Graffiti and Street Art Seen Through the Eyes of Photographers
Jack Kadis, Photo Composite #1 of Graffiti in Florentin, Tel Aviv, Israel, 2017
"Over a two day period in June 2017, I shot photos of about 100 different graffitis in the Tel Aviv neighborhood of Florentin. It's a haven for hipsters and artists that occupies something like 25-30 city blocks in the southern end of town. Walking around, the first thing that struck me was a powerful sense of place, a community where the visuals were saying: we did this, this is us." (JK)
Graffiti and Street Art Seen Through the Eyes of Photographers dives into the often forgotten perspectives of photographers themselves that capture the essence of this art. What attracts photographers in taking a particular shots? What are their reactions? Here you will see photos reflecting five different reactions: Beauty, Enjoyment, Issue, Location and Unusual.
The photos here are by members of BOLLI, a year - round learning community of intellectually curious adults at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts who participate in classes and groups including graffiti and street art classes and a photography group. We hope you enjoy viewing this site and maybe even appreciate the graffiti you see out in the world in a new way!
Special acknowledgement to Professor Ann Graf and to all others who have shared their vast knowledge of graffiti and street artists and their art in all parts of the world, past and present, for us to enjoy today.
Beauty
Peter Gordon, Photo of Mural in East Village, New York City, 2023
"This was a new work. The image is partial. The bright colors and surrealism were of interest."(PG)
For Further Information
This mural by artist WAONE is in NYC’s East Village and was just painted recently. It is painted on vinyl and attached to the wall. The artist is Ukrainian and says that this mural “draws a direct connection to the very large population of New Yorkers who emigrated originally from Ukraine and pays tribute to them as well as those back home.”
Click here to read more about this mural.
Enjoyment
Marty Kafka, Photo of Street Murals, Oaxaca, Mexico, 2023
"Street murals literally cover some streets and surroundings in Oaxaca. It is famous for its street art and colorful murals."(MK)
For Further Information
This is on the side of Hotel Casa De Los Abuelos, Oaxaca. It is also listed as studio apartments. You can rent like a hotel or longer, like an apartment. The website doesn’t seem to mention this mural.
Click here to read more about this building.
Issue
Lois G. Rosenfeld, Photo of Graffiti - Covered Tank in western suburban area of Boston, MA, 2022
"Unnurtured vs. Nature - On a walk in the woods of the western suburban area of Boston, I came upon this graffiti-covered rusted tank. For me, the woods are a refuge where the natural world might soothe my soul; contrary to soothing, however, the images on this tank seemed to be crying for help, with anxiety and fear prevailing. I imagine that it was created by a number of young people who added to it over time". (LGR)
For Further Information
This graffiti is apparently on the grounds of the Metropolitan State Hospital, Massachusetts' last and largest institution for the mentally ill, built in 1930. (Th
is land is now a nature preserve.)
Click here to read an interesting blog about this site.
Location
Richard Klug, Photo of famous 5Pointz Graffiti Warehouse, Queens, N.Y, 2008
"I took these photos in August 2008 at the famous 5Pointz graffiti warehouse in Queens, NY. The building was later sold to a developer. In 2013 the artwork was whitewashed out in the middle of the night. I found this place overwhelming. Massive, overstimulating. Only in retrospect did I feel fortunate to capture these images before these works were destroyed.
Unusual
Diane Winkelman, Photo taken on the Tri-Community Greenwalk, a multi-use trail that connects Stoneham, Woburn and Winchester, Massachusetts, 2023
"Just looking for something unusual. And I found it." (DW)