Everyone and their mother knows about Banksy; here are four other awesome graffiti artists worthy of your attention.
Awesome Graffiti Artists: Steve Powers AKA ESPO
Steve Powers (aka ESPO) was a graffiti writer most popular in NYC who had consistently blurred the lines of illegal and legal graffiti. His graffiti writing usually took place during the day and generally involved tagging closed storefronts under the disguise of an “Exterior Surface Painting Outreach” (ESPO) member and telling passersby he was simply cleaning the fronts.
During his height of creativity in the 90s, many praised his works for their conceptual brilliance and style, which usually resembled legitimate billboards. But after a 1999 arrest and six felony charges, Powers gave up graffiti.
Blek le Rat
No graffiti list can be complete without a mention of Banksy, but if one wants to praise Banksy they must also mention his inspiration, Blek le Rat. Blek is an old-school French street artist who has been stencilling since the early 80s. A trip to New York City greatly influenced his distinct style of graffiti and since then he has stencilled the world-over – from Paris to South America – with varying subjects (though favoring the rat).
Swoon
Swoon is a female graffiti artist who has been engaged in street art since the late 90s. Inspired by folk art, German Expressionism and even Indonesian shadow puppets, Swoon’s graffiti involves paper cut outs and wheat-pasted prints, and she often depicts her family and friends in her pieces. Swoon’s work can be seen on abandoned buildings, bridges, fire escapes, water towers and street signs.
TRACY168
Many regard Michael Tracy (or TRACY168) as one of the pioneers of graffiti art, as he began his work in the 1970s. Defined by their vivid color combinations, many of Tracy’s works are still intact throughout the Bronx. He gained acclaim for his tagging of a subway door as well as his Purple Haze pieces dedicated to Jimi Hendrix. Critics also credit Tracy for the creation of the Wildstyle graffiti form – the intricate design that incorporates interwoven and overlapping letters and shapes.
