What Is the History of Urban Art?

Art|Art History

Urban art is a form of modern art that can be traced back to the late 19th century. It is often linked to graffiti and street art, but also encompasses many other forms. Urban art originally began as a way for artists to express their views on social and political issues, but it has evolved into a global phenomenon with its own unique style and culture.

Urban art has its roots in the post-industrial cities of Europe in the late 19th century. Artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir used their canvases to depict scenes from everyday life in the city. This became known as “urban realism” or “realist painting” and it was particularly popular with French Impressionists.

The emergence of modern graffiti in the 1970s ushered in a new era of urban art. Graffiti artists used public spaces as their canvas, creating works that often featured bright colors, bold shapes, and text-based messages. These works were seen as an act of rebellion against authority or consumer culture, but they also helped to create an alternative visual language that reflected the experiences of marginalized communities living in urban areas.

The 1980s saw a surge in popularity for street art, with artists such as Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat becoming international celebrities for their unique styles and creative use of public spaces. This period also saw the emergence of graffiti writers such as Lady Pink and Fab 5 Freddy who helped bring graffiti into mainstream culture through their work on television shows like “Graffiti Rock”.

By the 1990s, urban art was becoming more widely accepted by mainstream audiences thanks to its inclusion in popular movies like “Wild Style” (1983) and “Kids” (1995) which showcased hip hop culture at its height. Urban art soon began appearing on clothing lines and even album covers, reflecting its increasing influence on popular culture.

Today, urban art is still evolving with new styles such as “pop surrealism” emerging alongside traditional forms like graffiti writing or murals. The internet has played an important role in connecting urban artists from around the world who have embraced digital mediums like animation or 3D printing to create new works that reflect our ever-changing world.

Conclusion: The history of urban art is long and varied, stretching back over a century to the realist painters of Europe who depicted city life on their canvases. Since then it has grown into an international phenomenon with its own unique style and culture spanning many different mediums from graffiti writing to digital animation.