22 Piece of Graffiti In Virginia So Brilliant They Should Be In A Museum
By Anna Strock|Published July 25, 2015
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Anna Strock
Author
Virginia staff writer for Only in Your State, freelance writer and journalist. Even though Anna has lived other places, somehow Virginia is where she always seems to land.
By definition, “graffiti” refers to words or images that are painted or penned on public spaces – often illegally. Graffiti has existed for thousands of years, dating back as far back as Ancient Greece, Egypt, and the Roman Empire (source: Wikipedia). These works sometimes express political or social statements, but can also be a showcase of a simpler message. In the past, graffiti was an act of rebellion or destruction of a public place. But today, with artists like Banksy turning graffiti into a recognized art form, graffiti has it’s own category in the artistic sphere. The following works show the broad range of expression, messaging, and backdrops that graffiti artists use to showcase their undeniable talent. Thanks to events like the Tom Tom Festival’s Graffiti Battle in Charlottesville and the Richmond Street Arts Festival, graffiti has been elevated to a whole new level of artistic expression.
This stunning piece was created by female artists Ursula X. Young, Jenn Ponci, Hops, Miss Reds, and Meme as part of the Richmond Street Art Festival. The piece appeared on the Richmond Bus Depot.
This work is more likely to be classified as a traditional mural, but like many graffiti pieces, the "canvas" becomes a part of the work itself. Simply beautiful.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge (commonly known as the "Key Bridge") between Rosslyn, Virginia and Georgetown, Washington, D.C., was completed in 1923 and is the area's oldest surviving bridge across the Potomac River. While the artwork is not the highlight of this photo, I've included it to show how the juxtaposition of graffiti and history makes for a complex modern day scene.
This photo shows work in progress as artist Robert "Tone" Proch works on a mural at 501 E. Grace Street in Richmond. Many thank to photographer Bill Dickinson capturing the moment.
Instead of detracting from the image, the people in this photo seem to fit into the work itself.
While most of the work for this particular article appears in Charlottesville and Richmond, that by no means implies that amazing street art doesn’t exist in other places around the state! Do you know of any particularly impressive graffiti or street art in your area? Please let us know about it in the comments below…better yet, send a photo!
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