Someone asks you to define street art, what do you say? It’s not just names and gang signs scribbled in spray paint on a wall anymore. Street art has been elevated to a new height in the art world. There are different mediums, and styles much like in the classical art world. Not everyone cares for street art, but it is hard to argue that it is not “art” at all.
One of the most famous street artists in the world is a man named Banksy from the UK. He uses his incredible art skills mixed with a stenciling technique to create his works. His art is satirical as he comments on political and social topics. His work has been featured on buildings, bridges, and streets all over the world.
Throwing Flowers by Banksy
Cave Art by Banksy
Question Time by Banksy
Street art does not always make society its punch line. Sometimes it is just a whimsical touch added to things that already exists. A crack in a wall can be turned into a series of hills , such as this piece from Oakoak.
Street art by Oakoak
Sometimes it's as simple as adding a few lines to an average road symbol. All of a sudden you see a picture there. You might walk by it for a week before you even notice the difference. But when you do, it makes you smile.
Roadsworth a street artist from Montreal
Wishful Thinking by Roadsworth
Street art isn't always paint on the side of a building or a street. Sometimes it takes on more of an installation form. Dispatch Work are artists that fill in cracks in walls and sidewalks on the streets of Berlin with Lego pieces. This makes the building or wall whole again while adding a splash of color and whimsy.
Lego Wall in Berlin, Germany
Street art is so popular that it even has festivals dedicated to it. Earlier this week Koo had a Facebook post about the Sarasota Chalk Festival. This is a less permanent but equally as beautiful form of street art. The three dimensional pictures look so real that you feel as if you could fall in.
Sarasota Chalk Festival: 3D Lego Army
Street has certainly evolved from its roots as something only gang members did. Now when you walk down the street and see something painted on a wall, it may be just as beautiful as something you would see in a high end art gallery. Sometimes it makes you think of the world around us in a serious way. Other times is makes you see that the world, with all of it's flaws, is still beautiful. Looking closer at street art we learned not to judge art by its location, and for that we thank all people who call themselves Street Artists.