Walk around any major city, and you’re bound to see street art courtesy of one of their local artists. While these might seem like thoughtful art pieces simply plastered on the side of a building, street art is so much more than that. And when it comes to famous street artists, there are some that you should know about.
Street artists these days are featured in galleries across the world. They sell prints online and move from city to city, leaving their mark. Knowing what you’re seeing might make the experience that much more exciting. So, here are some street artists to get to know.
Banksy
Probably one of the most famous street artists out there, Banksy has art featured across the world. He’s known for his scathing mix of politics, humor, and poetry and generally features his stencil-style art highlighting children, soldiers, and even animals. It’s impossible to miss a Banksy when you see one on the street.
Vhils
The Portuguese street artist was made famous by Banksy after he was invited to attend the London Cans Festival way back in 2008. Since then, his art has exploded. The mix media, including stencil, paper, scissors, and paint, captures the eye through intricate frescoes and portraits.
Kobra
If color is more your thing, you’re going to want to check out this Brazilian-born artist. His political-based artwork feature dynamic, colorful frescos that highlight a moment in history or carry highly impactful messages about global warming.
David Choe
Choe first came to notoriety after he was asked to paint a mural for Facebook HQ way back in the early 2000s. His multi-media mix of styles is colorful and intricate, making each of his pieces something that you have to stop and stare at for a while. It’s one of the reasons it’s so perfect for the street art style. And even more interesting? He was given Facebook shares for his initial mural, and they’re now worth over $200 million.
JR
His almost 3D depictions of life are typically found in the slums or ghettos of major cities. The purpose behind his art, and where he places it is to bring light to those that are underrepresented in our society. When you see one of his beautiful statements, you won’t be able to turn away from the message.
Swoon
The New York City-based artist can be found up and down the avenues. Her life-sized depictions carry pointed messages about social issues as well as environmental and political injustices. Next time you visit New York, keep an eye out for her art on the side of abandoned buildings all over the city.
ABOVE
You’ll know an ABOVE when you see it. The California-born artist now travels all over the world, painting his colorful arrows along with his name on walls and buildings. He’s been leaving his mark on the world since the ’90s, and chances are he’s not going to stop any time soon.
On an average day, you can look around and spot some local street art. Now you can take what you know about the most famous of those artists and see if you can find one of their iconic pieces.
