29
Street Art: How Graffiti Became a Modern Art Form
How street art conquered cities and museums
Introduction: Art without permission
In 1971, New York City courier Demetrius signed the walls as TAKI 183, unaware that his tags would spark the Cultural Revolution. Today, street artists are selling for millions, and cities are competing to become mural canvases. How did the underground movement become a global phenomenon? And why are the authorities now paying for what they once painted?
1942 - "Kilroy was here": the first viral inscription from World War II
1967 – Cornbread bombarded Philadelphia with love confessions
2010 Banksy's "Girl with a Balloon" sold for $1.4 million
History: From vandalism to biennial
The Birth of Street Language
In the 1970s, the New York subway became a laboratory for Wild Style, a complex interweaving of letters where readability gave way to aesthetics. Artists like Dondi and Lady Pink turned wagons into moving galleries, and their style wars shaped the visual code of hip-hop culture.
The Metro was our Museum of Modern Art. Millions of people saw our work every morning - not even Picasso had such an audience. Lee Quinones, pioneer of graffiti
Evolution in the Internet Age
With the advent of Instagram in the 2010s, street art went digital. Artists like JR use the city as a platform for social portraits, and their work is instantly replicated online. Paradox: Art born in anonymity now requires hashtags.
Techniques: Tools of Urban Alchemists
- Stencils - Banksy and Blek le Rat's weapons for quick social commentary
- Sticker-bombing - thousands of Shepard Fairy stickers with Andre Giant's face
- 3D murals – optical illusions from Eduardo Rello, changing the perception of architecture
Case: How Space Invader Conquered the World
A French artist inspired by a retro game has placed 4,000 mosaic aliens in 79 cities. His pixel invasion turned street art into a global quest game.
Style icons: From Anonymous to Art Stars
- Jean-Michel Basquiat – from SAMO street signs to Warhol collaboration
- Banksy is a shocking Sotheby's auction with a self-destructing painting
- Vhils - knocking out portraits on walls with a jackhammer
Glossary
mural
Large-scale painting on the facades of buildings, often legal and custom
tagging
Signature of the artist, made in a unique style - a visiting card of the writer
bombing
Illegal fast graffiti in public places
Conclusion: Art that does not fit into the framework
Street art continues to challenge: in 2024, neural networks began generating graffiti, and digital projections complement physical work. But its essence remains the same - to turn the concrete jungle into a space for dialogue. As Banksy said, “The city is the most honest gallery.” They will either see you or they will see you.
