Priya Kapoor
Street art has evolved from traditional graffiti to encompass a wide range of media, including LED art, mosaic tiling, stencil graffiti, sticker art, wheatpasting, woodblocking, yarn bombing, and rock balancing. Street art often conveys social or political messages and can be a form of activism or social commentary. It is typically created in public spaces, such as walls, sidewalks, and buildings, and can be either anonymous or commissioned by property owners. The legality of street art is a complex issue, with some countries considering it illegal and others recognizing it as a legitimate art form. Street art has gained international recognition, with cities like Berlin, London, and New York offering popular street art tours.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Street art is a form of public art created in public spaces with the intention of provoking discussion and reaction while challenging societal norms and ultimately enriching public spaces and communities. |
| History | Street art has its origins in prehistoric times when handprints and paintings were put on cave walls. Modern street art dates back to the 1920s and 1930s with the emergence of gang-related graffiti in New York City. |
| Materials | Spray paint, stencils, stickers, posters, textiles, LED lights, mosaics, video projection, clay, markers, fabrics, wool, and more. |
| Techniques | Tagging, wheatpasting, murals, installations, sculptures, guerilla gardening, woodcutting, and more. |
| Artists | Banksy, Franco the Great, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Alec Monopoly, Eduardo Kobra, and more. |
| Locations | Berlin, London, Paris, Hamburg, Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Melbourne, and more. |
| Legality | Street art often involves legal issues due to the nature of creating art in public spaces without permission. However, some street artists seek permission or are commissioned by property owners. |
| Tours | Many cities offer street art tours, such as Alternative London, ParisStreetArt, and Alternative Berlin. |
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What You'll Learn
Street painting, pavement art, screeving
Street painting, also known as screeving, pavement art, or sidewalk art, is a form of performance art that involves rendering artistic designs on pavements, streets, sidewalks, and town squares using impermanent or semi-permanent materials such as chalk. The British term for a pavement artist is a "screever", derived from the writing style, often Copperplate, that typically accompanied the works of pavement artists since the 1700s. Shakespearean slang from around 1500 also used the term 'screever', which is similar to the Irish word for 'writing', 'scriobh' (pronounced 'screev'). The works of screevers were often accompanied by poems, proverbs, lessons on morality, and political commentary.
The origins of modern street painting can be traced back to Britain, where pavement artists were found all across the United Kingdom. By 1890, it was estimated that over 500 artists in London were making a living from pavement art. In Italy, street painters are called "I Madonnari" (singular: madonnaro or madonnara) because they recreated images of the Madonna. These artists were often itinerant and would travel to different cities and towns to join in the festivities, making a living from observers who would throw coins if they appreciated the artwork. Madonnari artists used simple materials such as tiles, coal, and chalk to reproduce images from churches onto the pavement.
In the 1980s, Kurt Wenner practiced '3-D pavement art' or one-point perspective art, also known as anamorphic art. This technique, which is about 500 years old, appears in proper perspective only when viewed from a specific angle. The first recorded street-painting competition was held in London in 1906, and the first 'Italian' International Street Painting Competition took place in 1972 in Grazie di Curtatone, Italy. Internationally renowned street painters from around the globe transformed a ten-story building in Paris slated for demolition in 2013, making it one of the best examples of street art's ability to beautify austere structures and share art with lower-income groups.
Today, street painting festivals are held worldwide, including the Lake Worth Beach Street Painting Festival in Florida, the Denver Chalk Art Festival, and the First International Street Painting Festival in the United States, showcasing the talent of street painters and chalk artists from across the globe.
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Wheatpasting, murals, installations
Wheatpasting is an art form that has been used for centuries, with its origins in ancient times. It involves applying a mixture of flour and water, known as wheat paste, to a surface such as paper or cardstock, to attach posters or artwork for display. Wheatpasting is a popular form of street art due to its affordability, effectiveness, and portability, allowing artists to spread their messages and create artwork in public spaces while remaining anonymous. The process is relatively simple, but it is important to consider the surface, materials, and longevity of the project. Wheatpasting has been used by renowned artists such as Banksy, Swoon, and Shepard Fairey, who are known for their distinctive styles and engaging visuals.
Murals are another form of street art that can be found in many cities around the world. These large-scale artworks are often painted on walls or other surfaces in public spaces, adding colour and culture to urban environments. Some famous murals include The Fraternal Kiss in Berlin, Hammer Boy in New York City, and Mural das Etnias in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These artworks offer an alternative insight into a destination's current pulse and provide a new perspective on historic locations.
Street art installations are unique in that they are part of our everyday lives, unlike traditional gallery exhibitions. These installations can take many forms, from sculptures by world-renowned artists to interactive pieces that transform urban spaces into playgrounds of light and sound. For example, an installation in Montreal featured a series of seesaws equipped with LED lights and speakers, creating a joyful and engaging experience for the public. Street art installations can also carry strong messages or raise awareness about social, political, or current events. One such example is The Naked Truth installation in Copenhagen, which told a story about credulity hidden as a voyeuristic trap.
