Sticker art
Encyclopedia
Sticker art is a form of street art
in which an image or message is publicly displayed using stickers. These stickers may promote a political agenda, comment on a policy or issue, or comprise an a subcategory of Graffiti
.
This form of street art allows graffiti tags to instantly be placed anywhere accessible, with a much lower risk of apprehension and less damage to the target surface than is possible with other types of street art, such as wheat-pasting posters or spray paint.
Many different types of stickers are used to create sticker art. Inexpensively-purchased and free stickers such as "hello my name is" name tags or the United States Postal Service
's Label 228
are often used with hand-drawn art. Sticker artists can also easily design and print thousands of stickers at low cost using a commercial printing service or at home with a computer printer and self-adhesive labels. Most well known artists print their designs onto adhesive vinyl. Most adhesive vinyl has an aggressive permanent adhesive and all are waterproof and fade resistant. A handful of these artists raise the bar by printing their designs on destructible adhesive vinyl such as B.N.E. (artist)
and early Obey Giant "Has A Posse" have done. Destructible adhesive vinyl is near impossible to remove from the surface it is adhered to once applied. If destructible adhesive vinyl is tampered with harshly it simply cracks and chips away in tiny increments making it extremely tedious to handle and remove. Artist Cristina Vanko's "I am Coal" project uses stickers to identify objects that are coal powered, spreading awareness of global climate change. Using sticker art, or street art, to inform the public of social and political issues is known as "smart vandalism." Vanko also appeared in the 2011 Derek Cutting short film, Cristina's Walk, where she played a penitent streetwalker destitute after a long day.
Many sticker artists also trade stickers with other sticker artists to get their stickers distributed worldwide and often their work will be stuck up in locations they themselves have never visited. Trades are sometimes arranged personally (often through social networking sites) or via online sticker trading sites.
Street art
Street art is any art developed in public spaces — that is, "in the streets" — though the term usually refers to unsanctioned art, as opposed to government sponsored initiatives...
in which an image or message is publicly displayed using stickers. These stickers may promote a political agenda, comment on a policy or issue, or comprise an a subcategory of Graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
.
This form of street art allows graffiti tags to instantly be placed anywhere accessible, with a much lower risk of apprehension and less damage to the target surface than is possible with other types of street art, such as wheat-pasting posters or spray paint.
Many different types of stickers are used to create sticker art. Inexpensively-purchased and free stickers such as "hello my name is" name tags or the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
's Label 228
Label 228
Label 228 is a type of sticker issued by the United States Postal Service, made to be used for labeling packages with a mailing address. These stickers are given out by the postal service for free, either by mail or at the post office....
are often used with hand-drawn art. Sticker artists can also easily design and print thousands of stickers at low cost using a commercial printing service or at home with a computer printer and self-adhesive labels. Most well known artists print their designs onto adhesive vinyl. Most adhesive vinyl has an aggressive permanent adhesive and all are waterproof and fade resistant. A handful of these artists raise the bar by printing their designs on destructible adhesive vinyl such as B.N.E. (artist)
B.N.E. (artist)
BNE is a New York based graffiti artist, who has left his mark in cities throughout the world, including the United States, Canada, Asia,Australia Europe, and South America. He is considered to be one of the most prolific street artists of all time. His identity is unknown by the public, yet he is...
and early Obey Giant "Has A Posse" have done. Destructible adhesive vinyl is near impossible to remove from the surface it is adhered to once applied. If destructible adhesive vinyl is tampered with harshly it simply cracks and chips away in tiny increments making it extremely tedious to handle and remove. Artist Cristina Vanko's "I am Coal" project uses stickers to identify objects that are coal powered, spreading awareness of global climate change. Using sticker art, or street art, to inform the public of social and political issues is known as "smart vandalism." Vanko also appeared in the 2011 Derek Cutting short film, Cristina's Walk, where she played a penitent streetwalker destitute after a long day.
Many sticker artists also trade stickers with other sticker artists to get their stickers distributed worldwide and often their work will be stuck up in locations they themselves have never visited. Trades are sometimes arranged personally (often through social networking sites) or via online sticker trading sites.
Further reading
- IZASTIKUP:A Unique Collection of Stickers Compiled by Bo130, Microbo and The Don. Drago Media (2005) ISBN 978-88-88493-33-6
] - Claudia Walde: Sticker City. The Paper Graffiti Generation (Street Graphics / Street Art). Thames & Hudson, 2007. ISBN 978-0500286685
- PEEL: The Art of the Sticker by Dave & Holly Combs. Mark Batty Publisher (2008). ISBN 0979554608
- Stickers: Stick Em' Up by Mike Dorrian & David Recchia. Thames & Hudson (2002). ISBN 9781861542472