Graffiti History and Types

Graffiti

• Definition: Writing or drawing on a surface, usually in a public place, without permission
• Origins: Ancient civilizations, such as Greece and Rome, used graffiti to express political and social opinions
• Modern graffiti: Emerged in the 1970s in New York City, associated with hip-hop culture and youth rebellion
• Types of graffiti:
  • Tagging: Simple, stylized writing of an artist's name or initials
  • Throwing up: More complex designs, often including colors and shapes
  • Piece: Large, intricate murals
  • Bombing: Quickly painting multiple graffiti in a short period of time

Murals

• Definition: Large-scale paintings or artworks on a wall or building
• History: Date back to ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians and Greeks
• Modern murals: Often used to beautify urban spaces, promote community engagement, and convey social messages
• Characteristics:
  • Large scale: Can cover entire buildings or city blocks
  • Permanent: Intended to be long-lasting, unlike graffiti
  • Collaborative: Often created by multiple artists or with community involvement
  • Thematic: May focus on social issues, cultural heritage, or local identity

Street Art Styles

• Stenciling: Using templates to create detailed, multi-layered designs
  • Famous artists: Banksy, Blek le Rat
• Wheatpasting: Attaching paper or canvas to a surface using a wheat-based adhesive
  • Famous artists: Swoon, Fafi
• 3D Street Art: Creating three-dimensional artworks that appear to jump off the wall
  • Famous artists: Pavement Chalk Art, Manfred Stader
• Abstract Street Art: Non-representational artworks that focus on color, shape, and texture
  • Famous artists: Space Invader, Invader
• Pop Art: Using popular culture icons and imagery to create bold, colorful artworks
  • Famous artists: Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat

Graffiti

• Graffiti is writing or drawing on a surface, usually in a public place, without permission
• Originated in ancient civilizations, such as Greece and Rome, to express political and social opinions
• Modern graffiti emerged in the 1970s in New York City, associated with hip-hop culture and youth rebellion
• Types of graffiti include:
• Tagging: simple, stylized writing of an artist's name or initials
• Throwing up: more complex designs, often including colors and shapes
• Piece: large, intricate murals
• Bombing: quickly painting multiple graffiti in a short period of time

Murals

• Definition: large-scale paintings or artworks on a wall or building
• Date back to ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians and Greeks
• Modern murals are often used to beautify urban spaces, promote community engagement, and convey social messages
• Characteristics include:
• Large scale: can cover entire buildings or city blocks
• Permanent: intended to be long-lasting, unlike graffiti
• Collaborative: often created by multiple artists or with community involvement
• Thematic: may focus on social issues, cultural heritage, or local identity

Street Art Styles

Stenciling

• Using templates to create detailed, multi-layered designs
• Famous artists include Banksy and Blek le Rat

Wheatpasting

• Attaching paper or canvas to a surface using a wheat-based adhesive
• Famous artists include Swoon and Fafi

3D Street Art

• Creating three-dimensional artworks that appear to jump off the wall
• Famous artists include Pavement Chalk Art and Manfred Stader

Abstract Street Art

• Non-representational artworks that focus on color, shape, and texture
• Famous artists include Space Invader and Invader

Pop Art

• Using popular culture icons and imagery to create bold, colorful artworks
• Famous artists include Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat