The evolution of road artwork
While art shown indoors has temporarily lost its audience to the pandemic, street art is on the rise. Here Hazel Davis reflects on how the medium is becoming more and more part of the art world and still can be used as a force for change
This month, American street artist Futura announced that he is suing clothing company North Face for copying his signature motif into a current clothing line. It's not the first time this has happened, and it won't be the last. And it shows how far street art has penetrated the mainstream.
Street art is fast becoming a respected genre of contemporary art, says Mary McCarthy, lead street art specialist and curator of Vanguard – a global street show that will be held in Bristol this summer and showcase works by Banksy and Massive Attack's 3D – and Bill posters. "Beyond walls, there are many ways that artists using the streets as canvas can make money with exhibitions of original works, editions, commissions, merchandising and projects." On the other hand, she says, “From a contractual point of view, companies around the world are recognizing the potential advertising power of art on the street and are commissioning artists to realize their vision in public spaces. [This may] be conceptually less creative, but use your skills as a craftsman. "
The interesting feature of art called "street", according to McCarthy, is the basis of its origin. "It has fundamentally democratized the scene and opened up the buying and collecting of art to a new generation of collectors who would not have thought of" art "before.
STREET ART AND ACTIVISM
Brighton-based street artist Sarah Gillings said she first realized after an interview with a top executive at Barclays Bank that the genre was definitely entering the mainstream. As part of the School for Social Entrepreneurs, the bank honored an idea for a social enterprise for them: “I was completely ready to say: 'Aren't you inciting young idiots to tag and vandalize your projects? & # 39; The question never came up, he totally understood. “As a result, Gillings started the UK's first street art charity, U Can Spray.