Unveiling the Untold Story: The Evolution of Street Art
- Jeremy Kiraly
- Mar 23
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 24
Street art and graffiti has gained popularity in recent decades and is transforming urban spaces into dynamic canvases that tell stories, convey emotions and foster community identity. With roots tracing back to ancient civilizations, street art has evolved into a significant cultural movement in contemporary society. In this blog post, we will explore the history of street art, its societal impact, and how individuals can get involved in this exciting endeavour.
The Historical Context of Street Art and Graffiti
Street art dates back thousands of years, with early examples found in ancient Rome and Greece, where inscriptions thrived on public buildings and monuments. It was not uncommon to see people writing jokes, poems, commentary and outright protests that represent the problems of the times.
Tourists are notorious for vandalizing ancient structures and tagging their names. It’s funny to consider just how little people have changed, human psychology remains the same, as the Ancient Romans did much the same when visiting Egyptian ruins during their vacations.
There’s a long tradition of leaving “I was here” graffiti and Egyptian ruins are no exception. One team of researchers recently counted over 1000 inscriptions inside the tomb of pharaoh Ramesses VI in the Valley of the Kings—many of which were from Romans who visited the site 2000 years ago. Their ancient messages include familiar complaints of disappointed tourists: "I cannot read the hieroglyphs!".
But does vandalism become an archaeological feature only once it has reached antiquity? Graffiti, whether a form of art or a form of protest, has persisted for thousands of years. It often documented the real life of the people who engaged in it, showing their problems and their sense of humour — much the way it does to this day.
'Graffiti' itself is a modern term and entered the English language to describe ancient texts and images on the ruin walls of Pompei. A similar term was used in Italy prior to the 19th century, used to describe decorative markings often used in architecture and pottery. Scholars may use the term graffito in academic prose to refer to something scratched on a surface and more broadly to describe an inscription or something written in chalk or other material. Ancient cultures and wealthy upper-class travellers did not necessarily see 'graffiti' as something un-lawful. The inscriptions left required skill and time to complete and in some cases wealthy Roman travellers would commission others to write the message for them.
Period: 91 AH Country: Jordan
“The Inscription Will Remain.”
An interesting graffito from Jordan is this fascinating piece of Arabic writing. Both poetic in its nature and provokes the reader to contemplate the meaning of graffiti, and the lasting impact these ancient pieces of art are proven to have.
The inscription was written by someone called Mūsā son of ʿImrān. His wish was that his graffiti in Palmyra will be seen by people hundreds or thousands of years into the future. Maybe Mūsā had already imagined the person or archaeologist who would discover his graffiti.
The ancient text reads: “This is an inscription that I wrote with my own hand; my hand will wear out, but the inscription will remain.”
Period: Upper Paleolithic era Country: France
Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc, Ardèche.
Period: 200 AD Country: Italy, Rome
"Alexamenos graffito".
An unflattering depiction believed to date from around 200 AD and is possibly the earliest surviving depiction of Jesus.
It may also be one of the earliest depictions of the Crucifixion of Jesus, since the event was only rarely depicted in Christian art before the 6th century. The crude etched drawing shows a man worshiping a figure on a cross, except the figure has the head of a donkey. There is an inscription in Greek and the originator of the graffiti manages to mock both Jesus and Alexamenos at the same time.
Graffiti and street art gained momentum during the late 20th century particularly in Philadelphia and New York City during the 1960s and 70s, which began as a form of writing. Individuals were using tags such as their names or nicknames and evolving styles to express themselves and driven by the momentum of artists like Darryl "Cornbread" McCray and "Cool Earl" which are credited with pioneering the graffiti movement in Philadelphia in the late 1960s. Looked down upon for years and in most places as illegal, this art style consists of tagging walls, public transport and buildings… High risk-high reward and a sense of fleeting impermanence was a cornerstone of the culture.
Street art has nonetheless won the hearts of many artists and influenced artists such as comic artist Vaughn Bode, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and Banksy who utilized the urban landscape to express their thoughts on culture, politics, and identity. The objective is to make this art accessible and visible to a large number of people, sometimes as a way to communicate deeper meaning and make people think. Today, some street art can be valued at millions of dollars and are renowned works of art.
In the 1980s and 1990s, street art began to shift from simple tags to more elaborate murals. This evolution marked the recognition of street art as a legitimate art form. For instance, in 1986, Basquiat's work was featured in the prestigious "New York/New Wave" exhibition, illustrating how street art began to gain acceptance and appreciation. Today, street art has expanded globally, reflecting local issues and traditions. A study revealed that 40% of residents in urban areas feel a sense of pride in their city’s street art, indicating its deep connection with community identity.
The Impact on Society
The impact of street art on communities is significant and extensive. Murals frequently act as the communal voice of a neighbourhood, honouring culture, history, and a shared identity. They have the power to evoke wonder, provoke curiosity, encourage reflection and inspire hope. For instance, Banksy is well-known for his iconic graffiti stencil art and his bold capacity to tag nearly any surface, including the separation wall between Gaza and Israel, sparking discussions on highly controversial topics like the inhumane treatment and displacement of Palestinian people in favour of Political Zionism.
