Urban art, unlike graffiti vandalism, is a legal work of art in which the property owner has granted permission to mark the surface. Urban art is often referred to by many names, such as street art or wall art. So how do you tell the difference between street art and vandalism? Graffiti was born from the act of marking or disfiguring premises or other assets without permission. Basically, the essence of graffiti was born of a crime.
Therefore, with so many famous street artists and amazing works of art of this kind, it became more difficult to understand. Generally, graffiti writers or artists don't seek permission, either to use public spaces or private property. The art of graffiti takes the techniques and methodologies of street graffiti and applies them to other media. The fact that graffiti is art or crime has an implication in protecting the integrity of a street artist's work.
In reality, street art that falls into the field of graffiti and “labeling” (minimalist graffiti done on private properties and public places) could be considered vandalism and, therefore, classify it as a criminal offence. There is a common perception that graffiti is illegal and annoying, while street art is commissioned or welcomed. People can argue for or against street art over and over again without reaching an acceptable decision all over the world. However, there is much more to the world of street art that people tend to ignore, since the art form is considered unsightly and offensive.
As the appreciation for street art has increased, some graffiti artists who previously had to work illegally have chosen to produce custom or approved works of art. It is important to highlight political power and the importance that street art can attribute on a different level to the incredible skill represented in the different pieces. For example, when you cross the street in a busy city, you're likely to see some form of art, whether it's a small symbol or a giant mural that takes up the entire side of a building. Many commercially established artists start out as graffiti artists before expanding their art to broader styles and transitioning to street artists.
Pastes and multimedia elements are gaining popularity; the use of stencils, vinyl or eggshell stickers, clay, markers, fabrics, wool and textiles are now used in street art and graffiti. While graffiti can be associated with a spray painted label or nickname, street art tends to be much deeper. Street art can be used interchangeably with the terms “independent art”, “post-graffiti”, “neografiti” and “guerrilla art”. In this sense, graffiti predates street art and many street artists are inspired by graffiti.
Some street artists, such as Banksy, may use a pseudonym, but many other street artists use their real names and promote their work commercially. Although murals have existed for many centuries, the idea of taking over the streets with art began with graffiti.
