Street art and graffiti are a form of expression held in high regard for capturing the ever-changing thoughts, opinions, and current events during their respective times. The artists behind this type of art strive to bring about change with their work by challenging the general public's way of thinking. It is easy to argue that street art has helped shape history by making people aware of how fickle society is [and] how opinions can change in an instant.
Street art is a type of public visual art. It is often controversial and illegal, but that doesn't stop people from enjoying it. But what is street art?
Street art can be loosely defined as any visual or audio media created on, in, or around a public space. Street artists have used paint, chalk, crayons, stickers...you name it! This form of art is usually anonymous and executed without permission. However, more recently street artists have been commissioned to create murals (such as the ones seen in the Mission District of San Francisco).
In the last 50 years, a new movement in art has grown to prominence. Sometimes called “post-graffiti” art, it has gone by many names including street art, urban art and contemporary public art. These terms all describe a diverse set of artistic styles that use the city landscape as both a canvas and medium for artistic expression.
While this new movement is often associated with the rise of hip hop culture in New York City during the 1970s and 1980s, it draws from and reflects an even longer history of graffiti dating back to ancient Greece and Rome. In fact, some researchers have found evidence of graffiti as old as 10,000 years. While some early writing systems such as hieroglyphics or cuneiform have been studied for millennia or have been widely deciphered (as was the case for Linear B), many ancient forms are still not well understood today. Graffiti provides a unique window into these lost cultures because they allow us to glimpse non-literate societies by studying what people wrote on walls when no one was watching. By examining these ancient forms of graffiti, we can start to gain insight into how different cultures think about their relationship with each other and the natural world around them in ways that other aspects of material culture cannot convey.
Street art as it's commonly known today encompasses a wide variety of approaches, strategies and media. There's no single way that street art has to look or be made, just as there's no one way to create art in general. Graffiti-based works have been around the longest and are most closely tied to the public perception of street art—but other forms, like community murals and public installations (like sculptures or light shows) can also qualify as an example of this type of work. The term "street artist" is also a very broad category and can refer to anyone from activists who make political posters to rebellious teens with spraypaint cans and poor aim.
The perceived illegality of street art gives it a subversive element that makes it seem thrilling for some observers. However, the relationship between law enforcement and those who create graffiti-style works is more complicated than simple opposition: cities may approach vandalism differently depending on the aesthetic value of the work itself (for instance, if you cover a wall in swirly, colorful paint instead of ugly barbed wire).
In the early days of street art, artists were able to create their work without public attention. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of communism brought many street artists into conflict with the governments they lived under. These artists were seen as a threat to society and a danger to national security. They were arrested, beaten and even killed by police officers who saw them as criminals. Many of these artists fled to countries such as America and France which offered them more freedom than their home countries did. As time went on, street art became more accepted but still remained controversial in some areas of society.
In the last decade or so, street art has become much more widespread throughout cities around the world including here in New York City where it can be seen on subway platforms, train cars and even bridges across town! As mentioned earlier this type of artwork is often created with stencils which makes it easier for an artist to replicate multiple copies without having any training in painting techniques like brush strokes or shading techniques like blending colors together well enough so it looks realistic instead just one solid color."
For years, graffiti art was viewed as vandalism and an eyesore. Many people saw graffiti as a sign of urban decay, and the public at large didn't like it—neither did city governments.
Graffiti dates back to ancient times, when it was used by rulers and nobles as a means of communication. It was also used to mark territory or to deface enemy property. Graffiti has been found in the ruins of Pompeii and in medieval churches throughout Europe. Ancient Romans used graffiti for political purposes, and it appeared throughout Renaissance art, from Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling to Goya’s satirical works on sexual mores.
Let’s get one thing clear: “street art” is about more than painting murals. In a broad sense, it refers to all the many different kinds of art that take place in public spaces. This can include everything from public art and public sculpture (think Michelangelo’s David), to street musicians and buskers, to performance art in public spaces—and so on.
Yarn bombing (sometimes called “knitting graffiti”) involves crocheting or knitting yarn around objects that are found in urban landscapes, such as lamp posts or signposts. Sand art is an ecological form of street art that uses completely biodegradable materials like sand, leaves and flowers. Sticker art involves putting stickers up with a message; the object here is to get people thinking about the message—to start a conversation. Electronic billboards and LED signs are also considered forms of street art.
As street art becomes more mainstream, the range of artists who turn to it as their mode of expression continues to expand. Street art can now be defined as anything from a political mural to an installation piece. Some street artists may focus on the act of spray painting itself; others may use their work as a platform for a performance. With street art's definition growing ever wider, so too does its ability to attract a diverse cast of creatives.
If you’re a fan of Banksy, you’ve probably noticed that street art has been gaining mainstream popularity. While graffiti artists have traditionally remained anonymous and underground, some have been able to turn their art into mainstream careers. With the help of this growing attention, graffiti artists are being paid to create commissioned works for private collectors as well as more publicly on buildings in urban areas.