Furthermore, some reports have shown that viewing murals boosts foot traffic in the area by 50%, which benefits businesses as well. This provides local artists with essential job opportunities by collaborating with their community and local businesses, thereby enhancing business revenue, promoting tourism, and nurturing a sense of cultural connection, which ultimately enriches the wider local community.
Cities that embrace street art frequently experience positive changes. It's not hard to imagine with the growth in tourism and support to local communities the expansion of murals particularly in regional areas throughout Australia. A study from the University of Southern California found that neighbourhoods with prominent street art saw a 22% increase in community engagement and pride. Signifying a growing recognition of street art’s role in fostering strong community bonds and enhancing the over-all quality of urban life.
Challenging Obstacles for Artists
One of the issues plaguing artists today is generative AI. When Google DeepDream was first launched a decade ago in 2015, I, along with others, realized the disruptive effect generative AI images could have on the creative industry, especially in digital art. Soon after I started creating my first public murals.
On a side note, for those who have wondered why Google’s Deep Dream A.I. Hallucinates In Dog Faces; it is because it was trained on an initial subset of the ImageNet database released in 2012 that was for use in a contest; a subset which contained “fine-grained classification of 120 dog sub-classes.” plainly put, Google’s Deep Dream sees dog faces everywhere because that was the initial data set they trained it on.
Artists in general may face intense competition for various reasons, including isolation, lack of benefits, low pay, a globalized workforce and the threat of job-loss due to automation and generative-ai software. Consequently, sustaining a long-term career can be difficult, leading some artists to experience burnout and prompting many to consider different paths. It's easy to see why.
Mural by Chantel Art and Design https://www.chantelartdesign.com/
Insights from Street Artists
To illustrate the world of street art, we asked artists making significant contributions through their work and asked what they think. One artist, Chantel stated, “To be a mural artist you have to be able to listen thoroughly and have a clear understanding of the client’s vision. I believe this is the key to achieving an outcome that is both deeply personal and highly professional. Many artists who create original work are facing challenges from ai, which can generate designs much faster and at a lower cost. In some cases, ai output can rival the quality of traditional art.”
Each piece often tells a story, sometimes reflecting the experiences of the artist or of the community. Artists may choose to pursue mural painting for a variety of reasons, including a desire to work on a larger scale, to express themselves in a physical space, or to be part of a community.
Shepard Fairey said "A lot of people thought I got famous as a studio artist, then decided to cash in on it. But it actually was just a matter of survival for many years, and I felt it was really important for me to be able to say whatever I wanted with my street art and fine art."
Steven, otherwise known as SGtheartist says creating art in public spaces can be rewarding, but it has it's challenges. "My favourite projects have been those where the community that sees the result most has driven the design, and/or had a significant part in executing the mural themselves. If I think the industry could be improved, it's just expectations."
"Councils will provide a modest budget, frame the project so that children paint a significant role in painting, but also expect the result to be of a high professional standard and reflect more hours of work than the budget allows for." - Steven Glass. Steven is a highly dedicated artist currently based in Adelaide and has spent over two decades crafting his style and creating public murals and street art.
"Don't let them get to you, just keep doing your thing. The more haters I get, it makes me want to paint harder and harder." - Phibs
PHIBS is one of the most respected and renowned names in the Australian Graffiti and Street Art scene. He is part of the Everfresh Studio and has been honing his craft and iconic style for over two decades. His public artworks have become prolific in Melbourne and Sydney, as well as in many far-flung places across the globe.
Banksy, shared, "I know street art can feel increasingly like the marketing wing of an art career, so I wanted to make some art without the price tag attached. There's no gallery show or book or film. It's pointless. Which hopefully means something."
These insights exemplify the dedication that many street artists pour into their work, highlighting the importance of narratives behind their creations and the perseverance it takes to establish themselves.
Getting Involved in Street Art Projects
Getting involved in street art can be both exhilarating and rewarding. Here are a few practical tips to help you jump in:
Research Local Scenes: Familiarize yourself with the street art culture in your area. Attend local events, visit galleries, and discover notable artists. Seek out organizations that can assist with applications for murals on public city infrastructure.
Start Small: Before you tackle large murals, practice with smaller pieces. Consider creating art on public boards or canvases to develop your skills. Local festivals often welcome new artists for smaller works, providing a platform to showcase your vision.
Consider also collaborating with other artists or community organizations especially on larger projects. Building connections can lead to unique ideas and stronger outcomes while fostering community engagement.
Embracing the Renaissance
Street art is more than a rebellious act of expression; it’s a vibrant force shaping urban environments and fostering community identity. Understanding its history and impact enables us to appreciate the creativity infused in our cities. Whether you are an artist or an admirer, there is a place for you in the street art movement.
With each stroke of paint on public walls, street artists breathe life into urban landscapes, creating open galleries that reflect the voices of the local community. Join the movement and help transform your community through art. Your contribution can help make a lasting impact.
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