streetart

Street art refers to visual art created in public spaces, outside traditional galleries, encompassing graffiti, murals, stencils, paste-ups, sticker art, yarn bombing, and installations. It is typically produced illegally or without authorization, but many artists work with permits or on commissioned walls; the forms vary widely in style and scale.

The roots trace to late 1960s-1970s urban taggers in New York and Philadelphia, with graffiti as signature and crew culture; it evolved in the 1980s in cities like London, Paris, and Berlin, blending into broader street-based practices. In the 1990s and 2000s, street art gained visibility through media, galleries, and festivals, with legally sanctioned murals transforming cityscapes and attracting tourism.

Common techniques include spray paint, stencils, wheatpaste posters, sticker art, yarn bombing, and large-scale murals. Artists often employ visual symbolism, political messages, pop imagery, and site-specific interventions.

The reception is diverse. Some view street art as democratizing public space and contributing to urban culture; others see it as vandalism or encroachment on private property. Cities vary in regulations, with debates about permits, public safety, and gentrification, while many sites use street art to revitalize districts and support cultural economies.

Notable practitioners include Banksy, Shepard Fairey (Obey), Blu, JR, Invader, and Os Gemeos, among others. Notable projects include large murals, global street-art festivals, and archival collections that document works across cities.