Now, in 2024, graffiti doesn't seem like such a rebellious act, does it? We see it in mainstream branding and advertising (think Shepard Fairey and his OBEY clothing company) all the time. That's why graffiti artists often work with branding and advertising agencies who are looking for fresh and edgy ways to capture their audience's attention.
A veteran graffiti artist, CRASH, believes that although the art form is becoming more and more mainstream, the exposure has more positives than negatives. "Facebook and Instagram really changed the game because it gives everyone the opportunity to see something that they normally wouldn't see," CRASH told Tango Hotel.
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"If I had painted a wall somewhere in 1980, only the local people would know about it. Today, I could do something in Singapore, and someone in the Bronx, or New Jersey, or California could see it. It opens up the world and makes it smaller in a way, which I think is great because it's all about the conversation."
#29 I Was Given The Opportunity To Paint My First Ever Mural And This Is The Result!
The artist also doesn't think that graffiti has lost its rebellious trait. "I've been doing [graffiti] for almost 40 years. I don't think it has lost its identity. I think it's become more mainstream, but it still has an edge. We still have issues getting into museums because of what we do, so that rebellious nature that's in the artwork holds us back a little, but also gives us the opportunity to say things that [we] couldn't say."