As technology has evolved, so have the ways in which street artists create and market their work. Digital platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, have become critical to making street art more accessible to the public—but they are also helping to grow the medium itself.
Thanks to social media, for example, street artists don't need to rely on physical graffiti or wheat paste posters to promote themselves. With a simple post on Instagram or Facebook, an artist can quickly reach a local or global audience.
Also, apps like Adobe Photoshop enable an artist to digitally edit their work before displaying it publicly. This means that the art can be tweaked or changed even after it's been posted on the wall of a building. As mobile devices become ubiquitous throughout urban areas of the world (thanks in part to wireless internet), we can expect that more and more street art will be edited using digital tools like Photoshop and others still being created as you read this article
Street art is a wonderful, vibrant addition to our cityscape. The often elaborate murals exploding across the sides of buildings in recent years have provided us with a visual feast. Many of these artworks are not only beautiful but also inspirational; some even convey an important social message.
However, the legality of street art can be complicated because it's often illegal. Street artists may argue that their art is protected by free speech laws, but the Supreme Court has actually ruled that creativity and artistic expression can be regulated if they're conducted on public property without proper authorization. In other words, when you put your artwork on someone else's wall without their consent, you're engaging in vandalism and trespassing — both crimes — and there are no exceptions for artistry or creativity."
In addition to supporting the arts in your community by attending art events or buying local art, you could also join your local arts council. An arts council is an organization that aims to promote the arts and provide resources for artists. Arts councils are typically funded through grants, sponsorships, and donations from individuals and businesses
As an individual who is passionate about street art, joining your local arts council is a great way to support street art in your community. You can find out about local artists and events relating to street art. Joining an arts council also provides a great opportunity for you to get involved in relevant community projects. Plus, it provides a great way for you to network with other people in the community who share your love of street art. Being involved with your local arts council will give you a good feel for how involved the greater community is in supporting artistic endeavors like street art
Corey Wesley is a bit of an entrepreneur! How do I know this? Because he influenced me to write this copy, after reading his blog post about a "no-brainer" topic like creating good content.
To some, it's the "tagging" and scribbles on the sides of buildings that local governments deem vandalism. But to others (like Wesley), graffiti is a form of art. "Graffiti and street art is a form of expression," he says. "It's a way for an artist to express themselves, their feelings — whatever they want people to see."
However, this misunderstanding between the two groups has resulted in many artists keeping their work under wraps. So finding artists was one challenge Wesley had to overcome while starting his business.
But now that he's been running online galleries for almost two years, Wesley found out another issue: Many people don't think graffiti or street art can be beautiful or valuable. At least not until they find out how much it costs!
That said, by educating his audience about what makes these works so special (and why they're worth investing in), Wesley hopes more people will realize that some graffiti and street art can be art and not just urban vandalism.
Wesley went to college for communications but left after two years, and moved to Chicago for four years only to come back to New York City. Wesley's decision to drop out of college was not an easy one, but Wesley felt it was the best thing for him at the time. After years in Chicago, he wanted to be in New York City with his friends and family so he could pursue his dream of being a curator. When asked about leaving school, Wesley explained that having your friends and family around you is more important than what people think.
You don't have to be a statistician or the CEO of a large corporation to know that the odds of becoming one of the few minority-owned businesses that thrive in New York City are low. Yet, despite these odds, curatorial director and art dealer Corey Wesley has made it work. The success of his business has brought him more than money; it has allowed him to build a community in which he can support other black artists and art enthusiasts, who often feel isolated by a culture they love but find themselves pushed out of. "I think my biggest problem is that I still haven't built enough of a community," laments Wesley. "I'm trying to do things where we can all make good money together."
It is often defined as any painting, sculpture, or graffiti put on public spaces for the purpose of public appreciation. The artists don't get paid for their work, and it goes up in cities around the world, from New York and London to Thailand and Brazil. That's why it's also often called "urban art."
The artist Banksy is probably everyone's favorite street artist. You may have heard that he recently set up a shop in New York City. It was pretty meta: The shop sold paintings that were painted by him, but they were all unsigned. Many people lined up to buy them, never knowing that they were getting something made by Banksy himself!
Another famous street artist who works under an alias is "Invader," a Frenchman who draws pixelated aliens inspired by the video game Space Invaders on walls across big cities around the world. He usually puts them in high places so they are difficult to reach without some climbing equipment.
Be sure to check out the online store that bears the Milton Wes name. This retailer has built a reputation for selling graffiti and street art at affordable prices, and it continues to expand by adding new designs every month. Here you can purchase canvas art, framed prints, books, clothing, accessories, and much more. With all the different styles of artwork available on the Milton Wes website, it's easy to find what suits your taste best.
The brand is known for its vibrant colors and bold prints that appeal to those who prefer not less conventional home decorating options than what they might find elsewhere. The focus on affordability ensures that everyone can buy something from this shop without feeling like they're breaking the bank when making an aesthetic decision about their living space.
