Urban art
Encyclopedia
Urban art is a style of art that relates to cities and city life often done by artists who live in or have a passion for city life. In that way urban art combines street art
and graffiti
and is often used to summarize all visual art forms arising in urban area
s, being inspired by urban architecture or thematizing urban live style.
Because the urban arts are characterized by existing in the public space, they are often viewed as vandalism
and destruction of private property. Even though sometimes this form of art leads to vandalism the creators do not see themselves as vandals.
Although urban art started at the neighbourhood level, where a lot of people of different cultures live together, it is an international art form with an unlimited number of uses nowadays. A lot urban artists are travelling from city to city and have social contacts all over the world.
The notion of 'Urban Art' developed from street art
which is primarily concerned with graffiti
culture. Urban art represents a broader cross section of artists that as well as covering traditional street artists working in formal gallery spaces also covers artists using more traditional media but with a subject matter that deals with contemporary urban culture and political issues. The most noted gallery in the UK that deals with Urban art is Lazarides Gallery.
uses an urban art style to promote their band. The band members are animated in a graffiti
style.
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...
and graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
and is often used to summarize all visual art forms arising in urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
s, being inspired by urban architecture or thematizing urban live style.
Because the urban arts are characterized by existing in the public space, they are often viewed as vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
and destruction of private property. Even though sometimes this form of art leads to vandalism the creators do not see themselves as vandals.
Although urban art started at the neighbourhood level, where a lot of people of different cultures live together, it is an international art form with an unlimited number of uses nowadays. A lot urban artists are travelling from city to city and have social contacts all over the world.
The notion of 'Urban Art' developed from street art
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...
which is primarily concerned with graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
culture. Urban art represents a broader cross section of artists that as well as covering traditional street artists working in formal gallery spaces also covers artists using more traditional media but with a subject matter that deals with contemporary urban culture and political issues. The most noted gallery in the UK that deals with Urban art is Lazarides Gallery.
In the mainstream
The band GorillazGorillaz
Gorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
uses an urban art style to promote their band. The band members are animated in a graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
style.
Notable Urban Artists
- Shepard FaireyShepard FaireyFrank Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary graphic designer, and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene. He first became known for his "André the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign, in which he appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News. His...
- AboveAbove (artist)ABOVE has been creating public art since 1995. Above is an international street artist who keeps his identity concealed. Above is known for his multi-layer/full color social and political stencils, spinning wooden "arrow mobile" installations, and large mural "word play" paintings. Above started...
- AkayAkayAkay is one of the first Swedish graffiti-influenced street artists, and has received international attention. . When he quit graffiti, he started his street art project Akayism.- Akayism :...
- BanksyBanksyBanksy is a pseudonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist, film director, and painter.His satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine irreverent dark humour with graffiti done in a distinctive stencilling technique...
- Adam NeateAdam NeateAdam Neate is a British painter, conceptual artist and one of the best known street artists in the world. He specialises in painting urban art on recycled cardboard, and has left thousands of works in the street for anyone to collect...
- InvaderInvader (artist)Invader is a French urban artist who pastes up characters from and inspired by the Space Invaders game, made up of small coloured square mosaic tiles that form a space invader character murel...
- L'AtlasL'AtlasL'Atlas is a French artist born in France in 1978. A painter, photographer and video artist, he lives and works in Paris and frequently shows his work in various cities worldwide.-Characteristics:...
- Mark JenkinsMark JenkinsMark Jenkins is an American artist most widely known for the street installations he creates using box sealing tape. In addition to creating art, he also teaches his sculpture techniques through workshops in cities he visits...
- DubelyooDubelyooDwayne Wright is an American contemporary artist, graphic designer, illustrator and producer who emerged from the urban art scene. He is known under the name Dubelyoo, which at the same time is his brand . He is also known as The Art Bishop.-Background:Originally from North Carolina he moved to...
- Jorge Rodriguez-GeradaJorge Rodriguez-GeradaJorge Rodriguez-Gerada is a Cuban-American contemporary artist. He was born in Cuba and grew up in the United States. He became a founding member of the culture jamming movement in New York City in the early 1990s, first with the group Artfux and later with the group Cicada Corps of Artists...
Notable Urban artists not primarily associated with street art
- Antony MicallefAntony MicallefAntony Micallef , English contemporary artist and painter.Internationally acclaimed artist Antony Micallef appeared on the art scene in 2000, winning second prize in the BP Portrait Award competition. Since then his mix of political imagery fused with contemporary expressionism has won him world...
