted Tiles Aren’t Sexy

Most people associate painted tiles with religious decoration, and kitsch and folksy murals. And, on top of that, most contemporary work consists merely of pastiches, and shoddy ‘revival’ printed copies of something that was once an art consisting of far superior designs, finishes, and quality.