Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Graffiti: Street Art on Etsy

Handpicked on Etsy
Graffiti: Vandalism or art? Images, words, tags, political messages, scratched, scrawled, sprayed on public property. Graffiti dates back to the dawn of human civilization. Respected, mainstream galleries now promote this artistic style from the street to their patrons and collectors, and we see the influence both in mass market fashion and consumer products.To me, graffiti conveys energy and edginess of the urban street, embracing everything from joy of life to dark, brooding, aggressive or provocative imagery. For today's assemblage, I selected non-threatening graffiti influenced pieces. You may have the stomach for the stronger stuff, and it is all there on Etsy. Click on the pictures to go directly to these Etsy listings. Prices range from $6.00 to $650.00.
From top left to bottom right, today's artists include: cadmiumatelier, pennieandpencils, gotart, resurface, vozclothingart, zJayne, winstonwesterrman, uniques, lucyblustudio, AfricanMotif, osofly, zinesbyjoy

14 comments:

Atelier Photosynthetic said...

Cool selection! It's an honor to be included.

Jane Pierce aka zJayne said...

Great mix of urban graffiti. I am always so drawn to this style of creating and often the realness of what it's saying.

I recycle and create the "What's Your Word" urban style pouches and each one has its own unique twist to it.

Graffiti rocks and so does this blog!

Thanks!
Jane aka zJayne

Andria said...

Thank you both for your comments. So glad you visited and I hope to see more of you and your great work. :)

Valerie said...

This is fabulously fun! I love zJaynes bags----the graffiti is a different kind of rebellion, a rebellion against wastefulness! I love how her work is recycled and environmentally friendly!

Andria said...

zJayne sends a great message with her designs. I love that, too!

Winston Westerman said...

great blog you have here, i love that graffiti lamp and candle. many, many thanks for featuring my piece.

Andria said...

You're welcome, Winston. Your work is fabulous and I wish you success!

Vintage aka Vinty said...

I love zJayne's work. I'm a true fan. Great feature!

graffitology said...

nafness aside, products covered in a graffiti infulenced patterns are not graffiti.

Andria said...

Researchmug, You're exactly right and your comment is appreciated. We agree 100% that graffiti is street art. It doesn't live indoors or on a tee shirt or belt. What these Etsy artists are doing is referencing the street artform and inviting a broader appreciation. In some cases, artists who began on the street with spray cans are becoming mainstream artists whose canvases and murals are collected by serious art patrons and institutions. Have those artists sold out? That is debatable.

It is interesting that more people are realizing that the authentic graffiti they see on the street is real, powerful, rebellious, expressive and beautiful art.

KCR Lehr Studio said...

I agree. Graffito cannot be dismissed as vandalism or evidences of a subculture... It is our time's truly democratic art form.

These ETSY artists have taken inspiration from what is around them, especially in the urban environment, and transformed it into a personally unique statement!
Bravo!

PS- have any of you noted that graffiti does not exist all across the country? In fact you can travel throughout Arizona's vast countryside and never see a hint of spray paint or initials on any boulder or mountainside. It is seen in original sand art. Isn't it great how artists will find a palette???

Andria said...

Interesting point, Colleen! I'll have to pay more attention next time I'm in the Arizona countryside.

I was in the Peche Merle cave in southwest France a couple of years ago, and the Neanderthal cave drawings certainly brought the word "graffiti" to mind. Some were quick, sketchy scribblings and others were elaborate murals. Rather an early example of this fascinating, uniquely human impulse.

Sherry Goodloe said...

I thought for sure I had left a comment here :( I'm glad I came back to check!

Just wanted to thank you again for including my work in your Etsy Lounge. What an honor to be included! xo sherry

Andria said...

Your most welcome, Sherry! Thanks for checking in and hope to see you again :)