I’ve been collecting photographs of street art for a while now. Every place I go I keep my eyes open for it and I snap a picture to add to my collection and I share the picture with everyone on Facebook: It’s such a delight to walk down the street and suddenly stumble on a little artistic gem that pops up out of nowhere and then disappears next time you walk by. That is the ephemeral nature of street art and that’s what makes it so appealing to me. I feel it’s the perfect temporary public art that takes the art of the galleries and museums into the streets and reminds us of what it means to have beauty in the world.
I like street art so much that I’ve actually asked street artists to come into my home and paint murals on my walls and ceiling. I’ve given them no direction on what they can do, although I selected them because I knew their work and trusted them to do more great work. People often ask me what happens to the art when I move from this place. I guess whoever buys my condo will decide the answer to that. In the meantime, I love being surrounded by it everyday.
Many street artists have found commercial success and are selling their works in fine art galleries and showing their work in museums such as the esteemed LA MOCA and the National Portrait Gallery. I’ve added some of these pieces to my art collection. A beautiful painting by Dalek, a small sculpture by the elusive Mark Jenkins, a limited edition poster by Shepard Fairey. I am not trying to be a serious street art collector. I have an eclectic collection that consists of things I find beautiful or things with which I have a personal connection or that are meaningful to me. I like works with a story to tell. These parameters are true for buying any kind of art, and many street art pieces happen to fit these guidelines.
Some street art isn’t beautiful. Some of it is just bad. But I think the ratio of good to bad street art is about the same as good to bad fine art in the galleries. When I walk around the Chelsea galleries in New York City, there have been times when I liked only about 10 percent of what I saw. It’s all a matter of taste though so I don’t try to tell people what they should like or buy. I suggest you figure out your style and taste and buy accordingly and not worry about what any so-called expert tells you is the thing to buy. If you’re interested in street art, there’s enough of a range out there that you most likely can find something that fits your aesthetic and price range. I’m not interested in buying art to impress others or to make a good investment. If that is what you’re interested in, then I can suggest excellent art consultants and gallery owners who can point you in the right direction.
Where can you find street art to buy? More and more galleries specialize in it. Two of my favorites in the Washington area: Art Whino in National Harbor and The Fridge on Capitol Hill. Art Whino shows artists from around the world in a wide range of prices. The Fridge is more of a boutique shop. You can find great deals at both places.
Some amazing street art just isn’t available for purchase. You can find them only in the street and then they’re gone. You just have to look out for it everywhere you go! Fortunately there are sites that document it for us from around the world so we don’t miss too much. One of my favorites: http://woostercollective.com/.
Happy hunting!
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I think its both art and vandalism —
I think graffiti is most definitely art. I am an artist. I paint canvas graffiti, but once in a while street graffiti. Its just how i like to express myself. I like people to see what i feel.
Did you know that Los Angeles spent $7.1 million last year cleaning graffiti.
graffiti / street art is beautiful
Nice post, thanks for sharing.
It was originally used by gangs to mark their territory in some urban area.
Probably the most prominent graffiti artist is Banksy, a famous pseudo-anonymous British artist whose works focus on topics such as politics, culture, and ethics. – READ THIS. http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/09/14/tribute-to-graffiti-50-beautiful-graffiti-artworks/
Spray painting street walls is vandalism.
I think graffiti is art when done correctly. It can be incredibly beautiful.
Graffiti is art…. until someone does it to the side of your garage.
It’s an expression of our first amendment rights.
Some graffiti is just mindless tagging – other is a work of art that displays creativity at its finest.
Tax dollars go towards the removal of graffiti…just think about that.
The Museum of Contemporary Art is expected to launch “Art in the Streets,” – the first major U.S. museum survey exhibition on graffiti and street art. AMAZING
Banksy is amazing.
i dont think graffiti is art because it makes the neighbourhood look dangerous.
It depends on the style of art, what it the graffti was of a sunshine and grassy field. Seems pretty harmless to me