Steven Sulley – Founder and Art Consultant – Woodbury house -Private Art Gallery, Mayfair, London.
Today, part of society associates street art and graffiti with young people who “tag” their signatures and slogans on abandoned buildings or monuments in towns and cities in an “anti-social” way; however, it has not always been perceived this way.
The history of stencil graffiti
Formed at a time of social and political turmoil, the progressive street art movement made its way through some of the world’s great cities, including London, Paris and New York, led largely by artists who began experimenting with different techniques, materials and styles to their works more visible in urban landscapes.
During the 1970s and 1980s, New York Golden Age of street art spawned some of the most well-known street artists in the world, many of whom played important roles in the wider street art movement. Now, the work of such artists, including Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat and of course Banksy, not only selling for millions at auction but are often recognized for breaking down the barriers between street art and fine art.
I have taken a particular interest in the work of Blek le Rat and Richard Hambleton in my gallery. Dubbed the “father of stencil graffiti,” Blek le Rat popularized stencil art when he began using the technique to create the iconic rat motif– symbolizing not only the urban environment, but also the marginalized members of society – which he spray-painted on walls all over Paris. Since his arrest in 1991 – when street art was considered a crime – pre-stenciled posters of his work have continued to spark controversy as he attempted to raise awareness of social issues such as homelessness.
Similarly, Richard Hambleton – otherwise known as the “Godfather of Street Art” – stenciled realistic images of crime scenes on the streets of New York using chalk and red paint to depict mass murder and murder victims in the late 1970s .
Compiling and marketing a stencil art exhibition
Today, a cohesive show will encompass those artists who were not only able to deliver social and political messages through this medium, but successfully brought discussion and debate to important, timeless topics through their work – for years to come. For this reason, these messages should be considered on a deeper level when putting together or marketing a stencil art exhibition.
When choosing an artist for an exhibition it is important to do your research and make sure that not only does the artist create artwork that looks good on the surface, but that each piece has its own meaning and story to tell . Consider the following questions:
• What is the story of the artwork?
• What stories does the artist tell with each piece?
• How does one piece connect to the other?
• What is the general theme or message of the selected body of work?
It is then your job as a gallery owner or curator to work with the artist to put the space together. Do your research first to understand the artist and his work – the language the artist speaks through his artwork. Then curate a space that tells that story for consumers to enjoy. Strive to create an experience that speaks to those who watch it. I think these are the perfect ingredients when selecting an artist and building an exhibit that honors the history of stencil graffiti.
The gradual acceptance of street art into the mainstream art world has led to greater potential for those looking to curate spaces for emerging names in the scene, with the most skilled artists successfully bringing discussion and debate to important, timeless topics through their work , for decades to come.
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