- Ian Francis
- Guy DenningGuy DenningGuy Denning is a self taught English contemporary artist and painter based in France. He is the founder of the Neomodern group, a member of Stuckism International, and part of the urban art scene in Bristol.- Art :...
- Jonathan YeoJonathan YeoJonathan Yeo is a British artist who rose to prominence in the 2000s as a contemporary portraitist, responsible for iconic paintings of Nicole Kidman, Dennis Hopper, Prince Philip, Erin O'Connor, Tony Blair, and David Cameron among his sitters...
- Tom ChristopherTom ChristopherTom Christopher is an American artist known for his expressionist urban paintings, mostly of New York City.Critics generally have received his work in a positive light; it has been described as “exploring the many aspects of man’s struggle in an urban environment” with “a blaze of expressionistic...
Further reading
- Le Bijoutier (2008), This Means Nothing, Powerhouse Books, ISBN 978-1-57687-417-2
- Bou, Louis (2006), NYC BCN: Street Art Revolution, HarperCollins, ISBN 978-0-06-121004-4
- Bou, Louis (2005), Street Art: Graffiti, stencils, stickers & logos, Instituto Monsa de ediciones, S.A., ISBN 978-84-96429-11-6
- Combs, Dave and Holly (2008), PEEL: The Art of the Sticker, Mark Batty PublisherMark Batty PublisherMark Batty Publisher is an independent book publishing company specializing in illustrated books on the art of communication: photography, art and design, graffiti and urban art; pop culture, typography and other related topics...
, ISBN 0-9795546-0-8 - Fairey, ShepardShepard FaireyFrank Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary graphic designer, and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene. He first became known for his "André the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign, in which he appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News. His...
(2008), Obey: E Pluribus Venom: The Art of Shepard Fairey, Gingko Press, ISBN 978-1-58423-295-7 - Fairey, Shepard (2009), Obey: Supply & Demand, The Art of Shepard Fairey, Gingko Press, ISBN 978-1-58423-349-7
- Gavin, Francesca (2007), Street Renegades: New Underground Art, Laurence King Publishers, ISBN 978-1-85669-529-9
- Goldstein, Jerry (2008), Athens Street Art, Athens: Athens News, ISBN 978-960-89200-6-4
- Harrington, Steven P. and Rojo, Jaime (2008), Brooklyn Street Art, Prestel, ISBN 978-3-7913-3963-4
- Harrington, Steven P. and Rojo, Jaime (2010), Street Art New York, Prestel, ISBN 978-3-7913-4428-7
- Hundertmark, Christian (2005), The Art Of Rebellion: The World Of Street Art, Gingko Press, ISBN 978-1-58423-157-8
- Hundertmark, Christian (2006), The Art Of Rebellion 2: World of Urban Art Activism, Gingko Press, ISBN 978-3-9809909-4-3
- Jakob, Kai (2009), Street Art in Berlin, Jaron, ISBN 978-3-89773-596-5
- Lewisohn, Cedar (2008), Street Art: The Graffiti Revolution, London, England: Tate Publishing, ISBN 978-1-85437-767-8
- Longhi, Samantha (2007), Stencil History X, Association C215, ISBN 978-2-9525682-2-7
- Manco, Tristan (2002), Stencil Graffiti, Thames and Hudson, ISBN 0-500-28342-7
- Manco, Tristan (2004), Street Logos, Thames and Hudson, ISBN 0-500-28469-5
- Marziani, Gianluca (2009), Scala Mercalli: The Creative Earthquake of Italian Street Art, Drago Publishing, ISBN 978-88-88493-42-8
- Mathieson, Eleanor & A. Tàpies, Xavier (2009): Street Artists, The Complete Guide.Graffito Books, London. ISBN 978-0-9560284-1-9
- Palmer, Rod (2008), Street Art Chile, Eight Books, ISBN 978-0-9554322-1-7
- Schwartzman, Allan (1985), Street Art, The Dial Press, ISBN 978-0-385-19950-6
- Strike, Christian and Rose, Aaron (Aug 2005), Beautiful Losers: Contemporary Art and Street Culture, Distributed Art Publishers, ISBN 1-933045-30-2
- Tarantino, A (2011): Seattle Street Art - A Visual Time Capsule Beyond Graffiti, Createspace, ISBN 0-615-45190-X
- Walde, Claudia (2007), Sticker City: Paper Graffiti Art (Street Graphics / Street Art Series), Thames & Hudson, ISBN 978-0-500-28668-5
- Williams, Sarah Jaye, ed. (2008), Philosophy of Obey (Obey Giant): The Formative Years (1989–2008), Nerve Books UK.