Graffiti

Ancient Romans and Greeks were among the first to expose graffiti by writing names, poems, religious messages, and everyday life observations on their buildings in Latin language.

The invention of the aerosol spray can in 1949 revolutionized street art by allowing artists to easily apply paint on various surfaces. Edward Seymour's innovation of putting paint in spray cans made it more convenient to create larger works of art with less effort.

Modern graffiti emerged in Philadelphia in the 1960s and gained attention in the 1970s as people started tagging their names on city buildings.

The Berlin Wall was built in 1961, leading to colorful commentary graffiti on the west side where people were free to approach.

In 1967, early graffiti writers like CORNBREAD and COOL EARL emerged in Philadelphia, contributing to the graffiti culture.

Large-scale protests by university students from Sorbonne University in Paris and Columbia University in New York, who were the first to adopt the visual language of graffiti for their slogans.

TAKI 183, a delivery boy, leaves his name and street number - 183 - all over New York, leading to mainstream media attention and the 1971 New York Times article 'Taki 183 spawns pen pals'.

In the 1970s, gang rivalries led to widespread tagging of gang signs and symbols on various surfaces to mark territories.

The New York Times publishes Charles Don Hogan's story of TAKI 183, inspiring graffiti writers to adopt a more strategic citywide approach to their writing.

In 1972, Hugo Martinez established UNITED GRAFFITI ARTISTS, a collective that showcased graffiti in galleries for the first time, marking a significant moment in the recognition of graffiti as an art form.

Spin's graffiti piece won the 1973 New York Magazines Taki Awards for the best graffiti piece, showcasing the evolving art form and gaining recognition in the graffiti community.

The collective 'United Graffiti Artists' exhibits at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

During the period from April 7, 1975, to March 6, 1977, the 'throw up' style emerged, involving two paint layers and elaborate train carriage paintings, leading to the development of complex letter forms and increased creativity.

In 1976, King 2 contributed to the further development of graffiti piece design, pushing the boundaries of creativity and style within the graffiti culture.

Punk graffiti emerges in the UK and the Netherlands, focusing on slogans, band names, and nicknames on walls, marking a shift towards ego-oriented graffiti writing in Europe.

Ernest Pignon-Ernest pastes silkscreen portraits of Arthur Rimbaud in Paris, blending graffiti with art in public spaces.

Galleria La Medusa hosts 'The Fabulous Five / Purest Form of New York Art', the first European art gallery show with artworks by graffiti writers.

The 1980s marked a significant era in various aspects of culture, including graffiti art.

In 1982, Henry Chalfant's documentary 'Style Wars' captured the growing graffiti movement, shedding light on the artistic and social aspects of graffiti culture.

In 1984, Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant published Subway Art, which led to a rapid expansion of the street art scene globally.

In 1987, Henry Chalfant and James Prigoff published Spray Can Art, another influential publication that contributed to the popularity of street art.

In the 1990s, the Graffiti Interrail Movement emerged, where graffiti artists traveled globally to create art in different cities. This movement led to the painting of European subways by artists from various backgrounds, but also resulted in increased legal consequences as graffiti was increasingly viewed as a felony.

In 1997, graffiti art started to gain recognition and popularity as a form of artistic expression.

In 1998, the increasing popularity of the internet provided artists with a platform to share their graffiti work globally, expanding the reach and impact of street art.

Over 2000-year-old graffiti discovered in the lost city of Pompeii has offered valuable insights into the daily life and culture of the ancient civilization, serving as a crucial historical record.

By 2001, there were notable developments and transformations in the world of graffiti art.

The year 2002 marked a period of growth and expansion for the graffiti culture.

In 2003, graffiti became a topic of controversy with varying opinions and debates.

Banksy and other street artists changed the perception of graffiti by gaining attention for their artwork, which was soon displayed in art galleries.

Due to the internet, graffiti in Asia and other countries started to decrease in size, while pop-up street art, including 3D images creating optical illusions, emerged.

In 2007, the term 'calligraffiti' was coined by Dutch artist Niels Shoe Meulman, describing it as a fusion of calligraphy, typography, and graffiti. Calligraffiti aims to communicate broader messages through aesthetically altered writing, bridging street art with traditional art forms.

In 2009, Duro Cabrillo, Martin Harvey, and Karl Stamer published Kings Way, a notable work that celebrates and documents the history of graffiti.

In 2013, the debate on whether graffiti should be considered a crime or art intensified, sparking discussions on urban aesthetics.

In 2014, the Empty Walls Festival left its mark on the walls of the Welsh capital, celebrating graffiti art.

In 2021, David Houston published Wildfire, a recent publication that also focuses on celebrating and documenting the history of graffiti, specifically in Australia.

Pulling the emergency brake on trains in Europe to paint graffiti is becoming increasingly popular, while in other areas graffiti is considered a crime and intimidating to the public.

Cavemen in the Stone Age were the first to write on walls, using painted pictures and symbols to communicate, tell stories, mark their presence, and record events.