Street Art

Street art is one of the newest types of fine art to emerge into mainstream acceptance. Originally coming from the tradition of graffiti, many critics decried that the form was not a true fine art, but rather a form of vandalism of private property. However, the attitude of the art world has shifted in recent years, with many pieces of street art now commanding a high price at art auctions. The reason for this change of heart and more attention that is placed on street art has to do with the high degree of artistic skill that is necessary to complete one of the more complex works.

One of the main differences between street art and other fine arts is the inclusion of an activist message. While some pieces are simply art, the vast majority address a social or political issue, with many artists promoting anti-corporation and anti-government stances. This is one of the reasons that street art is often described as being part of a communication between a piece of art and the environment that it is located in. Because most property owners quickly cover street art, the movement also has a temporary feel, with many images and street art pieces only existing for a very short time before they are taken down.

Among the street art movement, the current hero is an artist known only as Banksy. He uses a combination of many different street art forms, including typical graffiti, stencil graffiti, street installations, and even a film that has documented the work of street artists. Based in the United Kingdom, Banksy has captured an international audience with his works of art. His works often have a striking political message as well as a dark sense of humor. For nearly twenty years, Banksy's street art projects have appeared in major worldwide cities, such as London, New York, and Paris.