During a short stay in Chile’s capital – Santiago, we noticed many colorfully painted benches on the streets, especially in the area of our hotel, Las Condes. A bit of digging revealed “Bancas Pintadas,” a public-art initiative that transforms ordinary seating into open-air galleries for local artists.
Enjoy a tune while browsing.
Las Condes is Santiago’s polished northeast district—home to the El Golf business hub, tree-lined avenues, and a mix of glass towers, boutiques, and cafés.
Along the main arteries of Apoquindo and Isidora Goyenechea, many plazas and pocket parks dot the streetscape, making it easy to wander between offices, malls, and restaurants.
Bancas Pintadas is a curated series of standard plaza benches (wood slats + iron) painted/intervened by Chilean artists, organized by Galería La Sala with the Municipality/Corporación Cultural de Las Condes, often with private sponsors and a small charity component. Below are a few of our favorites.
2010 (Phase 1): First 40 benches unveiled in Las Condes, launched by the mayor; installed mainly along Av. Apoquindo near the Centro Cívico / Metro El Golf and on Calle Alcalde.
2012 (Phase 2): about 80 benches added around Isidora Goyenechea and Plaza Perú (El Golf district).
2014 (Phase 3): New group (54 artists) placed on Apoquindo (around 4800 block, near Metro Escuela Militar) and Isidora Goyenechea.
This is our favorite bench.
2018: Restoration campaign; benches redistributed along Isidora Goyenechea.
We first spotted them on Isidora Goyenechea as we were checking out restaurants along it.
We saw more Av Apoquindo from El Golf toward Escuela Militar (many around the civic center stretch).
Literally, toilet humor.
Apparently, the idea spread to Santiago Centro (e.g., Parque Forestal) and to Vitacura/Ñuñoa, but Las Condes remains the core.
It’s one of Santiago’s most visible long-running open-air art efforts—essentially a “street museum” threading through the district.
What a great idea to turn humble street furniture into a medium for local artists to create delightful artwork all over the city. Curious about Santiago ? Click here and here to see an area of Santiago – Lastarria and a bookstore there.
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