wallbased

Wallbased is a term used to describe artworks and projects that are anchored to or designed for vertical surfaces, particularly walls. It can refer to murals, graffiti-based art, wall installations, or digital projections projected onto architectural material. In some contexts, it may also appear as a brand or project name; however, there is no single, widely recognized definition or organization that holds the term.

Origins and usage of the term are informal and primarily found in art and urban culture discourse. Wallbased emphasizes the primary surface of display—the wall—rather than traditional formats such as canvas or framed pieces. The concept is used in discussions about site-specific art, urban interventions, and the ethics and logistics of painting on public or private walls, including permissions and regulatory considerations.

In practice, wallbased artworks range from permanent licensed murals on building facades to ephemeral street art, chalk pieces, or posters affixed to walls. They also cover installations that interact with wall surfaces, such as reliefs embedded in walls or art integrated into interior wall panels. Weather, surface texture, and surrounding context are important factors affecting durability and presentation.

Digital and immersive extensions are sometimes described as wallbased when projections, projection-mmapping, or LED façades use a wall as a primary display surface. In interior design and architecture, the term can describe artwork or features that are embedded into or built onto walls, reinforcing the wall as a main locus of the piece.

See also: mural, street art, site-specific art, projection mapping.