If you walk around Buenos Aires, you quickly notice the colourful and decorative paintings on shops, buses, and signs. This beautiful style is called fileteado porteño, and one of the artists who keeps this tradition alive today is Alfredo Martínez.
I have met Alfredo many times during my visits to Buenos Aires. He is kind, talented, and passionate about his work. Fileteado is not just a decoration, it ios basically an important part of Argentine culture, closely connected to tango.
What Is Fileteado Porteño?
Fileteado started in the early 1900s, when artists painted the wooden carts of workers—fruit sellers, milkmen, and others. Over time, these decorations became a special art form complete of colorful lines, flowers, birds, dragons, horses, and funny sayings. One famous example is: “Feliz de Adán que no tuvo suegra” (Lucky Adam, who had no mother-in-law!).
Fileteado grew in the same neighbourhoods where tango was born, so the two share a common history. At first, the designs were painted on carts; later, on buses and trucks; and today they can also be found on signs, furniture, and artwork for exhibitions.
Working With Alfredo
I feel lucky that during my previous stays in Buenos Aires, Alfredo has already created two beautiful signs for me:
- “La Milonguita Ljubljana”
- “Supporting Tango in Slovenia”.
Both signs bring a touch of Buenos Aires to our tango scene.
This year, I asked Alfredo to make something new and special for me.
My New “Tango DJ Alenka” Sign
Alfredo painted a beautiful new sign: “Tango DJ Alenka.” It is full of bright colours, elegant curves, and that classic Buenos Aires style. I love it!
This sign will be on my DJ table at future tango events. It is a small piece of Argentine culture that travels with me and reminds me of the city I love so much.
Thank you, Alfredo, for your fantastic work. I can’t wait to show the new sign at my upcoming events!
