While painting on operational trains is strictly forbidden in Türkiye, some municipalities grant limited permissions for artists to embellish a select number of trains or disused carriages that now serve as decorative relics.

“When I first started, the allure of the illicit aspect drew us in. Today, graffiti is recognized as a form of modern art. Many individuals who have received formal academic training are now engaged in graffiti, and it has become one of the mainstream art forms,” said Ulaş Çelik, the founder of Türkiye’s first graffiti agency.

“Creating graffiti on trains has been intrinsic to the art form since its inception. Back when the internet was less pervasive, we couldn’t upload our work online, so we turned to trains — primarily freight trains.”

In some countries, it is legal to graffiti trains as long as the windows remain untouched, a method Çelik believes to be appropriate.