In neighborhoods like Miami’s Wynwood, art surrounds you in every direction. Walls, warehouses, street corners, and storefronts are increasingly ornamented with bright colors, different symbols, and various artistic styles.
Today, urban cities worldwide embrace graffiti and street art, transforming what were once marginalized forms of expression into celebrated art forms. But where does this shift of perception begin?
Graffiti: From Rejection to Acceptance
Street art and graffiti have come a long way since the 1970s. Once dismissed as vandalism and a burden on taxpayer resources, street art is now celebrated, commissioned, and showcased in esteemed galleries around the world. City investments in murals, the commercial success of street artists, and the establishment of graffiti museums reflect the growing appreciation of this art form.
But how did public perception shift so drastically?
The answer lies in the evolution of street art and its recognition as a legitimate artistic and cultural movement. Influential artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and Banksy played pivotal roles in changing attitudes, proving that graffiti could be more than vandalism—it could be art.
The Birth of Modern Graffiti: Philadelphia Artist Cornbread to New York City
Graffiti as we know it today emerged in the late 1960s, when individuals began using tagging as a form of self-expression rather than gang symbolism. Philadelphia artist Darryl McCray, better known as “Cornbread,” is widely regarded as one of the first graffiti artists. In 1965, Cornbread began tagging his name across the city to establish a personal reputation, transforming graffiti into a tool for individuality and creativity. Before, gang members were the graffiti artists, tagging urban boroughs with generic name-tags and gang affiliated symbols in order to signify their controlled territories.
This shift marked the beginning of graffiti’s evolution from simple name tags and gang affiliation to complex and colorful forms of artistic expression.
Painting the Landscape: Graffiti in 1970s New York City
By the late 1960s and 1970s, New York City became the epicenter of the graffiti movement. This was also a period when the city was marked by economic decline, social unrest, and urban decay. Consequently, Manhattan’s disenfranchised youth turned to graffiti as a means of self-expression. Vacant buildings, subway cars, and construction sites became their canvases.
Artists like Julio 204 and Taki 183 pioneered the movement, inspiring others to pick up spray paint and leave their mark. As competition among graffiti artists grew, so did their creativity. Lettering styles became more intricate, incorporating shadows, highlights, and figurative elements. By the mid-1970s, graffiti began featuring illustrations, cartoons, and vibrant scenes, laying the foundation for the styles we recognize today.
Despite public criticism and efforts to crack down on graffiti, the movement continued to flourish, capturing public attention and sparking debates about its artistic merit.
The Rise of Street Art: From Subways to Galleries
The 1980s marked a turning point for graffiti and street art. While cities like New York launched aggressive campaigns against graffiti, the artistic talent of street artists simultaneously gained recognition. Artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring brought street art into galleries, bridging the gap between graffiti and fine art.
Basquiat, in particular, played a crucial role in this transformation. His raw, expressive works drew on the tensions and contradictions of society, blending graffiti elements with traditional art techniques. The admittance of his works in the traditional art institutions, including many galleries, art auction houses, and museums, have contributed greatly to legitimizing the street art form.
Rejection in the 1980s
Despite the success of Basquiat and Haring who were crossing over to the traditional art world, throughout the 80s street artists continued their struggle for legitimacy. Successful street artists were often treated as exceptions and most graffiti artists remained outside of traditional art institutions.
Urban art was often seen as subversive, associated with urban decay, and primarily viewed through the lens of legality rather than artistry. Critics and authorities labeled graffiti as an act of defiance rather than a legitimate art form. The more street art refused to be ignored, the more law enforcement cracked down on graffiti under "anti-vandalism" campaigns.
Shifts in the 1990s: Banksy’s Emergence
By the 1990s, the narrative around street art began to change, laying the groundwork for its widespread acceptance in the contemporary art world.
Following Basquiat’s success, street art gained global momentum. The 1990s and early 2000s witnessed a new wave of urban artists exploring themes that centered social commentary, pop culture, and artistic innovation. Contemporary street artists began to incorporate complex narratives, stencils, and multimedia installations, redefining the style.
Artists like Banksy began creating works with a strong conceptual focus. Street art became about more than just visual appeal; it became vehicles for satirical messages about politics, capitalism, and societal hypocrisy. This intellectual layer began to resonate with audiences beyond the urban street scene, including esteemed art galleries, traditional art institutions, and famous art collectors.
Works like Banksy’s, were easily disseminated in magazines, newspapers, and early online forums. Cities increasingly began to understand the cultural and economic potential of street art. Events like mural festivals and city-sponsored commissions gave artists more legitimate platforms to showcase their work, shifting public perception from seeing street art as vandalism to viewing it as a cultural value.
2024 Street Art
Today, street art has become more relevant than ever. The success of figures like Banksy and Jean-Michael Basquiat underscore how far the movement has come. Street Art’s ability to blend poignant commentary, accessibility, and artistic innovation, has allowed the contemporary style to continue to evolve and maintain is relevancy.
What began as an act of rebellion has become a powerful form of creative expression, blurring the lines between public and fine art. The story of street art serves as a testament to the resilience of artists who dare to challenge the status quo.
Explore Carousel Fine Art’s Street Artists
At Carousel Fine Art, our gallery embraces the journey of street art, celebrating its evolution and cultural value. Our mission is to showcase works that not only capture the rawness and authenticity of street art’s origins but also reflect its sophisticated progression into fine art. By featuring pieces from artists like Onemizer and Mr. Brainwash, we aim to highlight the dynamic narrative of street art, its cultural significance, and its ability to challenge and redefine the boundaries of the contemporary art world.
French contemporary Artist ONEMIZER
Much like the youth of 1970s New York, French artist Onemizer began experimenting with graffiti by tagging the walls of Paris. His work was raw, rebellious, and ultimately a form of vandalism. Later turning to canvas, Onemizer may have modified the medium but he maintained his street art aesthetic.
Incorporating bright colors, layered typography, and elements of street culture, Onemizer creates pieces filled with urban art forms. Onemizer challenges traditional notions of what constitutes “fine art,” while staying rooted in the themes of individuality that define graffiti’s origins.
learn more about ONEMIZER
Mr. Brainwash and Street Art’s Shift
Mr. Brainwash, born Thierry Guetta, exemplifies the evolution of street art from its subversive origins to a celebrated global art movement. As an artist who rose to prominence through the 2010 documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop, he embodies how street art’s perception has shifted—from being dismissed as vandalism to becoming a centerpiece of fine art galleries and auctions.
Like Basquiat and Banksy, Mr. Brainwash emerged at a time when the boundaries between street art and the fine art world were blurring. Starting with guerrilla-style stenciling and bold, pop-inspired visuals in urban spaces, his early work resonated with the rebellious, expressive nature of graffiti’s origins. His pieces—often infused with celebrity portraits, iconic imagery, and bright colors—are inspired by the lettering styles, layered elements, and commentary of the 1980s and 1990s graffiti movement.
Mr. Brainwash’s career is a testament to how public perception of street art has transformed. In the early years, graffiti artists operated on the fringes, but artists like Mr. Brainwash have helped reshape this narrative by turning street art into highly collectible works. His use of multimedia techniques, large-scale installations, and pop culture references help bridge the gap between the stigma around graffiti and the commercial appeal of fine art.
His global exhibitions—including massive shows in Los Angeles, London, and Miami—have attracted collectors, celebrities, and art institutions, further legitimizing street art in the fine art world.
Mr. Brainwash illustrates how far street art has come—and how it continues to evolve as a dynamic and influential art form.
