Featured Article

-present

Graffiti has been around for centuries, from ancient cave paintings and Egyptian hieroglyphs to modern day street art. But it wasn’t until the early twentieth century that graffiti artists began to gain recognition. Since then, graffiti artists have become a peaceful protest against government oppression, an art form that has been embraced by society, and a source of inspiration for generations.

In the early 1900s, Italian Futurists who were inspired by the writings of Lenin and Trotsky translated their political opinions into drawings, slogans, and murals. Marino di Teana, Carlo Carrà, Umberto Boccioni, and Gino Severini plastered their drawings on buildings around the city of Rome to express their ideas. As a result, the world had a newfound appreciation for the power of graffiti.

In the 1960s and 1970s, graffiti in America was considered to be mostly illegal, although some areas were more accepting. One of these areas was the Bronx, where the first wave of rap music and street art originated. Graffiti and rap artists like Grandmaster Flash, Fab 5 Freddy, and Phase 2 communicated messages of social consciousness and revolution to their audiences.

As the graffiti scene grew in the 70s, aerosols and new techniques replaced traditional paintbrushes and it attracted a new generation of street artists and musicians. Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and other Pop Artists in the 1980s used graffiti and street art as a way to bring art to the streets and create a new visual language.

Today, graffiti art has become a form of self-expression for many urban youth. Artists like Banksy, Ron English, Shepard Fairey, and Saber have created powerful images and messages that inspire viewers and spark conversations about social and political issues.

In addition, graffiti art is a tool for change. It has been used in numerous civic projects to spark dialogue, inspire action, and draw attention to neglected issues. In the U.S., murals have been used in urban renewal projects to introduce color and vibrancy into communities, and in other countries, graffiti has been used to spread awareness of youth rights and political reforms.

Overall, the positive benefits of graffiti artist from 1900-present are clear. By providing participants with a creative outlet and a means to voice their opinions and share their stories, graffiti has revolutionized urban art, drawn attention to issues, and transformed the urban landscape.