House Graffiti: Urban Subversion with a Twist
Written by Jennifer Heyns
Some see it as vandalism, but others simply call it home. Today, street artists show that graffiti is more than rebellious bubble writing – it’s a cultural experiment in urban remodeling. Many homeowners are welcoming graffiti into their private domains to take interior decorating to a whole new (and personal) level.
Aerosol art has already taken S.F. and L.A. by storm, but Graham Oatman here seems to have cornered the market in Vancouver. This piece, part-dinosaur garden, part-cloudscape, is especially cool because you could stare at your wall for hours and always find new shapes. We respect that versatility.
The small tobacco town of Cameron, North Carolina got an unlikely facelift when a group of 25 artists known as The Barnstormers came and painted dozens of barns, tractor trailers, sheds and farm equipment. I’m not sure how the town first reacted to the attention, but it sure livened the place up.
The group must have won Cameron over - the New York and Tokyo-based artists return every year to paint new murals.
Here’s house-painting with a heavier purpose. The Women are Heroes Project aims to spotlight oppressed women of color in African territories by photographing them “in their daily lives and posting them on the walls of their country.”
Liberating or somewhat invasive? Tell us what you think. One thing’s for sure - it’s photojournalist-style house graffiti and it’s damn good. [http://www.womenareheroes.be/?en]
Graffiti art covers the whole house front of this Brazilian beach property. If eyes are the "windows to the soul," these sunglass-shutters create another level of distance between outsider & occupant. But when they're flung open, imagine the strange and inviting connection made when you've got a whole person where someone's eyes should be.
What others have said
You cannot deny the talent and often the painting covers up some ghastly walls and terrible inner city neglect. I am a fan!
With the street art movement gaining true artistic notoriety and merit as of late one wonders why you wouldn't allow your home to become a budding superstar's canvas. Of course you should be aware a number of city governments have taken to painting over such masterpieces, even on private property and without permission!
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It’s worth noting that the Parisian graffiti artist behind The Women are Heroes project won the TED grant award this year for his awareness raising work world-wide. Though many are wondering if the secretive and elusive JR will abandon his anonymity when picking up the $100,000.