10 Famous Street Artists

Street art is a controversial subject, with street artists and authorities at the opposing sides of the spectrum. Street artists see there work as a form of expression, an art, a way of life. Authoritative establishments however, see it as plain old vandalism. 

So I've put together a list of 10 famous street artists, some of whom have caused quite a lot of controversy.

1. Banksy

Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based street artist, and is by far one of the most well-known street artists there is. Banksy's street art combines irreverent dark humour with graffiti done in a distinctive stencilling technique.

He is known to have an annoyance with the government for labelling graffiti as vandalism. His artwork appears displays on public surfaces such as walls, and sometimes he even constructs his own prop pieces.

He's been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary, for his film 'Exit Through the Gift Shop', which tells the story street artists from their perspective.

2. Marc Jenkins

Mark Jenkins lives in Washington DC and is an American artist most widely known for the street installations he creates using box sealing tape. Jenkins' practice of street art is to use the "street as a stage" where passersby become actors. Many of his installations have resulted in intervention by the authorities whom he also regards as actors.

Mark also teaches in workshops in a variety of cities he visits, teaching his sculpture techniques.

3. JR

JR is a photographer and artist. JR has described himself as a "photograffeur", as he flyposts large black-and-white photographic images in public locations in a style which is similar to the appropriation of the built environment by the graffiti artist.

The TED Prize is awarded annually to an exceptional individual who receives $100,000 and 'One Wish to Change the World.' JR won it for 2011, and this prize has had far-reaching impacts for JR.

He states that the street is "the largest art gallery in the world."

4. Nunca

Nunca is a prominent Brazilian "grafiteiro" artist who uses a graffiti technique to create images that confront modern urban Brazil with its native past.

His work has come under criticism in Brazil, despite Nunca's international recognition, as they believe that what his gallery work and commercial design commissions represent, is a betrayal of his cultural roots and philosophy.

His works often convey complex stories.

5. D* Face

D* Face is an English street artist who uses stickers, spray paint, posters, and stencils. Growing up in London, D* Face had a childhood interest in graffiti. He held his first major London solo exhibition, Death & Glory, at the Stolenspace gallery, which sold out in October 2006. Since then, D* Face has gone forward strength-in-strength, doing solo shows and Eyecons.

He was the owner and curator of London's first contemporary art gallery to focus on street art; 'Outside Institute'.

6. Shepard Fairey

Shepard Fairey is an American illustrator and graphic designer, first becoming known for his "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign. When Fairey first became involved in art professionally, was when he started to places his designs for t-shirts and skateboards.

Fairey is well-known for his stickers, but here's why he got into doing them, Fairey said: "At first I was only thinking about the response from my clique of art school and skateboard friends. The fact that a larger segment of the public would not only notice, but investigate, the unexplained appearance of the stickers was something I had not contemplated. When I started to see reactions and consider the sociological forces at work surrounding the use of public space and the insertion of a very eye-catching but ambiguous image, I began to think there was the potential to create a phenomenon."

7. Sweet Toof

 

Sweet Toof is the name given to a well-known graffiti and street artist. He is one of the most prolific of the London street artists, doing a variety of solo and collaborated art pieces. He has collaborated with "Tek 33", "Cyclops", and "Rowdy", all of which are crew-mates from the "Burning Candy" crew.

His signature tag, is his recognised gums and teeth picture.

8. Sickboy

Sickboy is a street artist from Bristol, England. He is known for his "save the children" slogan and temple logo. It is said that Sickboy was one of the first street artists to use a logo instead of a 'tag' as a signature.

Sickboy doesn't only do art on the streets, but also paints on canvas' and exhibits in art galleries.

9. Blu

Blu is a pseudonym for an Italian artist who keeps his real identity a secret, being around in the street since 1999.

Blu tries to limit his involvement in the official 'art world', as he prefers delving into other things. 

He has done his artwork on an international scale, including places such as: Costa Rica, Brazil, Argentina, Israel, England, Spain, Germany, Czech Republic, and Italy. 

10. Faile

Faile is an art collaboration between Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller. Faile is known for their use of wheatpasting and stencilling in the established area of street art, and for their fragmented style of appropriation and collage.

The reason behind the name Faile is that it's an anagram for the short phrase; "a life".

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