May 2025 - Street Art

Written by Assistant Director Kylee O.

To many, seeing art may be something reserved for museums and collections, with creating art something only possible in studios. To others, however, their canvases are cities, with concrete walls their galleries. In this movement, known as street art, many skilled artists create murals inspired by many things. Though certain artists like Keith Haring and Banksy are well-known and appreciated by artists and audiences alike, many more artists have contributed to the street art movement worldwide. In this newsletter, we will explain both the history and the present state of street art, as well as artists and their work that are part of this movement.

The History of Street Art

The concept of painting and drawing on unconventional surfaces like walls is nothing new. Humans, as far back as 7000 BC or even earlier, used cave walls and stone as canvases, and later in early Roman and Greek cities, murals were created with religious themes or advertisements, among other things. Still, what we call “street art” today has evolved greatly from where it began. In New York City, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, where many believe the modern street art movement started, the 1960’s were an important milestone. As New York was going through difficult times during this period, many businesses, construction sites, and other buildings gave youth the opportunity to artistically express themselves. Usually using materials like spray paint, markers, and stencils, they used art to represent their cultures, beliefs, and ideas about the world.

As this art took over the streets of these cities, it became more popular worldwide as well, with cities like Paris, London, Jerusalem, Berlin, Rio, and many more introducing bold murals in public spaces. 

While many artists developed their signature street art styles, certain features were common among many different murals worldwide. Bold lines and colors, abstract designs, meaningful inspiration behind pieces, and striking imagery are often seen in street artists’ work. After some setbacks to the street art movement in cities like New York in the 1980’s, another big shift to the street art movement came in the 1990’s-2000’s, as new artists like Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat took over the movement with their creative styles.

Today, many cities and towns worldwide hold creative and beautiful murals, big and small, catching the eyes of all who see them. Street art can make a dull building look full-of-life, bring representation to important issues, give artists a way to share their work with a wide audience, and so much more!

Famous Artists and their Works

Keith Haring was an artist based in New York City from the 1980’s-1990. His art is characterized by his signature stick people, often drawn dancing, using bright colors and thick lines. You may recognize Haring’s work, as it is widely known for his creative style and his common use of themes like love, kindness, and acceptance. While Haring mainly created art in New York, he also created murals in cities like Melbourne, Paris, Philadelphia, Berlin, and many more!

In a similar period to Haring, another street artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat became a well-known name. His work was known for its very vibrant colors, abstract representations of animals and people, and his ability to create impactful and stylistic work by using abstract and messy techniques. Him and his art became so famous, that in 2017 one of his paintings sold for $111 million!

Another famous street artist, based in London, is known under the fake name “Banksy.” Banksy is known for creating black-and-white or minimally colored paintings in cities worldwide. He uses spray paint, stencils, and other materials to create recognizable and creative paintings, many of which incorporate the objects surrounding the walls he paints on.

By exploring notable street artists, the movement’s popularity is clear. Throughout recent history, street art and murals have been a way for many artists to express themselves creatively, with many cities commissioning artists to create large murals on buildings or in other public areas, as they recognize the positive impact of art on cities.