Research into Graffiti Artists

There have been many famous graffiti artists throughout history, but here are some notable examples:​

Banksy - A British artist known for his politically charged and satirical graffiti stencils and murals.​

Keith Haring - An American artist who rose to prominence in the 1980s with his iconic pop art graffiti style.​

Jean-Michel Basquiat - An American artist who started as a graffiti artist in the 1970s and became known for his neo-expressionist paintings.​

Futura 2000 - An American artist who helped pioneer the graffiti movement in the 1970s and 80s, known for his abstract and futuristic style.​

Lady Pink - An Ecuadorian-American artist who became prominent in the 1980s New York graffiti scene, known for her colorful and dynamic pieces.​

Os Gemeos - Brazilian twin brothers who are known for their large-scale murals featuring colorful characters and surreal landscapes.​

Shepard Fairey - An American artist known for his street art and designs, including the iconic "Hope" poster featuring Barack Obama.​

D*Face - A British artist known for his bold and graphic pop art-inspired street art and murals.​

Invader - A French artist who creates mosaic street art featuring pixelated characters inspired by video games.​

Swoon - An American artist known for her intricate and highly detailed wheatpaste murals and installations.​

Who is Banksy?

Banksy is a pseudonymous British street artist, political activist, and film director known for his politically charged and satirical graffiti stencils and murals. He is believed to have been born in Bristol, England, in the early 1970s, and started his career as a graffiti artist in the 1990s.​

Banksy's works often feature subversive messages and social commentary, and he has become one of the most famous and controversial artists of our time. He has created many iconic pieces, including the "Balloon Girl" mural and the "Flower Thrower" stencil, and has exhibited his work in galleries around the world. Despite his fame, Banksy has managed to keep his true identity a closely guarded secret.​

Banksy is famous for several reasons. Firstly, his artworks are visually striking and often contain satirical or political messages that resonate with people. Banksy's unique style, which often incorporates stencils and bold colours, has become instantly recognisable, and many of his works have become iconic symbols of contemporary art.​

Secondly, Banksy has been very successful in keeping his true identity a mystery, which has added to his mystique and allure. This secrecy has led to many speculations about his identity and has made him even more intriguing to his fans.​

Lastly, Banksy's works often address controversial topics such as war, politics, consumerism, and the environment. By creating thought-provoking art that challenges the status quo, Banksy has gained a reputation as a leading voice in the contemporary art world and a champion of social justice. All these factors have contributed to Banksy's enduring popularity and influence.​

Who is Keith Haring?

Keith Haring was an American artist and social activist who rose to prominence in the 1980s with his unique style of bold, colourful, and energetic graffiti-inspired art. Haring was born in Pennsylvania in 1958 and began his career as a graffiti artist in New York City's subway stations in the late 1970s.​

Haring's art was heavily influenced by his upbringing in a small town, as well as the street culture of New York City. His works often featured stylised figures and bright, vivid colours, and explored themes of love, sexuality, and social justice.​

Haring's art quickly gained recognition and popularity, and he became a prominent figure in the downtown New York art scene. He was known for his public art installations, including murals and sculptures, which were designed to be accessible to a wide audience.​

Who is Jean-Michel Basquiat?

Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) was an American artist who emerged from the New York City art scene in the 1980s. He began his career as a graffiti artist, using the pseudonym SAMO (an acronym for "same old shit"), and gained recognition for his distinctive style that blended elements of street art, graffiti, and abstract expressionism.​

Basquiat's work often featured bold, colorful imagery and text, and he incorporated a wide range of cultural references and symbols in his paintings. He addressed themes of race, class, power, and society in his art, and his work is known for its political and social commentary.​

In the 1980s, Basquiat gained widespread acclaim and recognition for his art, and his work was exhibited in galleries and museums around the world. He became one of the most celebrated and influential artists of his generation, and his legacy continues to inspire and influence artists today.​

Who is Lady Pink?

