Overview
Since the late 1960s, “self-sanctioned” outdoor graffiti has been on the cutting edge of contemporary mores—providing an integral outlet for psychological and social issues and, as Shepard Fairey’s 2008 HOPE campaign attests, trenchant political activism. What began as a heterodox antidote to the traditional art space, and creative avenue for those who might not have financial access to arts education, has, in the decades following, become lionized by the elite artworld. Through this course, we'll journey through the world of graffiti, its transmutation into street art, and migration from the fringes of the mainstream to its center.
This five-week lecture series charts the dynamic transformation of urban art--from its early iterations illicitly scribbled on Manhattan subway cars in the 1980s, to its expansion, proliferation, and controversial moments, through its presence in the museum and on the floors of the auction house.
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