Graffiti artists are usually anonymous, other artists often tag over artworks, or artworks are removed or painted over by the city or building owners. Graffiti often doesn’t last long, so its origins can be hard to track. It isn’t easy to pinpoint precisely which artist started the trend for Graffiti Art. The culture of Graffiti and tagging revolves around leaving a mark so other artists and taggers can see your tag in the community. Graffiti artists of the late 20th-century were often individuals who didn’t have access to more traditional means or platforms of expression to get their name or message out.

Graffiti has always been about making the artist’s name or message visible, which is why it is created in public spaces. Graffiti Art also predominantly uses spray paints to recreate a Graffiti aesthetic into fine art forms. Historical Graffiti was usually carved or painted, but contemporary Graffiti still typically uses spray paint. The invention of aerosol spray paint in 1949 made spray cans the affordable, transportable medium of choice for modern Graffiti. This form of hip-hop Graffiti started in urban America in the mid 20th century and was centered in Philadelphia and New York. This contemporary form of Graffiti is often referred to as hip-hop Graffiti. The modern and commonly recognized form of Graffiti started in the mid-sixties. While Graffiti has existed in many forms throughout history, it didn’t become a widely visible and well-known phenomenon until the 1960s. Unbeknownst to the soldiers, this was a war error meme and a precursor to modern Graffiti and meme culture. British and Australian soldiers used similar practices.

Soldiers would draw on surfaces along their route as a form of camaraderie with the soldiers who would follow. The Ancient Greeks and Romans also graffitied their names and protest poems on public buildings, similar to modern taggers.Īmerican soldiers adopted a form of Graffiti throughout World War II by writing the phrase “Kilroy was here.” This message was accompanied by a simple sketch of a man peeking over a ledge. The first drawings on walls could be called Graffiti Lascaux cave paintings in France date back to thousands of years ago.

How Graffiti Startedįorms of Graffiti can be found throughout history, dating back to the cavemen. However, recently, Graffiti artists and street artists such as Banksy and the artist Alec Monopoly, who is behind the infamous Richie Rich artworks, – have exhibited their graffiti-style paintings commercially in gallery and museum spaces. Graffiti is still a predominantly public and urban art form. Graffiti Art takes Graffiti off the streets and allows it to be sold, exhibited, and displayed in other environments. The distinction between Graffiti and Graffiti Art is usually used when Graffiti leaves city surfaces and moves to another more traditional art surface, such as a canvas. At the same time, all Graffiti can be considered art. Graffiti Art takes the techniques and methodologies behind street Graffiti and applies them to other mediums. However, it is still not always positively received or universally accepted as art by the general public. Graffiti, while once considered vandalism, is becoming more widely recognized as a type of artwork.

For a long time, the term Graffiti was synonymous with vandalism. The use of the word “Graffiti” has evolved over the centuries to refer to text or graphics applied to surfaces. These could be words or figure drawings found on the walls of ancient sepulchers, public buildings, or ruins. Ancient Graffiti can be observed in the Catacombs of Rome or at the ruins of Pompeii. The term Graffiti was originally a reference to ancient inscriptions. Graffiti is differentiated from street art or graffiti art in that it is usually illegally produced and often involves the unauthorized marking of public or private spaces by individuals or groups. Graffiti is a form of visual communication created in public places.

Graffiti writing