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Street art doesn’t require a museum or gallery. This medium of art is a way to breathe life into old neighbourhoods or to re-contextualize, re-energize and re-imagine a building. It’s one of the most unique and powerful means of artistic expression in our modern society. Graffiti, colourful murals and street tags are a common part of most urban landscapes. And although many believe that street artists operate on the fringe of society, these artists are giving something back to society by communicating with everyday people about socially relevant topics.

Street art is developed in public spaces that includes traditional graffiti artwork, sticker art, stencil graffiti, poster art, guerrilla art and street installations.

What is life without a dash of colour? Bright colours define enthusiasm, power, joy, love and passion. While darker shades can illustrate anger, willpower, aggression, leadership, rage, and courage. There are streets around the world that go beyond colour but embody vibrant examples of how people engage with their urban environments, energising them with visually-engaging murals and transforming them into works of art.
urban art

So what are the differences between these street art genres?

Street Art

Street art is usually painted commissioned. Graffiti is word-based, whereas Street Art is image-based. Combining figurative and graffiti images. Street art is a form of art expressed by painting or spraying on a wall or another surface (such as traffic lights or billboards) usually without permission from the private or public owner of the support. For this reason, street artworks have traditionally been viewed as acts of vandalism.

Guerrilla Street Art

Guerrilla art is a street art movement that started in the UK, but has spread all around the world and is now established in most countries. Guerrilla art focuses on cause and effect, not the material piece itself. Guerrilla artists seek to shake things up, force you to take a second look, change your preconceptions about your everyday surroundings.

Graffiti Art

Graffiti is usually done without permission and within public areas. From the simple written words to amazing wall paintings, Going back to ancient times, with examples dating back to ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and the Roman Empire.

The urban street art scene is thriving in Africa, especially in South Africa where it’s growing in momentum. With exciting and innovative work in a genre viewed as provocative and empowering, it’s responsible for vivid murals and artwork all around its metropolis and its suburbs.

Braamfontein and Maboneng are famous for their public artworks and activism in the downtown areas and is also renowned for its graffiti created by artists from diverse backgrounds and different social and political visions. The Cape Town International Public Art Festival has been developed to showcase the variety of talent on offer and held its fourth festival in February 2020.

Mak1One

Faith 47​

Nardstar

DALeast​

Ricky Lee Gordon (Freddy Sam)

Jack Fox

Falko One

Chris Auret

Sonny Sundancer

The Mother City’s streets have teamed up with one-of-a-kind works of art that embody the Capetonian soul and share stories of the past, present and future. A township tour of Khayelitsha and street art walking tour of Woodstock while meeting the inspiring local residents and artists who are creating incredible things across the city.

The Pioneers of Graffiti and Street Art

Banksy

One of the world’s most recognized artists, Banksy is a famous – but anonymous street artist who creates resonant social, political, and humanist messages with a distinctive stenciling technique. He is responsible for catapulting guerilla work into the mainstream as a viable form of art.
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