Color on the Concrete: The Story of Street Art

For thousands of years, people have created art in outdoor spaces. Long ago, ancient cultures painted colorful murals on the walls of civic and religious buildings. However, during the late twentieth century, a brand-new art form began appearing in bustling cities. In New York City during the 1970s and 1980s, energetic young artists started painting on subway cars, brick walls, and empty wooden fences. Instead of showing their work inside quiet museums, they turned the entire city into an open gallery. This vibrant movement became known as Street Art.

Street Art grew from two important traditions: modern graffiti and community murals. Graffiti writers originally focused on quick spray-painted signatures called tags and fancy bubble letters on subway trains. Over time, other creators began adding pictures of people, humorous cartoons, and thoughtful messages about neighborhood life. They also drew inspiration from the Mexican Mural Movement of the early twentieth century, in which artists painted massive public walls to celebrate cultural history. Like the Pop Art movement of the 1960s, Street Art challenged traditional ideas about who could be an artist and who should get to enjoy art.

Because street artists do not belong to a single club or school, they use many different tools and techniques. In the 1980s, an artist named Keith Haring used white chalk to draw energetic, dancing figures on black paper panels inside subway stations. Other artists prefer using a stencil, which is a design cut out of thick cardboard or plastic. By placing the cutout against a surface and spraying over it with aerosol paint, an artist can create a sharp picture in just a few seconds. The British artist Banksy became famous for using stencils to share funny and thought-provoking messages about society. Another pioneer, Lady Pink, used spray paint to make huge, vibrant murals that showed strong women and supported local neighborhoods. Other creators paste paper posters on walls, wrap telephone poles in colorful yarn, or make bright stickers.

Street Art has a special connection to the places where it is created. Sometimes artists work without permission, which can cause debates with city leaders and property owners who consider unapproved painting to be vandalism. However, many communities now welcome street artists with open arms. Cities across the globe organize authorized mural festivals. These events invite talented painters from around the world to turn dull, gray brick walls into bright outdoor landmarks that bring pride to local neighborhoods.

One big difference between street art and traditional museum paintings is that street art is temporary. Rain and sunshine slowly wash away the paint. Construction crews knock down old walls, and other painters sometimes create new pictures right on top of old ones. Most street artists do not mind this change. In fact, they love knowing that their creations are part of a living, breathing neighborhood.

Today, Street Art is more popular than ever. Major art galleries and auction houses now sell street-style paintings for millions of dollars, and clothing companies put urban designs on shoes and shirts. Some people worry that selling this work indoors takes away its rebellious spirit, but others are excited that these talented creators are finally getting the respect they deserve. Above all, street art continues to brighten city blocks and make art accessible to everyone who walks down the sidewalk.