BLOG | DECEMBER, 2008

Graffiti: Art, Vandalism or Commerce?

December 10, 2008 at 2:18 PM
by Justin

Interesting article in the Times Online about Banksy, an (in)famous graffiti artist whose street art has appeared on walls around the world. The debate is a familiar one: is graffiti art or vandalism?

When I was at RISD, Sheppard Fairey was already famous for his ubiquitous stickers, "Andre the Giant has a posse" that were on plastered on every public surface you can imagine. Nowadays, Sheppard is a highly successful commercial artist, his most recent work includes Barack Obama's "Hope" campaign poster. Here in Providence, three graffiti artists, Seaz, Juner and Lead, were commissioned to paint a mural for Temple, a restaurant inside of one our four-diamond hotels.

So, is graffiti art (an expression of the human soul, socio-political commentary), vandalism (littering on someone else's property) or commerce (payment for services rendered)?

Able | December 10, 2008 4:06 PM

I voted other, because I believe it *is* art, but is most of the time also vandalism.

Chris | December 10, 2008 4:17 PM

I voted too...

Raven | December 11, 2008 11:28 AM

I hesitate to call it art because I don't want to encourage any more graffiti. However, to look at some of their "tags"; it requires more skill than some of Pollock's work or Rothko. So I'd have to say, if it was commissioned, they're artists. If it's tagging the side of a building like a dog marks its territory, they're punks.

Daily OY | December 11, 2008 2:21 PM

It's primarily vandalism.

But it can be a lot of fun to look at.

Becky | December 11, 2008 2:32 PM

I voted other because I think it is art when permission is granted or design is commisioned and that it is vandalism when it is done on private property without permission

donavin | December 27, 2008 8:08 PM

i think the graffiti is a good lesson for yung artists to learn their pashen in art

cheese | December 27, 2008 8:11 PM

graffiti is awsome i spray buildings every night.PS. i dont spray paint.