Lady Pink is the pseudonym of Sandra Fabara, a graffiti artist and painter born in Ecuador in 1964 and raised in New York City. She began tagging subway trains in the late 1970s and gained prominence in the 1980s as one of the few female graffiti artists in a male-dominated field.​

Lady Pink's graffiti art is characterised by vibrant colours, intricate designs, and stylised lettering. Her work often addresses social and political issues such as gender, race, and the urban environment.​

In addition to her graffiti art, Lady Pink is also known for her paintings, which have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world. Her work has been featured in numerous books, documentaries, and articles about graffiti art and hip-hop culture.​

Today, Lady Pink is considered a pioneer and a legend in the world of graffiti art, and her work continues to inspire and influence artists of all backgrounds and genders.​

Who is Shepard Fairey?

Shepard Fairey is an American street artist, graphic designer, and activist born in 1970 in Charleston, South Carolina. He first gained national recognition for his iconic "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign in the late 1990s, which later evolved into his "Obey Giant" street art and clothing brand.​

Fairey's street art typically features bold, graphic designs and political or social messages. He has created numerous murals, posters, and stickers that address issues such as war, peace, government corruption, and climate change.​

One of Fairey's most famous works is the "Hope" poster he designed for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. The poster features a stylised portrait of Obama in red, white, and blue with the word "hope" underneath. The poster became an iconic image of the campaign and helped to raise Fairey's profile as an artist.​

Today, Fairey continues to create street art and design work, as well as advocate for political and social causes. His work has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, and he is widely considered one of the most influential and well-known street artists of his generation.​

Who is Swoon?

Swoon (born Caledonia Curry in 1978) is an American street artist known for her large-scale, intricately detailed wheatpaste prints and installations. She began creating street art in the late 1990s and has since gained international recognition for her unique style and socially conscious messages.​

Swoon's work often depicts human figures and explores themes of community, family, and the environment. She frequently collaborates with other artists and has been involved in numerous community-based art projects, including building a sustainable village in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.​

In addition to her street art, Swoon has exhibited her work in galleries and museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Venice Biennale. She has received numerous awards and grants for her work, and in 2010, she was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.​

Who is Cornbread?

Cornbread, also known as Darryl McCray, is an American graffiti artist credited with being one of the first modern graffiti writers. He gained notoriety in the late 1960s and early 1970s for his large-scale, highly visible tags throughout the city of Philadelphia.​

According to legend, Cornbread began tagging after a girlfriend challenged him to write his name on a prominent billboard. He quickly gained notoriety for his bold, colourful tags and was soon known throughout the city. He also pioneered many of the techniques that would later become standard in graffiti, including using markers and spray paint to create large, highly visible tags.​

Cornbread's legacy in graffiti culture is significant, as he helped to establish many of the styles and techniques that are still used by graffiti writers today. Despite his influence, he remains a controversial figure in the graffiti community, with some writers seeing him as a pioneer and others as a mere vandal.​

Who is Kiptoe?

Kiptoe, also known as Matt Dean, is an American street artist and muralist known for his large-scale, colorful murals and street art. He began his artistic career in his hometown of Los Angeles, California, and has since created murals and street art all over the world, including in cities such as Miami, London, and Berlin.​

Kiptoe's work often incorporates elements of pop culture and social commentary, and his style is characterized by vibrant colors and bold, graphic imagery. He is also known for his use of mixed media, combining spray paint with other materials such as acrylics, markers, and stencils to create intricate, layered works.​

In addition to his street art, Kiptoe has also exhibited his work in galleries and other art spaces. He continues to be an active figure in the street art and muralist communities, and his work has gained a following both online and in person.​

Who is Ten Hundred?

Ten Hundred (also known as Peter Robinson) is an American artist, illustrator, and muralist based in Seattle, Washington. He is known for his vibrant, colorful style and his use of bold, graphic imagery influenced by a variety of sources, including graffiti, street art, anime, and pop culture.​

Ten Hundred's work often features fantastical creatures, surreal landscapes, and playful characters, and his style is characterized by his use of bright colors and intricate details. He has created murals and public art installations in cities throughout the United States, and his work has been featured in galleries and other art spaces.​

In addition to his visual art, Ten Hundred is also a musician and songwriter, and he often incorporates music and sound into his art projects. He continues to be an active member of the art and music communities in Seattle and beyond.​