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Guerilla gardening
Street art is a broad term encompassing various media and techniques beyond traditional graffiti and spray paint. It includes LED art, mosaic tiling, stencil graffiti, sticker art, wheatpasting, woodblocking, yarn bombing, and rock balancing. Street art often conveys social or political messages, sparking discussions and raising awareness about societal and environmental issues.
One unique form of street art is Guerilla Gardening, which involves growing food or flowers in neglected public or private spaces without authorisation. This form of gardening activism can be traced back to the early 1970s with Liz Christy and her Green Guerrillas in New York City. They would cast "seed bombs" over fences into vacant lots, transforming neglected spaces into community gardens.
While Guerilla Gardening can be illegal in many cases, it often aims to improve the quality of life in a neighbourhood and provide food to communities in need. It also serves as a form of protest against land-use practices and policies, reclaiming unused spaces for the benefit of the community.
Through their creative use of seeds and plants, Guerilla Gardeners add a unique form of art to the streets, blurring the lines between nature and urban landscapes and fostering a sense of community and environmental awareness.
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Stencils, stickers, posters, paste-ups
Stencils, stickers, posters, and paste-ups are all forms of street art that can be used to communicate with neighbours, decorate public spaces, and share political or social commentary.
Stencils
Stencils are a type of street art that involves using a pre-cut shape or template to create an image or message. Stencils can be made from a variety of materials, such as cardboard, plastic, or metal, and can be used to apply paint or ink to a surface. Stencils are often used by street artists because they are quick to execute, easily reproducible, and can be used to create intricate designs. One of the most famous stencil street artists is Banksy, who uses stencils to create politically charged and controversial artwork in public spaces around the world.
Stickers
Sticker art, or "slaps", is a form of street art that involves creating or using stickers with various designs, images, or messages and placing them in public spaces. Stickers can be made from a variety of materials, such as paper, vinyl, or plastic, and can be printed or hand-drawn. They are a popular form of street art because they are easy to reproduce and can be quickly and discreetly placed in a variety of locations, from street signs and lampposts to public benches and walls.
Posters
Posters are a versatile form of street art that can be used to communicate a wide range of messages, from political and social commentary to advertisements and event promotions. Posters can be printed or hand-drawn, and they can be pasted up using wheatpaste, a mixture of flour and water, or simply posted on bulletin boards or other designated spaces. Posters are often used by street artists because they are easy to mass-produce and can be quickly and discreetly put up in a variety of locations.
Paste-ups
Wheatpasting, or paste-ups, is a technique similar to poster-making that involves creating or printing an image or message on thin paper and then using wheatpaste to adhere it to a surface. Wheatpasting is a popular technique for street artists because it is inexpensive, easy to reproduce, and can be used to quickly and effectively cover a large area with artwork or a message. Wheatpasting can also be used to create layered and textured pieces by overlapping or tearing away layers of paper.
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Spray paint, markers, LED lights
Street art has evolved to embrace a variety of techniques and materials, including spray paint, markers, and LED lights.
Spray paint is a staple in street art due to its versatility, vibrant colours, and smooth gradients. It is affordable, easy to carry, and quick-drying, making it ideal for artists who work in public spaces. Artists can create simple tags or complex murals with spray paint, and some even use modified tools like filled fire extinguishers to reach greater heights and cover larger surfaces.
Markers are another common tool used in street art. They offer precision and can be used in combination with stencils to create detailed designs. Stencils allow artists to work quickly and repeat their designs, which is especially useful for those who need to work stealthily or cover large areas.
LED art is a more recent addition to the street art toolkit, incorporating light into artworks and creating dynamic and eye-catching displays. LED installations bring a futuristic feel to urban environments, blending art with technology. Artists use LED lights to add a glow to their pieces, sometimes incorporating interactive elements that change with viewer engagement.
Street art often conveys social or political messages and is connected to activism. It has received artistic recognition through high-profile artists like Banksy, who gained fame for spray-painting trains and walls in Bristol, challenging the boundaries of lawfulness and elevating street art above traditional graffiti.
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Frequently asked questions
Street art is a form of public art created in public spaces with the intention of provoking discussion and reaction while challenging societal norms and ultimately enriching public spaces and communities. It is often connected to activism and social issues.
Street art can encompass a variety of media, including LED art, mosaic tiling, stencil graffiti, sticker art, wheatpasting, woodblocking, yarn bombing, rock balancing, and murals.
Street artists use a variety of materials, including spray paint, stencils, stickers, posters, textiles, LED lights, mosaics, and video projection.
Some famous street artists include Banksy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Alec Monopoly, Eduardo Kobra, and Franco the Great.
Street art can be found all over the world, with popular street art scenes in cities like Miami, Los Angeles, Berlin, London, New York, and Melbourne. Many cities offer street art tours, such as Berlin, London, Paris, and Hamburg.
